Duke Energy Florida Celebrates Achievement of Nearly 750-Megawatt Solar Commitment
Duke Energy Florida is marking a significant milestone in its Clean Energy Initiative, with all 10 solar energy sites under its Clean Energy Connection program now fully operational. This achievement fulfills the company’s commitment made in 2020 to provide nearly 750 megawatts (MW) of solar energy to Florida’s electric grid, which is set to be completed between 2022 and 2024. This is an essential component of Duke Energy Florida’s ongoing efforts to enhance the sustainability and resilience of the state’s energy grid and to diversify its energy mix.
Advancing Solar Development in Florida
“Solar development is critical to maintaining a modern, diverse, and resilient electric grid,” remarked Melissa Seixas, state president of Duke Energy Florida. “The completion of these sites is a key part of our commitment to Florida’s energy future. We look forward to building on the important work we’ve done in recent years as we continue to upgrade our generation fleet, ensuring we are providing reliable, affordable energy for our customers and the communities we serve—now and in the future.”
The Clean Energy Connection solar sites represent a crucial step forward in Duke Energy Florida’s mission to deliver cleaner energy alternatives to residents and businesses across the state. At full capacity, each of the 74.9-MW solar sites can produce enough energy to power approximately 23,000 homes. The environmental impact of these sites is equally significant, as they collectively displace 1.2 million cubic feet of natural gas, 15,000 barrels of fuel oil, and 12,000 tons of coal annually. This reduction in fossil fuel reliance plays a vital role in mitigating carbon emissions and improving air quality in Florida.
Economic Impact of Clean Energy Development
In addition to environmental benefits, the Clean Energy Connection program has also generated substantial economic advantages. The development of these solar sites has created more than 1,500 temporary jobs during the construction phases, providing a boost to the local economy. The solar centers also bring in significant tax revenue to the counties where they are located, contributing to community growth and infrastructure development.
The 10 solar facilities span across Florida, from the panhandle in Bay County to the southern reaches in Hardee County. The following locations are part of Duke Energy Florida’s Clean Energy Connection program:
- Bay Ranch Renewable Energy Center in Bay County, completed in April 2023
- Bay Trail Renewable Energy Center in Citrus County, completed in September 2022
- County Line Renewable Energy Center in Gilchrist County, completed in August 2024
- Falmouth Renewable Energy Center in Suwannee County, completed in June 2024
- Fort Green Renewable Energy Center in Hardee County, completed in June 2022
- Hardeetown Renewable Energy Center in Levy County, completed in April 2023
- High Springs Renewable Energy Center in Alachua County, completed in April 2023
- Hildreth Renewable Energy Center in Suwannee County, completed in April 2023
- Mule Creek Renewable Energy Center in Bay County, completed in March 2024
- Winquepin Renewable Energy Center in Madison County, completed in December 2024
These locations collectively form a robust network of renewable energy facilities, helping to strengthen the state’s solar energy infrastructure and provide clean, sustainable energy to a growing population.
Customer Participation and Benefits
As part of the Clean Energy Connection program, Duke Energy Florida offers a subscription-based model that allows customers to support solar energy without the need to install or maintain solar panels. Customers who choose to participate can subscribe to a portion of the solar power generated by the facilities and earn credits that are applied to their electricity bills. This subscription fee helps cover the operational and capital costs of the solar sites and is added to the customer’s regular utility bill. For customers interested in learning more about how to participate in the Clean Energy Connection program, additional information is available on Duke Energy’s website.
Expansion of Solar Capacity
The Clean Energy Connection solar sites are now an integral part of Duke Energy Florida’s portfolio, which already includes over 25 solar sites producing nearly 1,500 MW of emission-free energy. The company is committed to further expanding its renewable energy capacity to meet growing demand and accelerate Florida’s transition to clean energy. Over the next few years, Duke Energy Florida plans to add 12 new solar sites between 2025 and 2027, which will contribute an additional 900 MW of clean energy to the grid.
Looking further ahead, the company projects the addition of at least 450 MW of utility-scale solar energy annually for the next decade. These efforts align with the broader goals set by Duke Energy to reduce carbon emissions and support the state’s climate objectives.
Duke Energy Florida’s Role in Florida’s Energy Landscape
Duke Energy Florida is a subsidiary of Duke Energy, one of the largest energy holding companies in the United States. With a robust capacity of 12,300 MW, Duke Energy Florida provides electricity to approximately 2 million customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area in the state. This broad reach ensures that both urban and rural communities benefit from the company’s expanding renewable energy infrastructure.
As part of Duke Energy’s larger clean energy strategy, the company is making significant investments in electric grid modernization, cleaner generation sources, and energy storage technologies. These initiatives are designed to ensure that the energy transition is both reliable and affordable for all customers. Duke Energy is also committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050, while working towards net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas operations by 2030.
Duke Energy’s Clean Energy Transition
Duke Energy is executing an ambitious clean energy transition strategy that focuses on maintaining reliability, affordability, and accessibility. The company recognizes the critical role of renewable energy sources like solar power, as well as energy storage and advanced grid technologies, in ensuring a reliable and sustainable power supply.
In addition to solar energy, Duke Energy is investing in other clean technologies, including wind, battery storage, and nuclear power. These investments are part of the company’s broader vision to create a diversified, resilient energy grid capable of supporting the evolving needs of its customers in Florida and across its service areas.
Duke Energy Florida’s achievement of delivering nearly 750 MW of solar energy through its Clean Energy Connection program marks a significant milestone in the company’s commitment to clean energy and sustainability. The completed solar sites not only help reduce Florida’s dependence on fossil fuels but also contribute to the state’s economic development, creating jobs and generating tax revenue for local communities.
As part of its ongoing efforts to accelerate the transition to a clean energy future, Duke Energy Florida is planning continued investments in renewable energy infrastructure. The company’s commitment to expanding solar power, alongside its broader clean energy goals, positions it as a leader in Florida’s renewable energy landscape. With continued focus on modernizing the energy grid and expanding renewable energy capacity, Duke Energy Florida is well on its way to helping the state achieve a sustainable, reliable, and affordable energy future.
