The proposed facilities will employ 1.5 million solar panels that are expected to generate 120MW of clean power, enough to power around 18,000 homes.
Gulf Power, along with its third party developer Coronal Development Services, will build the facilities at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, NAS Whiting Field and Eglin Air Force Base.
US Navy energy, installations and environment assistant secretary Dennis McGinn said: "Together, we can provide physical security to the assets, increase the regional grid resiliency and upgrade the energy infrastructure where our Sailors and aviators live and work, as well as stimulate economic activity through development.
"Energy, the economy, the environment and our national security are bound together; you cannot affect one without affecting the others, and these projects have positive benefits in all four dimensions."
The Florida Public Service Commission approved all three project plans earlier this year. The Navy and Air Force have signed land lease agreements with Gulf Power on 28 October and 24 November respectively for the projects.
US Air Force installations, environment and energy assistant secretary Miranda Ballentine said: "The Air Force is focused on using these types of partnerships as a viable business model to improve the service’s energy resiliency and provide mission assurance through energy assurance.
"Renewable energy projects like this are good for the nation because it increases grid diversity, improves resiliency, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution."
The solar facilities are expected to become operational in December next year. Together, they will have the potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by over 4.6 million tons.
Image: US Air Force installations, environment and energy assistant secretary Miranda A.A. Ballentine at the groundbreaking ceremony. Photo: courtesy of US Air Force.
