How Florida California exceeded quietly in solar growth

Solar energy is booming in the United States and for the first time Florida comes with power plants in the industry in Texas and California.

Although Florida removed climate change from its official state politics in 2024 in 2024, Florida added more solar than California last year, with over 3 gigawatts From new capacities online.

“This is no coincidence,” said Sylvia Leyva Martinez, Senior Analyst at Wood Mackenzie. “Florida now shapes national sun growth.”

The increase is powered by supply companies and not panels on the roof. Florida Power & Light Last year alone, over 70% of the new solar of the state built. With a state rule, developers can skip lengthy location reviews for projects below 75 megawatts, which accelerates the construction and reduces the costs.

“There is no silver ball,” said Syd Kitson, founder of Babcock Ranch, a city that is to be driven almost exclusively by Solar. “But one thing that Florida did correctly is acceptance. Here people want solar. And we prove that it works.”

Babcock Ranch runs on its own microgrid and stayed online during the hurricane Ian in 2022. While a large part of the southwest was florida dark.

“We have not lost electricity, internet or water,” said Don Bishop, a homeowner. “This changes the way you think about energy.”

The economy does the rest. With increasing increase in industrial demand and natural gas prices, solar is the cheapest option even without subsidies.

“Care companies do not build solar because it is green,” said Martinez. “You do it because it’s cheaper.”

But there are new challenges.

President Trump signed the A big beautiful bill which accelerates the rollback from solar and wind tax credits. After 2025, homeowners lose the federal investment loan. Developers have closer deadlines and stricter procurement rules.

“It won’t kill the market,” said Zoë Gaston, an analyst that follows the solar industry at Wood Mackenzie. “But it makes mathematics heavier.”

Analysts now expect a 42% fall Solar will install itself in Florida over the next five years. And while the growth of the supply standard continues, grid restrictions become a problem. Care companies pour money in storage, intelligent infrastructure and raster upgrades to keep step.

Babcock Ranch stylish new microgrid systems to give resilience. The hope is that other communities can take the game book and adapt what is stormy.

“We have been testing this for years,” said Kitson. “Now it’s about scaling. It’s about showing others that they can do it too.”

The greater question is whether Florida can maintain this dynamic without political support and while he is still very relying on natural gas.

“Florida has solar resources,” said Mark Jacobson, professor at the Stanford Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. “What is missing is political consistency.”

Take a look at the video to see how Florida became a solar leader and what it could slow down.