BROWARD COUNTY, FL - The County is living up to its reputation for sunshine - and its sun-centric logo - thanks to new solar photovoltaic systems installed across nine County sites and facilities.
The systems were installed during the last 12 months and are estimated to generate a combined 5,369 megawatt-hours of electricity each year - equivalent to the electricity used annually by 370 average households in Florida. On average, projects will offset approximately 50% of the metered energy consumption associated with these sites.
Projects include large-scale rooftop installations at Stirling Road Branch Library in Hollywood, Broward Logistics Center in Fort Lauderdale, and Copans and Ravenswood Transit Facilities in Pompano Beach and Dania Beach, respectively.
Solar parking canopies were constructed at the Broward Addiction and Recovery Center (BARC) in Fort Lauderdale, Central Broward Park in Lauderhill, C.B. Smith Park in Pembroke Pines, and atop the Terminal 4 Heron Parking Garage at Port Everglades and the County’s Governmental Center West (GCW) Parking Garage in Plantation.
Two additional County facilities are set to receive solar photovoltaic (PV) systems soon: West Regional Courthouse in Plantation, and the Broward Animal Care and Adoption Center in Fort Lauderdale.
The solar projects are designed to withstand hurricane-force winds of up to 170 miles per hour. Additionally, electric vehicle charging stations were installed in conjunction with several of the projects as part of the County’s complimentary effort to support the transition to clean vehicles.
Commissioner Beam Furr, Co-chair of the County’s Climate Change Task Force and the Resilience Pillar of the Prosperity Partnership celebrated the progress, “Clearly this is only the beginning. These projects provide a visible example of the investments needed across the County and region. With these investments we lay the foundation for a transformation that serves our community and environment in so many ways”. Furr also said, “Solar energy should be the visible definition of Broward County, benefiting our residents, our economy, and our future. In recognizing the relationship of this effort with the concurrent activities of the Prosperity Partnership, I urge our institutional, private sector and municipal partners to join the County in expanding upon these investments on our collective behalf.”
Projects were executed through a variety of partnerships including a solar energy services contract with Advanced Roofing Inc. of Fort Lauderdale (BARC, Central Broward Park, Transit Facilities, Stirling Library, and Logistic Center); energy services contracts with Siemens Industry, Inc. (C.B. Smith Park) and Engie Services U.S. Inc. (GCW), and as part of the overall construction of the parking garage to service Cruise Terminals 2 and 4, completed by a Stiles/Pittle Joint Venture.
These solar projects demonstrate Broward County’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. with investments in clean and renewable energy, in addition to ongoing efficiency and conservation strategies, efforts which reinforce regional, national, and global efforts to achieve climate stabilization.
Broward County has committed to a community-wide greenhouse gas emissions goal of 80% by 2050, a total renewable energy goal of 20%, and a clean fleet goal by 2030. As a participant in FP&L’s Solar Together Program, Broward County is benefiting from utility-scale solar projects and is enrolled at a level to offset 100% of metered energy consumption. The County is slated to achieve a full 100% offset to agency-wide energy consumption by the end of 2021.
Senator Nan Rich, Co-Chair of the Broward County Climate Change Task Force, who played a lead role in advancing the County’s early participation in the Solar Together Program stated, “It is incumbent on all of us to make these investments sooner than later. The opportunity is now and the need is urgent. The emission reductions we achieve over the next several years will be pivotal in determining climate impacts and costs for generations to come. I am inspired and optimistic knowing what we can achieve together.”
The County intends to build upon these projects with additional on-site solar investments as part of new projects and retrofits. Large scale projects are planned as part of the new Joint Governmental Center with the City of Fort Lauderdale and as part of the future Convention Center Hotel. Additional sites are also under review for evaluation of rooftop and ground-mounted solar opportunities.
Broward County Administrator Bertha Henry said, “The efforts of our team are a reflection of the leadership of our Board and the commitment of the entire organization to lead the charge on clean energy solutions.”
Broward County is committed to clean and renewable energy as an essential investment in our future. These projects, coupled with investments by residential and commercial property owners provide crucial environmental benefits and offer economic opportunities associated with green jobs in Broward County and throughout our region.
For additional information regarding the County’s climate, energy and sustainability initiatives please visit Broward.org/Climate or the County’s new Resilience Dashboard at https://arcg.is/09equu.
About Environmental Protection and Growth Management
The Department focuses on safeguarding lives, natural resources and property of residents and visitors. This is accomplished by providing for natural resource planning, management and protection, planning for appropriate land use/housing patterns and establishing an incident command system and emergency operations plans, enforcing environmental, development and construction regulations and providing consumer protection. For more information, call 954-357-6612 or visit our website.
May 13, 2021
MEDIA CONTACT: Dr. Jennifer Jurado, Chief Resilience Officer and Deputy Director
Environmental Protection and Growth Management Department
PHONE: 954-519-1464
EMAIL: jjurado@broward.org