DEF Announces Trio Of Solar Projects

Duke Energy Florida (DEF) has announced the locations of its newest universal solar power plants, totaling 195 MW.

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

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 energy to power over 23,000 average homes at peak production. Expected to be in service in December, the project will be owned, operated and maintained by DEF, which acquired the development rights to the project from Southeast Solar & Power LLC. DEF is responsible for all remaining development activities, including construction.

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 energy to power over 20,000 average homes at peak production. It is expected to be in service in March 2020. The project will be developed, owned, operated and maintained by DEF on company-owned land in the city of DeBary.

DEF has filed a request with the Florida Public Service Commission to recover the estimated investment costs associated with the three projects.

“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,” says Catherine Stempien, DEF’s 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.”

DEF is investing an estimated $1 billion to construct or acquire a total of 700 MW of solar power facilities through 2022. Last year, its Hamilton Solar Power Plant, sized at 74.9 MW, was placed in service, marking the fifth DEF-owned solar plant in operation in Florida.

The previously announced 74.9 MW Columbia Solar Power Plant will be completed in March 2020. Together, with today’s announcement, DEF will have nine solar power plants in operation by the end of the first quarter of 2020.