Duke Energy Florida announced the completion of two new solar energy sites: Half Moon Renewable Energy Center in Sumter County and Rattler Renewable Energy Center in Hernando County. The announcement was made from St. Petersburg, Florida.

Solar Site Specifications and Energy Production

Each of the two solar sites produces 74.9 megawatts (MW) of clean energy that has been added to the electric grid. The combined output from both facilities contributes nearly 150 MW of solar generating capacity to Duke Energy Florida's system.

The Half Moon Renewable Energy Center is located in Sumter County, while the Rattler Renewable Energy Center operates in Hernando County. Both sites are now operational and contributing to the state's energy grid.

Customer Savings and Economic Impact

The two completed solar sites are projected to save Duke Energy Florida's 2 million customers an estimated USD 500 million over their service lifetimes. These savings are generated because expanding solar energy helps displace the cost of fuel, like natural gas, that would otherwise be needed to generate electricity.

The cost savings are possible because Duke Energy Florida's fuel price is a direct pass-through reflected on customer bills. By reducing reliance on fuel-based generation, the solar sites create direct financial benefits for customers.

Broader Solar Development Plans

The two newly completed sites represent part of the first phase of an agreement with the Florida Public Service Commission to build 12 new solar sites between 2025 and 2027. Together, these 12 sites will create 900 MW of energy capacity.

The complete 12-site project is expected to save customers approximately USD 3 billion over their service lifetimes. This represents a significant expansion of Duke Energy Florida's solar portfolio over the next few years.

Current Solar Portfolio and Future Projections

Duke Energy Florida currently owns, operates, and maintains a portfolio of more than 30 solar energy sites across the state that contribute approximately 1,700 MW to the system. The addition of the two new sites further expands this existing solar infrastructure.

By the end of 2033, Duke Energy Florida projects to have over 6,100 MW of utility-scale solar generating capacity online. This represents a substantial increase from the current 1,700 MW capacity.

Company Leadership Perspective

Melissa Seixas, the state president of Duke Energy Florida, commented on the solar expansion efforts. “Our customers are the motivation for our ongoing solar energy expansion – as they are for everything we do, every day,” Seixas said. “Each new solar site creates considerable savings for them, while diversifying and strengthening our generation fleet, ensuring we're delivering on our commitment to providing safe, reliable energy at the lowest price possible.”

Duke Energy Florida Operations

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

Parent Company Information

Duke Energy is a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is described as 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.

Duke Energy's natural gas utilities serve 1.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio, and Kentucky. The company is executing what it describes as an ambitious energy transition, keeping customer reliability and value at the forefront as it builds a brighter energy future. The company is investing in major upgrades to the electric grid and in cleaner generation, including natural gas, nuclear, renewables, and energy storage.

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