North Wake News

Duke Energy Florida has submitted its 2025 Solar Base Rate Adjustment (SoBRA) filing to the Florida Public Service Commission. The filing outlines plans for four new solar energy sites in Madison, Sumter, Hernando, and Jefferson counties. These projects are part of the company's commitment to providing reliable and clean energy.

The company is investing over $521 million in these solar sites, which are expected to save customers $843 million over their service lifetimes. Construction has begun on three of the sites: Sundance Renewable Energy Center in Madison County, Half Moon Renewable Energy Center in Sumter County, and Rattler Renewable Energy Center in Hernando County. These are set to be operational by January 2026. The Bailey Mill Renewable Energy Center in Jefferson County is still undergoing permitting but aims to start construction by summer 2025 and be online by summer 2026.

Each site will create approximately 150 temporary jobs during construction and collectively add nearly 300 megawatts of carbon-free energy to the grid. At full capacity, each site will generate enough electricity for about 23,000 homes while reducing reliance on natural gas, fuel oil, and coal.

Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president, stated: "At Duke Energy Florida, we work every day to modernize and strengthen our generation fleet." She emphasized that solar energy is a cost-effective solution for customers across Florida.

Currently operating more than 25 solar sites producing around 1,500 megawatts of energy statewide, Duke Energy Florida plans to build an additional eight sites between 2025 and 2027. By the end of 2033, they aim for over 6,100 megawatts of utility-scale solar capacity.

Duke Energy Florida serves two million customers across a vast area with a total energy capacity of 12,300 megawatts. Its parent company Duke Energy is one of America's largest energy holding companies with significant operations across several states.

For further information about Duke Energy's initiatives or updates on their projects, visit duke-energy.com or follow them on social media platforms like X and LinkedIn.