Allard Beutel
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
allard.beutel@nasa.gov
Jackie Anderson
Florida Power & Light
305-552-3888
jackie.anderson@fpl.com
Ingrid Ekstrom
SunPower Corp.
510-260-8368
ingrid.ekstrom@sunpowercorp.com
RELEASE: 60-09
NASA REAPS BENEFITS FROM SOLAR FARM AND PLANS NEW ENERGY PROJECT
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - The electricity that's being used at NASA's
Kennedy Space Center, Fla., now is partly supplied by the space
agency's first large-scale solar power generation facility.
Representatives from NASA, Florida Power & Light Company and SunPower
Corporation formally commissioned a one-megawatt facility Thursday
and used the occasion to announce plans to pursue a new research,
development and demonstration project at Kennedy to advance America's
use of renewable energy.
The facility is the first element of a major renewable energy project
currently under construction at Kennedy. The completed system
features a fixed-tilt, ground-mounted solar power system designed and
built by SunPower, along with SunPower solar panels. A 10-megawatt
solar farm, which SunPower is building on a nearby Kennedy property,
will supply power to FPL's customers when it's completed in April
2010.
At Thursday's commissioning ceremony, Kennedy Center Director Bob
Cabana and FPL Vice President and Chief Development Officer Eric
Silagy announced plans to establish a permanent renewable energy
research and development center at Kennedy along with a new solar
facility that would expand the 10-megawatt generating capability up
to 100-megawatts. This expansion of the solar facilities is
contingent on regulatory support and the passage of renewable energy
legislation at the state level.
If proven environmentally and economically feasible, an expansive
field of photovoltaic solar panels will be constructed in phases on
500 or more acres of fallow Kennedy agricultural land and integrated
into the utility's grid. A dedicated research and development
facility to support continual improvement of solar renewable energy
would be established by SunPower and FPL's other partners at
Kennedy's business complex, Exploration Park.
"Both our current projects are nearing completion, and this proposed
expanded collaboration with FPL directly responds to the president's
recent executive order directing NASA and other federal agencies to
expand their use of renewable power and enable renewable projects on
agency lands," said Cabana. "We are pleased to be taking a leadership
role in supporting this important national goal aimed at increasing
America's energy independence while improving the planet's
environment."
"FPL is a national leader in the development of clean, renewable
energy, and we are committed to growing the renewable power industry
here in Florida, which will spur the local economy and create jobs,"
said Silagy. "These solar projects are an important part of Florida's
clean-energy future and we are proud to be at the forefront of
powering the space program. Like NASA, FPL is looking beyond the
horizon. We are prepared and excited about the prospect of building
more emissions-free solar power with the quality of life of our
children and grandchildren in mind."
"We congratulate NASA and FPL for their commitment to the development
of solar technologies, and for making solar energy a key part of the
nation's economic recovery and the protection of the environment for
future generations," said Howard Wenger, president, global business
units for SunPower. "Solar power systems can be built quickly
anywhere and at any scale, and we are pleased to partner with NASA
and FPL on these important projects."
The dedicated R&D facility proposed for Exploration Park could result
in at least 50 high-salary science and engineering positions
permanently established at Kennedy by SunPower and FPL's other
partners, a potential for solar panel manufacturing located nearby
and as many as 1,000 new construction jobs. FPL and Kennedy have
initiated environmental studies and a plan to support the next
project, which could be initiated before the end of 2010.
The proposed project will be pursued under a five-year Memorandum of
Understanding entered into by Kennedy and FPL in 2007 to promote
jointly developed projects in renewable technologies. Implementation
will require completion of the environmental and business
assessments, the development of a formal partnering agreement,
renewable energy legislation at the state level and a constructive
regulatory framework.
The current agreement to construct two solar energy projects totaling
11 megawatts recently won the 2009 General Services Administration
Award for Asset Management. The public-private partnership for solar
power facilities at Kennedy was selected by the GSA judges for its
innovative use of federal land, and published as a "best practice"
example by GSA's Office of Government-wide Policy.
For information about Florida Power & Light and its programs, visit:
http://www.fpl.com For information about SunPower, visit:
http://www.sunpowercorp.com For more information about NASA's Kennedy Space Center, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/kennedy
