Duke Energy Florida Reveals 3 New Solar Plants Totalling 195 MW

The company is investing an estimated $1 billion to construct or acquire a total of 700 MW of cost-effective solar power facilities through 2022.

Duke Energy Florida (DEF), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Duke Energy Co. has revealed plans for 3 more solar power plants in the state, totaling a solar capacity of 195 MW.

The power company has also announced the locations of its newest universal solar power plants, which will provide cleaner, smarter energy solutions to benefit Florida customers.

1. The Lake Placid Solar Power Plant will be built on 380 acres in Highlands County. The 45MW plant will consist of approximately 180,000 tracking solar panels. The solar power plant is expected to be in service in December 2019 and will be owned, operated and maintained by DEF. DEF acquired the development rights to the project from EDF Renewables.

2. The Trenton Solar Power Plant will occupy about 580 acres in Gilchrist County.  The 74.9 MW plant will consist of approximately 280,000 tracking solar panels, which will produce enough carbon-free energy to power over 23,000 average homes at peak production. It is expected to be in service in December 2019. The solar power plant will be owned, operated and maintained by DEF. DEF acquired the development rights to the project from Southeast Solar & Power LLC.

3. The DeBary Solar Power Plant will be built on about 445 acres in Volusia County. The 74.5-MW plant will consist of approximately 300,000 fixed-tilt solar panels, which will produce enough carbon-free energy to power over 20,000 average homes at peak production. It is expected to be in service in March 2020. The solar power plant will be developed, owned, operated and maintained by DEF. DEF developed the project on company-owned land in the city of DeBary.

“These three solar power plants are expected to eliminate nearly 800 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions in Florida each year upon commercial operation. That’s the equivalent of taking about 70,000 passenger cars off the road each year,” said Catherine Stempien, Duke Energy Florida state president. “These projects represent our commitment to the environment and more fuel diversity in the state as we strategically pace the expansion of renewable generation for our Florida customers’ benefit.”

By buying existing solar projects and using a competitive process to select DEF solar contractors, solar panels and project material suppliers, the company’s solar power plants bring the greatest amount of dependable renewable energy online for customers in the most efficient and economical way while creating more jobs in the solar and energy-related markets.