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Miami saw the first ever electric car racing in the United States in March 2015. The race was held in downtown Miami.

It was through the initiative of the Florida Power and Light. Famous car driver Michael Andretti, together with other drivers in the Miami Prix was there to launch the event.

The president and CEO of FPL, Eric Silagy, gave the following statements regarding the event: “Our partnership with Formula E and the Miami ePrix is another example of our commitment to advancing zero-emissions solar energy and the use of electric vehicles in Florida.”

“By the end of 2016 we will triple the energy we are able to produce from the sun, furthering our mission to provide low-cost, reliable and clean energy to our 4.7 million customers,” he added.

To dramatize the event, several electric race cars were charged with power supplied by the Martin Next Generation Solar Energy Center, one of three solar power plants operated by FPL.

In the first quarter of 2015, FPL announced its program of installing more than 1 million solar panels at three other solar power plants by the end of 2016. These new plants, together with other small-scale arrays that FPL plans to install and other community-based solar installations would give a total of more than 225 megawatts of new solar capacity.

If this plan goes through, it would effectively triple FPL’s solar capacity. Currently, the total is about 110 megawatts.

“The Formula E Miami ePrix is all about sharing our passion for electric vehicles,” said Alejandro Agag, CEO of Formula E Holdings.

“The race series is exciting, it’s entertaining, and we hope it will turn the world’s attention to the potential electric vehicles have to change the way we power transportation,” he continued.

“We are pleased to partner with FPL – a company that shares our vision for powering the future with affordable, clean energy,” he added.

“It’s an honor for us to have been selected as one of the 10 founding Formula E teams for the inaugural season,” said Michael Andretti, chairman and CEO of Andretti Sports Marketing.

“I look forward to bringing this exciting series to North America and joining an impressive field of competitors at the upcoming race in Miami,” he added.

The Miami ePrix is part of the FIA Formula E Championship. It is the world’s first fully electric car racing series and is also the highest class of competition for electric race cars.

Formula E organizes car races in 10 cities around the world. That includes Monaco, Buenos Aires, Beijing, and London. The Miami ePrix last March was the first Formula E race ever held in the United States.

FPL also announced during the launching of the event that it will sponsor a student electric vehicle race as part of its partnership with other stakeholders. In this program, students from schools throughout the service area of FPL who are studying science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs will be asked to assemble 10 electric kit cars.