Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA) has announced a significant expansion of the Florida Municipal Solar Project in collaboration with 20 Florida municipal electric utilities and Origis Energy. The expansion aims to quadruple the current solar power generation capacity of the project, offering numerous benefits to the state.
The Florida Municipal Solar Project presently encompasses two solar farms, namely Taylor Creek Solar in Orange County and Harmony Solar in Osceola County. Together, these facilities generate nearly 150 megawatts of solar power, which is sufficient to meet the energy needs of approximately 30,000 homes in Florida.
The expansion will be executed in two phases. Phase 2 will involve the construction of two additional solar farms, Rice Creek Solar in Putnam County and Whistling Duck Solar in Levy County. Rice Creek Solar is expected to be completed by the end of this year, while Whistling Duck Solar is projected to be operational in 2024. The combined energy output of these new sites will add nearly 150 megawatts of solar energy to the project.
Phase 3 of the expansion will witness the integration of four more solar farms into the project, effectively doubling its size from four to eight sites. These additional sites, located in Columbia, Levy, and Bradford Counties, will generate an impressive 600 megawatts of solar power, which is four times the current output. The construction and operation of these four sites will be staggered throughout 2025 and 2026.
Upon completion of the expansion in 2026, the Florida Municipal Solar Project will feature over 1.8 million solar panels across its eight farms. This large-scale solar initiative enables the participating municipal utilities to provide solar energy to their customers in a highly cost-effective manner. The cost of solar power derived from the project is estimated to be approximately one-third of that from a typical private, rooftop solar system.
A total of 20 Florida municipal electric utilities, including JEA (Jacksonville), Orlando Utilities Commission, and Kissimmee Utility Authority, among others, will purchase power from the expanded project. These utilities, along with 13 other municipal utilities, are member-owners of FMPA.
The expansion of the Florida Municipal Solar Project signifies a major step forward in Florida’s commitment to renewable energy and sustainability. By embracing solar power on a larger scale, the state aims to reduce its carbon footprint, enhance energy reliability, and provide cleaner and more affordable electricity to its residents.