DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Just weeks after President Obama visited Florida to commission Florida Power & Light's DeSoto Next Generation Energy Center -- the largest photovoltaic solar plant in the nation -- FPL and officials with Volusia County Schools unveiled similar technology at David C. Hinson Middle School in Daytona Beach.
Hinson Middle School's Next Generation Solar Education Station features solar panels similar to those operating at the DeSoto plant and now provides students a hands-on tool to learn about renewable energy -- while saving the school up to $800 annually on its electric bill.
“The next generation of Floridians will live in a world where renewable energy is a central part of the economy and our way of life. The Next Generation Solar Education Station now operating here will give students a head start to understand the critical role solar power plays in their future,” said FPL Regional Director of External Affairs Bob Coleman, whose territory includes Daytona Beach.
The school is the first of six in Florida where FPL is installing Next Generation Solar Education Stations. Over the summer, Hinson science teachers learned how to incorporate solar energy lessons into their curriculum. Now they are sharing these lessons with their students.
An online tool updating the power generated at the Daytona Beach Next Generation Solar Education Station is available at http://www.fpl.com/community/learning/solarstations.shtml.
This site also contains complete information about FPL’s Next Generation Solar Education Station program including curriculum information. There is also a link to an FPL Group Foundation grant for teachers in FPL’s service territory who can create winning classroom projects on renewable energy, and a map showing the locations of the other five Next Generation Solar Education Stations planned or under construction in Florida:
• L.A. Ainger Middle School, Rotunda West (Charlotte County)
• Mandarin Lakes Academy K-8 Center, Homestead (Miami-Dade County)
• J.D. Parker Elementary School, Stuart (Martin County)
• Deerfield Beach Middle School (Broward County)
• SunCoast Community High School, Riviera Beach (Palm Beach County)
Florida Power & Light Company
Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) is the largest electric utility in Florida and one of the largest rate-regulated utilities in the United States. FPL serves 4.5 million customer accounts in Florida and is a leading employer in the state with nearly 11,000 employees. The company consistently outperforms national averages for service reliability while customer bills are well below the national average. A clean energy leader, FPL has one of the lowest emissions profiles and the No. 1 energy efficiency program among utilities nationwide. FPL is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Fla.-based FPL Group, Inc. (NYSE: FPL). For more information, visit www.FPL.com.