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Friday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
› Universal theme parks booming with busy Orlando spring break; executive touts VelociCoaster opening
Universal theme parks broke even for the second quarter in a row with Comcast’s CEO singling out the Orlando parks for “remarkable attendance” during spring break. “Obviously during a pandemic when you’ve closed, it’s not a good business. It’s going to be choppy getting open again,” said NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell, who runs Universal theme parks within his division. “But it’s hard not to get excited about our parks business. The demand is there. We’re seeing it in Orlando. We have no international travel yet ... and we still are at capacity.”
› FPL Palm Bay solar plant converting sunlight to power with 280,000+ solar panels
Amid an array of 284,648 solar panels, a white General Electric power inverter buzzed with sunshine-generated electricity inside a large shipping container, deep within Florida Power & Light’s new Palm Bay Solar Energy Center. "This site, this converter right here, is really where Edison meets Tesla," said Bart Gaetjens, FPL external affairs manager, standing in the 485-acre solar farm.
› Industrial project Heritage Parkway Commerce Center planned near Melbourne airport
A new warehouse and manufacturing project may rise in the city of West Melbourne as e-commerce and population growth create more demand for this type of construction in Central Florida. Williamsville, New York-based Acquest Development LLC seeks approvals for two 150,000-square-foot warehouses and 15,000 square feet of commercial space near U.S. 192 and St. Johns Heritage Parkway, according to state records. The project is called Heritage Parkway Commerce Center.
› Tijuana Flats launches ‘prototype’ restaurants with high-tech features
Tijuana Flats is rolling out “prototype” restaurants with order status boards that tell customers when their food is ready or being prepared. The 125-restaurant chain, founded in Winter Park, has remodeled its restaurant at Aloma and Lakemont avenues in Winter Park to the new design. It also features digital menu boards and a revamped curbside pickup program, according to a news release.
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