Florida Blue, the state's Blue Cross Blue Shield plan, committed to reducing its carbon footprint by 50 percent by making its facilities entirely powered by solar energy, the payer announced Dec. 2.
The move is part of Jacksonville's electric utility's JEA SolarMax program, which helps companies use solar energy to shrink their environmental impacts, according to the announcement. Florida Blue is making the shift for its headquarters and other Jacksonville-area facilities.
"This partnership with JEA’s SolarMax project is an important piece to helping Florida Blue reach our goals for renewable energy," said Pat Geraghty, Florida Blue CEO. "Whereas we previously measured our energy savings only in dollars, we now have a corporate goal for reducing our carbon footprint, as well. We want to be environmental leaders in our community. Our company’s mission is to help people and communities achieve better health, and improving our environment is one way we can live our mission."
The payer has already reduced its carbon footprint by 22 percent since 2017 through LED lighting, using reclaimed rainwater for landscape watering and managing food waste.