KSC-2010-2257

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - This aerial view combines NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex (left) and the proposed 500-acre site for one of the largest solar power plants of its kind. The planned 100-megawatt photovoltaic solar plant would use similar panels to those already built at Kennedy by the SunPower Corp. The energy produced by the proposed facility would be used to provide power to Florida Power and Light customers. Kennedy Center Director Bob Cabana, FPL Vice President and Chief Development Officer Eric Silagy and a SunPower Corp. representative made a joint announcement regarding the new construction during a ceremony held in November 2009 to commission a 1-megawatt solar plant. Included in the announcement were plans to establish a permanent renewable energy research and development center at Exploration Park, Kennedy's new business complex. The dedicated RandD facility proposed for Exploration Park could result in at least 50 high-salary science and engineering positions permanently established at Kennedy by SunPower and FPL's other partners, a potential for solar panel manufacturing located nearby and as many as 1,000 new construction jobs. FPL and Kennedy have initiated environmental studies and a plan to support the next project, which could be initiated before the end of 2010. Photo credit: NASA_Kim Shiflett