Florida Department of Transportation and D3Energy sign statewide master lease for floating solar development on stormwater ponds

Type: Partnership · Technology: Solar · Country: United States · Announced: 2026-06-02

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and D3Energy announced the commissioning of the first floating solar project under a statewide master lease agreement allowing D3Energy to develop floating photovoltaic systems on FDOT-managed stormwater ponds across Florida. The partnership aims to unlock over 1 GW of floating solar capacity, sufficient to power more than 200,000 homes, by leveraging stormwater ponds within state highway rights-of-way. The initial operational project, a floating solar array on an FDOT pond in Orlando developed with Orlando Utilities Commission, demonstrates the model's viability and scalability. This approach addresses land constraints in Florida by utilizing existing water infrastructure, avoiding competition with housing, agriculture, and conservation lands. The statewide framework reduces permitting fragmentation and could serve as a replicable model for other land-constrained markets.

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