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Arcadia bets solar energy will generate jobs

Staff photo by PETER MASA

More than 90,000 solar panels stand in an old pasture at Florida Power & Light's new power facility.

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By JEFF PATTERSON | News Channel 8

Published: October 27, 2009

ARCADIA - This city sees a bright future in the sun.

Arcadia is betting that solar energy — more specifically, a cutting-edge solar plant being built in DeSoto County — will provide hundreds of jobs and an even bigger economic boost.

The project already has provided an unexpected boost: a visit today from President Barack Obama, who will tour the plant.

While the president's visit will provide a day's worth of excitement, plenty of residents are holding out hope for a longer-term impact.

Martha Craven owns a small inn; construction workers who are helping to build the plant have been staying there since January.

"So it's been really good and it's been a blessing for us," Craven said. "But I think it's good for the city, too; it'll get us on the map and let people know we're here."

On a sunny day, the plant will generate 25-megawatts of electricity. Florida Power & Light officials are hoping that's just a start.

"I would like this plant to be the largest in the world," said Eric Silagy, FPL's vice president of development. "It can be."

Silagy says the Desoto County plant could eventually be expanded to generate 300 megawatts of power and FPL has plans to build other solar plants across the state.

"We're ready to go," Silagy said.

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