This Week in Jacksonville: Business Edition – FPL’s approach to solar energy and saving money

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Solar energy is cost-effective and less cluttered, according to Florida Power and Light (FPL).

On this week’s episode, Marshall Hastings from FPL joins This Week in Jacksonville: Business Edition to talk about the latest technical advances in the industry.

We’re also exploring a new trend, where utility companies offer customers the chance to participate in solar energy programs without installing solar panels. The voluntary subscription program is called Solar Together.

The energy comes from a Florida solar farm. Customers can choose a plan based on how much energy they want and then get credits.

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“If you were to subscribe, you’re paying a fixed monthly fee that fits your budget,” Hastings said. “You can do as low as one kilowatt, which would be $6.76 all the way up to 100% of your energy usage.”

Hastings explained how the customer credits would work.

“You’re getting credits back for all the energy that’s developed from those solar energy centers. That credit grows not only based off their generation but also by the term that you’re in the program. So by year four, you’re consistently seeing credits that exceed your cost and by year seven of your enrollment in the program, your 100% buyback or payback into the program,” he said.

Hastings said FPL is investing in solar energy centers throughout Florida. He also discussed the resiliency of solar farms, some he said is factored into every power decision the company makes.

What is FPL doing to address any environmental concerns? Hastings addresses that in the latest episode.