WorldWide Drilling Resource

Solar Power in the Sunshine State Thanks to the Mining Industry Adapted from Information by Duke Energy and Mining Facts Hunting for camouflaged Mickey ears around Disney World is a popular game in sunny Florida. The most recent hidden Mickey isn’t too hard to spot, as it is made from 48,000 solar panels on 22 acres near Epcot. Duke Energy joined with Walt Disney World Resort and Reedy Creek Improvement District (RCID) to develop the five-megawatt solar facility operated by Duke Energy. The energy produced will be sold to RCID to help meet the power needs of Walt Disney World Resort, as well as other customers including the Four Seasons Resort and other hotels along Hotel Plaza Boulevard. “We’re committed to providing our customers with greater access to renewable energy, and the Walt Disney World Solar Facility is one example of how we’re doing that,” said Alex Glenn, Duke Energy state president - Florida. “We appreciate this unique opportunity to collaborate with Reedy Creek Improvement District and Walt Disney World Resort to expand the use of solar energy generation in Florida.” Disney, Duke Energy, and RCID representatives commemorated the opening of the new facility by flipping a giant light switch. “As a company that cares about the environment, we continually take steps of varying sizes to benefit the environment and protect the planet,” said Angie Renner, environmental integration director for Walt Disney World Resort. “This new solar facility will help us in our efforts to conserve natural resources.” With its Florida regional headquarters located in St. Petersburg, Florida, Duke Energy is one of the largest electric power holding companies in the United States. The new solar facility at Walt Disney World is one of several solar projects in devel- opment. By 2024, Duke Energy plans to add up to 500 megawatts of additional solar energy to Florida. The increased demand for solar power is good news for the mining industry since arsenic, bauxite, boron, cadmium, coal, copper, gallium, indium, iron ore, molybdenum, lead, phosphate, selenium, silica, tellurium, and titanium dioxide are required to manufacture the solar panels. Photo of the new solar facility at the Walt Disney World Resort courtesy of Duke Energy. 41 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® FEBRUARY 2017