Florida’s largest solar electric array made possible by Sunshine Energy^® customers!

Thanks to FPL Sunshine Energy customers, the largest solar array in Florida is turning the power of the sun into clean electricity. FPL Sunshine Energy Solar Array at Rothenbach Park, located on Bee Ridge Road east of downtown Sarasota, is the state’s largest solar power system and the second largest in the Southeast U.S. It will produce up to 250-kilowatts (kW) of electricity, which is enough to power about 45 average homes.

FPL Sunshine Energy Solar Array at Rothenbach Park consists of 1,200 photovoltaic (PV) panels, covering an area the size of half a football field. Power generated by the solar array will prevent more than 654,000 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions each year. That’s as much CO₂ as a car emits driving the 460 mile round-trip from Sarasota to Miami nearly 1,600 times!

Sarasota County provided the land within Rothenbach Park for the solar project as part of its commitment to sustainability. The County-owned park is a 113 acre site that includes the closed Bee Ridge Landfill. The first phase of park development will include a 10-foot-wide, 3.7 mile porous asphalt trail that will offer the opportunity for an information station to provide details on the solar array and solar power.

Quick Facts

• The 250 kilowatt (kW) solar array is the largest solar facility built as a direct result of customer participation in FPL’s Sunshine Energy renewable program. It’s also the largest solar facility in the state of Florida and one of the largest in the Southeast.



• The solar facility has 1,200 photovoltaic solar panels covering more than 28,000 square feet — about half the size of a football field. Watch it Being Built



• The 250 kW of clean energy produced by the solar array can power about 45 average homes for one month.



• How Solar Works

Environmental Impact

• The 250 kW FPL Sunshine Energy Solar Array at Rothenbach Park will prevent more than 654,000 pounds of CO₂ emissions each year.



• This savings is equivalent to the amount of carbon dioxide produced by a car making the 460 mile round-trip from Sarasota to Miami nearly 1,600 times.



• The savings is also equivalent to the amount of CO₂ absorbed by 39,000 trees in one year or recycling 1.6 million aluminum cans.