Why no Solar Energy in Florida? Here's part of the answer

[bencrix]

In response to the discussion of the economics of various forms of power generation, here is a link to one of many estimates of the levelized cost of coal, nuclear, natural gas, wind, solar, etc., this one from a relatively non-controversial source (US Energy Information Administration).

http://www.eia.gov/forecasts/aeo/electricity_generation.cfm

Note that (utility-scale) solar doesn't cost appreciably more than the other options, given the uncertainties involved. Unlike some of those others, its cost is expected to continue to drop.

I suspect this is one of the reasons why utilities are beginning to invest more in these systems, particularly in states where the regulatory systems differ from Florida (but also in Florida).

On the distributed (i.e. non-utility scale side), costs are higher, but also changing fast. On that side of the coin, here's more on the group referenced in the article: http://www.flsolarchoice.org/. They are supporting a constitutional amendment that would allow PPAs along the lines described by an earlier poster.