Mercedes Mullins
Florida has a variety of fossil fuels that power the state's energy needs. The state is the third-largest consumer of electricity in the US, and while it does not produce enough electricity to meet its own needs, it has been reducing its power imports over the last decade. Natural gas, petroleum liquids, coal, and nuclear power are the main sources of Florida's electricity generation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Natural gas | 75% of Florida's electricity net generation in 2024 |
| Nuclear power | 11% of Florida's electricity net generation in 2024 |
| Renewable resources | 10% of Florida's electricity net generation in 2024 |
| Coal | 3% of Florida's electricity net generation in 2024 |
| Petroleum | Less than 0.1% of Florida's electricity net generation in 2024 |
| Oil | Some oil production |
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What You'll Learn
Natural gas
Florida's electricity generation comes from pipelines that bring natural gas into the state through Alabama and Georgia. One subsea pipeline runs 745 miles across the Gulf Coast, forming an offshore link from the Mississippi and Alabama border to central Florida. In 2023, electricity generation accounted for 87% of the state's natural gas deliveries to consumers. The industrial sector consumed about 8%, the commercial sector used about 4%, and the residential sector consumed about 1%.
Florida also leads the nation in generators that can switch between natural gas and fuel oil. While petroleum liquids are an important backup fuel source at many of the state's natural gas-fired power plants, Florida does not have any crude oil refineries or pipelines.
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Nuclear power
While no new nuclear plants are currently planned in Florida, there is a growing interest in exploring the expansion of nuclear power in the state. Florida regulators and lawmakers are actively investigating the state's future nuclear potential. A state panel has been tasked with delivering a comprehensive research report to the Florida Legislature in 2025, considering various nuclear possibilities, including large- and small-scale reactors, as well as mobile nuclear power devices such as microreactors or small modular reactors (SMRs).
The interest in expanding nuclear power in Florida is driven by several factors. Firstly, Florida has a significant energy demand, ranking as the third-largest electricity consumer in the nation. Secondly, the state relies heavily on natural gas for electricity generation, with approximately 75% of its energy coming from natural gas in 2024, making it more dependent on a single source than any other state in the country. Diversifying energy sources through nuclear power can help reduce this reliance and improve energy security.
Additionally, Florida has experience owning and operating nuclear power plants, and its public utilities may be well-suited to partner with the Department of Defense (DOD) at the state's many military installations. The DOD, with its vast energy consumption, faces challenges due to its reliance on civilian shared electrical grids, making nuclear power an attractive alternative. SMRs, in particular, have reduced fuel requirements and longer refuelling intervals, making them a promising option for military bases.
However, there are also challenges and concerns associated with nuclear power in Florida. In 2013, plans to build two nuclear reactors in Levy County were abandoned due to licensing delays and economic concerns, highlighting the potential hurdles in nuclear project development. Additionally, there is a need to educate the public about advancements in nuclear safety and build confidence around nuclear power, as indicated by the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) in a feasibility report. Balancing the potential benefits of nuclear power with public perception and safety considerations will be crucial as Florida explores its future nuclear energy options.
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Renewable resources
Florida is the second-largest producer of electricity and the third-largest consumer of electricity in the US. In 2024, renewable resources—mainly solar energy and biomass—accounted for about 10% of Florida's total in-state generation. Solar energy is the fastest-growing renewable energy source in the state, with Florida ranking third in the nation for solar power generation in 2023. Most of the growth in solar installations is due to utility investments in clean energy. In 2022, renewable energy accounted for 13% of total energy production in the state, with solar and wind energy production seeing a record high.
Biomass fuels 11% of renewable generation in Florida, providing just 1% of the total in-state net generation. Plants that process municipal solid waste, followed by those fuelled by wood and wood waste, account for the largest share of the state's over 1,000 megawatts of biomass-fuelled generating capacity. Florida also has a variety of other biomass resources that fuel utility-scale electricity-generating facilities, including sugarcane waste, citrus pulp, forest residues, invasive trees and plants, animal waste, and agricultural crops.
In addition to solar and biomass, other renewable energy sources in Florida include wind, water, geothermal energy, and renewable natural gas. The state has several federal financial incentive programs for renewable energy, including the Renewable Electricity Production Tax Credit and the Residential Clean Energy Credit. Some cities, including Orlando and Tallahassee, have committed to using 100% renewable energy.
Florida is also a leader in electric vehicles, with more than 67,000 EVs purchased in the state in 2022, the second-highest in the nation after California. More than 8,000 charging ports were installed around the state to power them, and there are now close to 300,000 EVs registered in Florida.
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Petroleum liquids
Florida is the fourth-largest producer of power from petroleum liquids in the United States. The state's industrial and commercial sectors consume almost all of the petroleum used in Florida. The electric power sector, on the other hand, uses less than 1% of the state's petroleum, as older petroleum-fired units have been replaced with natural gas-fired generating units.
Florida does not have any crude oil refineries or interstate crude oil or petroleum product pipelines. Instead, the state relies on petroleum products delivered to inland terminals by rail, truck, tanker, and barge, as well as deliveries to marine terminals at various ports. Petroleum products such as residual fuel oil, jet fuel, motor gasoline, low-sulfur distillate, and asphalt arrive in Florida ports from around the world. Two intrastate pipelines transport petroleum products and fuel ethanol from the Tampa Bay port area across central Florida to Orlando.
Florida is the third-largest consumer of motor gasoline in the nation due to its large population and many tourists. The state does not require motor gasoline to be blended with ethanol, but it is widely used, and Florida is the third-largest consumer of fuel ethanol. Florida has one biodiesel plant, and biodiesel is usually blended with petroleum diesel. Biodiesel reduces GHG emissions, and vehicle performance is similar to standard diesel.
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Coal
Florida does not have any coal reserves or production and relies on coal from other states and overseas to meet its limited coal demand. In 2023, Florida's coal-fired power plants supplied about 3% of the state's total in-state net generation, down from 23% in 2014. The state is home to 15 coal-fired power plants and a total of 78 coal ash impoundments.
Florida's power plants generate 6.1 million tons of coal ash annually, making it the seventh-highest coal ash-generating state in the nation. Coal ash, also known as "coal combustion waste" (CCW) or "coal combustion residuals" (CCR), is a byproduct of coal-fired power plants and can contain toxic heavy metals that can leach into water resources and contaminate the soil. Florida's geology and high water table make it particularly vulnerable to pollution from coal ash, which has already contaminated half of the state's rivers, lakes, streams, and groundwater.
The state has a troubling track record when it comes to protecting its communities from the dangers of coal ash. In 2013, a new law was passed exempting coal ash dumps from the prohibition on hazardous waste landfills. As a result, 37% of reported coal ash landfills in Florida are unlined, 80% lack a leachate collection system, and many are unmonitored and uncovered.
While much of the coal ash produced in Florida is recycled and reused in products like EZBase for road construction, it has been found to leach toxic materials into the soil and water, causing contamination problems for several communities.
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Frequently asked questions
The primary fossil fuels in Florida are natural gas, oil, and petroleum. Natural gas has been the largest source of electricity generation in the state since 2003.
Nuclear power is the second-largest source of in-state energy generation in Florida. The state's two nuclear power stations are located on the Atlantic Coast.
Florida does not have any coal reserves or production and relies on coal from other states and overseas to meet its limited coal demand.
