Duke Energy Florida files plans for four new solar energy sites, adding nearly 300 megawatts of energy to the electric grid

Rhea-AI Summary

Duke Energy Florida has submitted its 2025 Solar Base Rate Adjustment filing, detailing plans for four new solar energy sites with a total investment of over $521 million. The sites, located in Madison, Sumter, Hernando, and Jefferson counties, will add nearly 300 megawatts of carbon-free energy to the electric grid and are expected to save customers $843 million over their service lifetimes.

Three sites - Sundance, Half Moon, and Rattler renewable energy centers - will be operational by January 2026, while the Bailey Mill center is scheduled for completion by summer 2026. Each 74.9-megawatt site will generate enough power for approximately 23,000 homes and create 150 temporary construction jobs.

The company currently operates more than 25 solar sites producing approximately 1,500 megawatts and plans to build 12 new solar sites between 2025-2027, adding 900 megawatts. Duke Energy Florida projects to have over 6,100 megawatts of utility-scale solar generating capacity online by 2033.

Positive

• Expected customer savings of $843 million over service lifetimes
• $521 million investment in renewable energy infrastructure
• Addition of 300 megawatts of carbon-free energy capacity
• Creation of 600 temporary construction jobs across four sites
• Expansion from 1,500MW to projected 6,100MW solar capacity by 2033

Negative

• None.

News Market Reaction – DUK

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Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

• The sites will be located in Madison, Sumter, Hernando and Jefferson counties and completed by summer 2026
• All together, they are expected to save customers $843 million over their service lifetimes

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Feb. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Duke Energy Florida submitted its 2025 Solar Base Rate Adjustment (SoBRA) filing to the Florida Public Service Commission (FPSC), outlining plans for four solar energy sites the company is pursuing this year in order to deliver on its commitment to continue providing reliable, affordable and increasingly clean energy for its customers.

In accordance with Duke Energy Florida's settlement agreement – which was approved by the FPSC in August 2024 – the company is investing over $521 million to establish solar sites in Madison County (Sundance Renewable Energy Center), Sumter County (Half Moon Renewable Energy Center), Hernando County (Rattler Renewable Energy Center) and Jefferson County (Bailey Mill Renewable Energy Center). All together, these sites are expected to save customers $843 million over their service lifetimes.

To date, the company has broken ground on the Sundance, Half Moon and Rattler renewable energy centers, all of which will be in service by January 2026. Bailey Mill Renewable Energy Center is continuing through the permitting process with the goal of starting construction in the summer of 2025, allowing for it to come online by the summer of 2026. During construction, each solar site will create an average of 150 temporary jobs, and when completed, they will add nearly 300 megawatts of quiet, carbon-free energy to the electric grid.

At peak output, each of the four 74.9-megawatt solar sites will generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of approximately 23,000 homes, while displacing 1.2 million cubic feet of natural gas, 15,000 barrels of fuel oil and 12,000 tons of coal annually.

"At Duke Energy Florida, we work every day to modernize and strengthen our generation fleet," said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. "Solar energy is an innovative, cost-effective and clean solution we continue to implement on behalf of our customers all across the Sunshine State."

Duke Energy Florida currently owns, operates and maintains a portfolio of more than 25 solar sites across the state that produce approximately 1,500 megawatts of energy. Between 2025 and 2027, the company plans to build 12 new solar sites – including these four – adding an additional 900 megawatts of energy to the electric grid. In fact, by the end of 2033, the company projects to have over 6,100 megawatts of utility scale solar generating capacity online.

Duke Energy Florida
Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 12,300 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 2 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area in Florida.  

Duke Energy 
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. The company's electric utilities serve 8.4 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 54,800 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. 

Duke Energy is executing an ambitious energy transition, keeping customer reliability and value at the forefront as it builds a smarter energy future. The company is investing in major electric grid upgrades and cleaner generation, including natural gas, nuclear, renewables and energy storage. 

More information is available at duke-energy.com and the Duke Energy News Center. Follow Duke Energy on X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook, and visit illumination for stories about the people and innovations powering our energy transition. 

Contact: Aly Raschid
24-Hour: 800.559.3853
X: @DE_AlyRaschid

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SOURCE Duke Energy

FAQ

How much will Duke Energy's (DUK) new Florida solar sites save customers?

The four new solar sites are expected to save Duke Energy Florida customers $843 million over their service lifetimes.

When will Duke Energy's (DUK) new Florida solar sites be operational?

Three sites will be operational by January 2026, while the Bailey Mill center will be completed by summer 2026.

How many megawatts will DUK's new Florida solar projects add to the grid?

The four new solar sites will add nearly 300 megawatts of carbon-free energy to the electric grid, with each site generating 74.9 megawatts.

What is Duke Energy's (DUK) total solar capacity target for Florida by 2033?

Duke Energy Florida projects to have over 6,100 megawatts of utility-scale solar generating capacity online by 2033.

How many homes can each of DUK's new Florida solar sites power?

Each 74.9-megawatt solar site will generate enough electricity to power approximately 23,000 homes.