Utilities

🔑 Key Points

• Duke Energy Florida has filed plans to build four new solar energy sites, adding nearly 300 MW to the electric grid by early 2027.

• The sites will be located in Columbia, Osceola, and Sumter counties.

• The new solar installations are expected to save $1 billion for the company’s 2 million customers over their service lifetimes.

• Expanding solar helps reduce fuel costs (like natural gas), which directly lowers customer bills.

• Through the Inflation Reduction Act, Duke transfers $65 million per year in tax credits to customers, lowering bills by at least $2.50 per 1,000 kWh (this discount will grow as more solar sites come online).

• Each site will create about 150 temporary construction jobs.

• Annual environmental benefits per site at peak output:
• Saves 1.1 million cubic feet of natural gas
• Saves 12,000 barrels of fuel oil
• Saves 9,000 tons of coal

🛠 Project Details (Phase 2)

• Jumper Creek (Sumter County)
• Status: Under construction
• Estimated completion: July 2026

• Turnpike (Osceola County)
• Status: Starts Dec 2025
• Completion: Dec 2026

• Lonesome Camp (Osceola County)
• Status: Starts Jan 2026
• Completion: Feb 2027

• Banner (Columbia County)
• Status: Starts Feb 2026
• Completion: March 2027

🌞 Bigger Picture

• By end of 2025, Duke Energy Florida will operate 30 solar sites producing 1,700 MW across the state.

• These four sites are part of a larger plan to build 12 new sites (900 MW) between 2025 and 2027.

• Duke expects to reach 6,100+ MW of utility-scale solar capacity by 2033.