A century after Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) was founded, the energy provider’s first-ever power plant—tucked just west of the Intracoastal in Dania Beach—is still playing a crucial role in powering the region’s economy. But the story of this legacy facility isn’t about nostalgia—it’s about evolution, reinvention, and staying ahead of demand in one of the fastest-growing corners of the country.
Opened in 1927, the Dania Beach Clean Energy Center has transformed from a local utility operation into one of the most efficient and forward-looking facilities in the company’s portfolio. And while FPL celebrates 100 years in 2025, the plant itself stands as a case study in long-view infrastructure planning—an increasingly rare trait in today’s quarter-by-quarter growth culture.
In a region defined by surging population, relentless development, and rising expectations, the Dania Beach facility has quietly kept pace. Over the years, the plant has undergone four major upgrades to increase efficiency, reduce emissions, and meet skyrocketing demand. It now powers close to 720,000 homes and businesses—up from just 110,000 when it first came online. And unlike many legacy plants that became obsolete or were decommissioned, this one has been continuously reimagined for what’s next.
One of the most pivotal changes came in the early 1990s, when the company demolished 24 old generating units and replaced them with just five turbines that produced the same amount of energy—1,200 megawatts—with dramatically improved efficiency. At the time, it was the largest gas turbine repowering project in the U.S. and a major signal of FPL’s intention to lead, not follow.
Roy West, an FPL technician who’s worked on the plant for more than 40 years, remembers the transition well. “It wasn’t just about replacing equipment—it was a shift in mindset,” he recalls. “We weren’t chasing problems. We were anticipating what was coming.”
That ethos has continued. In 2018, the plant was once again modernized, this time with state-of-the-art systems designed to generate more power with less fuel, while significantly cutting emissions. The result: a cleaner, more efficient operation capable of supporting both residential growth and South Florida’s increasingly energy-hungry business sectors.
Which brings us to the bottom line. In a state where affordability and growth go hand in hand, energy rates matter. Since 2001, FPL’s fuel-saving upgrades—at Dania Beach and beyond—have saved customers more than $16 billion. In 2023 alone, the figure topped $860 million. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, FPL’s rates are roughly 25 percent below the national average, giving Florida businesses a built-in cost advantage that’s easy to overlook until you’re tracking operating expenses line by line.
That advantage doesn’t stop at the meter. FPL’s presence in Dania Beach has brought sustained economic benefits to the community—through job creation, infrastructure investment, and partnerships with local organizations. The company has helped fund everything from neighborhood murals and new playgrounds to small business initiatives through the Dania Beach Chamber of Commerce.
Still, for all its economic utility, the plant’s most enduring role may be symbolic. In a region often known for what’s new, flashy, and still under construction, the Dania Beach Clean Energy Center represents something rare: infrastructure that was built to last—and built to adapt.
“It’s easy to overlook what’s working when you’re focused on what’s next,” says one longtime local official. “But this facility has been part of our economic engine for decades. And it’s still evolving.”
As FPL marks its centennial and leans into its next chapter—one that includes major investments in solar, battery storage, and grid modernization—Dania Beach remains a foundational piece of the puzzle. Not just because of where it started, but because of how it’s managed to keep up.
In a region growing as fast as South Florida, that kind of resilience might be the most powerful asset of all.
