A big power play in New York as Florida Power and Light announces it is going to build a new plant, generating electricity from solar power.
The project was unveiled at a global conference held by former President Clinton.
News 13's Scott Harris shows us some familiar faces were on hand to hear the news.
It will be big; the new solar plant is to produce 500 Megawatts of power, part of Florida Power and Light $2. 4 billion clean energy program.
FP&L Chairman Lew Hay joined Clinton and Crist on stage in New York for the announcement.
Clinton praised Crist for pushing the restoration of felon voter rights in Florida and then got to the main event, The Solar Power Plant, which he called a huge deal for America, and potentially around the world.
Governor Crist brought it closer to home.
" ... Producing solar energy in the Sunshine State just makes sense, but you know, I live in a state, Florida, it's a beautiful state, but is probably the most vulnerable to climate change. We have 1350 miles of coastline. Because of what you're doing here and because of what Florida Power & Light is doing, it's making a difference. It's making the world better and it's helping my state, and I'm very grateful. God bless you," Crist said.
How is this all going to work? FP&L plans to use technology from a company called Ausra who did their first solar project in Australia
Mirrors will concentrate the sun's rays on pipes to superheat pressurized water and that is used to run steam turbines, a long-time standard to generate electricity.
Unbelievably, the Solar Thermal System can provide electricity into the night. The sun no longer heats the water, but they have developed ways to store the superheated water, and Ausra says their plants will be able to provide power up to twenty hours after sunset, or, let's say a Florida afternoon thunderstorm.
Florida Power and Light is the state's largest Electric Utility. In Central Florida, it serves customers predominately along the east coast in Flagler, Volusia and Brevard Counties.