Vernia Solar Energy Center expected to be built west of Vero Beach, serve 15,000 homes
Vernia Solar Energy Center expected to be built west of Vero Beach, serve 15,000 homes
Indian River County’s small town beginnings
As pioneers started settling in the area in the late 1800s, little towns began to crop up
- Approximately 98,000 Indian River County residents are FPL customers.
- Four other solar energy centers are located in Indian River County.
- The site was formerly citrus groves devastated by citrus greening.
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Florida Power & Light Co. wants to expand its energy operations here by building a nearly 75-megawatt solar farm on former citrus land.
The Vernia Solar Energy Center would be on nearly 449 acres at 1600 158th Ave. SW, 4½ miles south of State Road 60, and just over 3 miles east of Fort Drum Wildlife Management Area. It was presented to the county Technical Review Committee June 4.
“It will provide clean power, without the immediate risk that fossil fuels or nuclear power pose,” said County Commissioner Joe Earman. “We have sunshine in spades, and the land is not being used. What could be better?”
Former citrus land
The site is in the St. Johns Improvement District, which formerly was blanketed by citrus groves. Due to the toll citrus greening has taken on their crops, the growers sold to FPL, which wants to use the unoccupied land for solar centers, explained Earman.
Vernia would become the fifth FPL solar farm in the county. The others are:
- Blue Cypress Solar Energy Center, 10401 Fourth St.
- Grove Solar Energy Center, 16225 Ninth St. SW.
- Indian River Solar Energy Center, 1750 122nd Ave. SW.
- Orange Blossom Solar Energy Center, 450 118th Ave.
Each is capable of generating about 75 megawatts of electricity — enough to power 15,000 homes — and cost roughly $100 million, according to FPL.
The Vernia site comprises former groves, pastureland, forested wetlands and agricultural ditches.
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FPL operates 66 solar energy centers statewide. Emissions saved through the production of clean energy from each center is the equivalent of taking 14,000 cars off the road each year, according to FPL.
Solar energy centers contribute roughly $6 million each to the local economy.
Construction is planned to begin in late 2026, and wrap up in fall 2027, according to FPL spokesperson Taylor Hernandez. It will bring 200 jobs to the area.
“Citrus greening devastated the county’s hot commodity,” said Earman. “FPL is taking advantage of our other hot commodity, our wonderful sunshine.”
Nick Slater is TCPalm’s Indian River County Watchdog reporter. You can reach him at Nick.Slater@tcpalm.com and 224-830-2875.