CAPE CANAVERAL (AP) – Sen. Bill Nelson joined NASA and Florida Power & Light officials at the Kennedy Space Center for the groundbreaking of a 60-acre solar energy facility.

FPL’s Space Coast Next Generation Solar Energy Center will produce about 10 megawatts of power with its 35,000 solar panels, which can power about 1,100 homes.

Another FPL solar facility of about one megawatt will provide power directly to the Kennedy Space Center.

An FPL spokeswoman said the total cost of the project is estimated at $78.9 million. The project is scheduled for completion by mid-2010.