LegoLand and Duke Energy Initiatives Prove Solar in Central Florida is on the Rise

In a new clean energy initiative, LegoLand, in cooperation with Tampa Electric, was the first theme park in America to run completely on solar energy. Though the campaign was only meant to run for the Earth Day celebration, the statement created is resounding. If an entire theme park can run on solar for a day, why can’t LegoLand, and other big businesses, run on solar indefinitely? Well, even after the Earth Day stunt, a portion of the park will, in fact, continue to run solely on solar, and numerous exhibits are due to stay on site to provide families with information about the benefits of solar energy, because soon, Florida’s major utility companies could be making a big move toward solar.

Duke Energy has been feeling the heat from government officials who have been urging the Florida utility company to invest in solar. More than two dozen officials from various ranks joined forces to prod Duke Energy president, Alex Glenn, into focusing the company’s attention on solar-powered technologies in an attempt to help boost Florida’s economy. If a priority shift is made within Duke Energy, the hope is that the state’s rank of 16th especially since Florida is, after all, the Sunshine State.

As a whole, the United States has seen a rise in interest in solar energy, and in fact, eyes have begun to turn away from nuclear to point toward solar as a cleaner, more renewable, alternative energy source. Just this past year, five nuclear plants were shut down, bringing the national number of plants under 100 for the first time in 20 years. This no doubt paves the way for new solar energy initiatives all throughout the country, as well as a new, cleaner future for America.