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Duke Energy Florida (DEF) announced the locations of its two newest solar power plants which will provide clean energy solutions to its Florida customers.

The Twin Rivers Solar Power Plant will be built on 460 acres in Hamilton County. Once operational, the 74.9-MW facility will consist of approximately 235,000 tracking solar panels, enough electricity to power approximately 23,000 homes at peak production.

The Santa Fe Solar Power Plant will be built on approximately 600 acres in Columbia County. The 74.9-MW plant will consist of approximately 235,000 tracking solar panels, which will produce enough carbon-free energy to power more than 23,000 average homes at peak production.

Both solar power plants will be developed, owned, operated and maintained by DEF and are expected to break ground in March 2020. Completion is currently scheduled for late 2020.

“Our two newest solar power plants in Hamilton and Columbia counties are expected to eliminate approximately 600 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions in Florida each year upon commercial operation,” said Catherine Stempien, president, DEF. “We are committed to environmental stewardship and more fuel diversity for our Florida customers’ benefit.”

During construction, each solar project creates 200 to 300 temporary jobs.

“Columbia County is excited to partner with Duke Energy on this solar project that is not only promoting green energy but also bringing jobs and capital investment into our community,” said Glenn Hunter, Columbia County economic development director. “Additionally, Duke Energy’s investment into the hundreds of acres of rural farmland in Columbia County is significant to preserve the integrity of our land and development as we move into the future.”

Additionally, DEF completed two solar facilities last month:

The Lake Placid Solar Power Plant in Highlands County began serving customers on December 9, 2019. The facility is 45 MW, which is enough to power more than 12,000 homes at peak production.

The Trenton Solar Power Plant in Gilchrist County began serving customers on December 18, 2019. The facility is 74.9 MW, which is enough to power more than 23,000 homes at peak production.

Additional solar projects under construction

DEF is building another 74.9 MW with the Columbia Solar Power Plant in Columbia County, anticipated to begin servicing customers in April 2020. The DeBary Solar Power Plant is under construction in Volusia County and will bring another 300,000 solar panels to Florida with service beginning in June 2020.

DEF is increasingly delivering cleaner energy to customers with a total of almost 370 MW of solar under construction or in service by mid-2020. The company is investing an estimated $1 billion to construct or acquire a total of 700 MW of cost-effective solar power facilities from 2018 through 2022 in Florida and planning for another 1,500 MW of solar generation through 2028. DEF is buying existing projects and using a competitive process to select contractors, solar panels and project material suppliers.

Over the next decade, the company will continue to make investments in additional solar power plants, battery storage technology, shared solar, transportation electrification and a modernized power grid.

News item from Duke Energy Florida

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