A large home in Venice, Florida, USA is shown with 42 solar panels installed on the roof. Photo and Caption: Kent E. Roberts/Shutterstock.com
Florida is now overtaking industry titans Texas and California in the rapidly growing field of solar energy in the United States.
Florida installed more utility-scale solar than California last year, with over 3 gigawatts of new capacity coming online, even though the state removed climate change from its official state policy in 2024.
“This is not an anomaly,” stated Wood Mackenzie senior analyst Sylvia Leyva Martinez. “Florida is now influencing the growth of solar energy nationwide.”
It is not rooftop panels that are causing the surge, but utilities. Last year, more than 70 percent of the new solar installed in the state was constructed by Florida Power & Light alone. For projects under 75 megawatts, a state regulation permits developers to forego extensive siting evaluations, which expedites construction and lowers costs.
Syd Kitson, the creator of Babcock Ranch, a village intended to run nearly entirely on solar power, stated that there is no magic bullet. However, Florida did a good job with acceptance. Solar is what people desire here. We’re also demonstrating that it works.
When most of southwest Florida fell black during Hurricane Ian in 2022, Babcock Ranch, which is powered by its own microgrid, remained up.
Don Bishop, a local homeowner, stated, “We didn’t lose water, power, or internet.” “That alters your perspective on energy.”
The remainder is being handled by economics. Even without subsidies, solar is becoming the most affordable choice because to growing industrial demand and rising natural gas prices.
“Solar isn’t being built by utilities because it’s green,” Martinez stated. “It is less expensive, so that is why they are doing it.”
However, new difficulties are appearing.
The One Big Beautiful Bill, which hastened the repeal of wind and solar tax subsidies, was signed into law by President Trump in July. After 2025, homeowners are no longer eligible for the Federal Investment Credit. Stricter sourcing guidelines and shorter timeframes are faced by developers.
“It won’t kill the market,” stated Zoë Gaston, a Wood Mackenzie analyst who tracks the solar sector. “But it complicates the math.”
Over the next five years, analysts now predict a 42% decline in rooftop solar installations in Florida. Additionally, grid constraints are becoming a problem as utility-scale expansion increases. To stay up, utilities are investing heavily in smart infrastructure, storage, and grid enhancements.
To increase resilience, Babcock Ranch is testing novel microgrid systems. By adapting the playbook, it is hoped that other cities would be able to storm-proof neighborhoods one block at a time.
Kitson stated, “We have been testing this for years.” It’s all about scale now. To demonstrate to others that they are capable of doing the same.
The more significant question is whether Florida can maintain this momentum while continuing to rely significantly on natural gas and without regulatory help.
According to Mark Jacobson, a professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Stanford, “Florida has the solar resources.” “Political consistency is lacking.”
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Born and raised in South Florida, Krystal is a recent graduate from the University of Miami with professional writing experience at the collegiate and national news outlet levels. She’s a foodie who loves all things travel, the beach, & visiting new places throughout Florida.