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1 million solar panels in operation in Okeechobee County

Posted 2/21/23

Florida Power & Light (FPL) will recognize the installation of more than 1 million solar panels in Okeechobee County ...

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Online exclusive

1 million solar panels in operation in Okeechobee County

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OKEECHOBEE – Florida Power & Light (FPL) will recognize the installation of more than 1 million solar panels in Okeechobee County at the Thursday, Feb. 23 meeting of the Okeechobee County Commission.

Commissioners will be presented with the FPL Million Solar Panel Award from Ian Kaufer, External Affairs Manager on behalf of FPL in recognition of Okeechobee County reaching more than one million solar panels at four solar sites within the county.

Solar energy sites in Okeechobee County include:

• FPL Lakeside Solar Energy Center, completed Dec. 18, 2020 with 325,260 panels;
• FPL Okeechobee Solar Energy Center, completed April 30, 2020 with 261,816 panels;

• FPL Fort Drum Solar Energy Center, completed June 30, 2021 with 309,120 panels; and.
• FPL Cavendish Solar Energy Center, completed Jan. 31, 2023 with 209,816 panels,

The four sites total 1,106,012 solar panels.

The meeting will be held in the Historic Okeechobee County Courthouse, 304 N.W. Second Street, starting at 9 a.m.

Other items on the meeting agenda include:

• Appointment of one regular member to the Okeechobee Utility Authority: The Okeechobee County Board of Commissioners appoints three members to the OUA for staggered four-year terms. One position will expire March 1. John Creasman and John Gilliland have applied for this appointment.

• Appointment of one regular member to the Affordable Housing Committee. This committee consists of 8-11 members who represent diverse backgrounds, including housing, banking, real estate, labor, advocates, and residents. Commissioners originally appointed 10 citizens to serve on the AHAC. One citizen, who had served as a lay person, has since left the AHAC, leaving a potential vacancy. All terms expire May 25, 2024. Jefferson Davis II has applied for this position.

• Agri-Civic Center Advisory Committee appointments: This committee has 12 members who serve staggered four-year terms. Three positions are up for appointment. The Agri-Civic Center Advisory Committee is responsible for investigating, and making recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners on potential uses for the Agri-Civic Center Complex, including but not limited to fairs, exhibitions, sporting events, spectator events and other activities which would be of interest and benefit Okeechobee County and its residents. Additionally, the Committee investigates, reviews and makes recommendations as to fee structures and maintenance and operational protocols, taking into consideration both community needs as well as minimizing the operational expenses. Applicants are Renee Burks, Scott Durand and Albert Ceballos. All three are incumbents.

• Construction Industry Licensing Board appointments; The commissioners will appoint two members to the Construction Industry Licensing Board to three-year terms. The board consists of seven regular members and one alternate. When possible the CILB should include five active registered contractors, one specialty contractor and one lay person. They must be residents of Okeechobee County. Mary Kay Digirolamo, a home inspector, and William Ward, an electrical contractor have applied for the positions. Ward is an incumbent. He attended six of seven meetings in 2022.

• Planning Board/Board of Adjustments and Appeals appointments: Three regular members will be appointed for three year terms and one alternate member will be appointed for a two-year term. In addition, there is a vacancy for an alternate member term which expires on March 1, 2025. Applicants include: Robbie Chartier, an incumbent who attended four of five meetings in 2022; Jefferson Davis, Billy McCullers and Charles Murphy. Davis has indicated an interest in serving on the Planning Board, Tourist Development Council and Affordable Housing Advisory Committee.

solar panels, county commission, okeechobee utility authority, affordable housing committee, agri-civic center, construction industry licensing board, planning board, board members

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