West County Energy Center
FPL currently has 4.5 million customers in 35 counties. Customer demand will drive the need for FPL to produce more power over the next decade, even with the aggressive addition of renewable energy resources and energy conservation. Hypothetically, even if there was no growth over the next decade in the state, Florida still needs additional fuel diversity, system reliability, greenhouse gas emissions reduction, and energy independence that will come in large part from Next Generation Clean Energy Centers like the West County Energy Center.
Using efficient, environmentally protective combined-cycle technology
West County Energy Center consists of three new, state-of-the-art, natural-gas-fired combined-cycle generating units at a 220-acre site in western Palm Beach County. All three units are safe, clean, efficient, reliable and cost-effective sources of power.
And, in keeping with our commitment to environmental stewardship, each unit is equipped with the best available and most advanced emission-control equipment.
We have ensured that this plant represents the very best of environmental and economic considerations.
Highlights of the plant
- This plant is the cleanest of its type in Florida and one of the cleanest of its kind in the nation.
- Each unit features clean-burning natural gas combined-cycle power plant technology.
- The plant is being built on a site designated by Palm Beach County for power plant development.
- All three units will be able to produce approximately 1,250 megawatts of power each. That’s enough electricity produced by each unit to serve approximately 250,000 homes and businesses each.
- Units 1 and 2 began serving customers in August 2009 and November 2009, respectively, and Unit 3 began serving customers in June 2011.
- The plant will use reclaimed water as its primary water source for all three units starting in early 2011. Until then, Units 1 and 2 will use the Floridan Aquifer as the primary water source.
- The plant is located near existing power transmission lines needed to move electricity from the plant to growing communities.
West County Energy Center is supported by your community
The need for the West County Energy Center is supported by community organizations and others who understand the importance of maintaining safe, reliable and clean electricity for Palm Beach County and South Florida. The following organizations are demonstrating their support:
