KSC and FPL consider solar power farm

NASA and Florida Power and Light are considering a solar power generation system on about 50 acres of Kennedy Space Center's approximately 140,000 acres. It could produce up to 10 megawatts of electricity, which is enough energy to serve roughly 3,000 homes.

"We're working with them on a couple of potential sites," Sharon Bennett, FPL spokesman, said. The project is virtually experimental, as FPL begins to capitalize on Florida's abundant and free sunshine to replace dwindling, expensive and polluting fossil fuels.

"This is an initial, small project," said Bennett. "This is to get us started and see if we can work together. We're working on larger scale projects."

KSC and FPL managers signed a memorandum of understanding Thursday at the space center, according to a NASA press release.

"We are looking forward to identifying projects that can help reduce our nation's and state's dependence on fossil fuels," said KSC Operations Director Michael J. Benik.

Joint energy projects include solar energy, using biomass - which might be garbage - for energy production and wind power generation.