Duke Energy has completed its Hardee County community solar site. This is part of its effort to make more solar energy available to all customers in Florida. The Fort Green Renewable Energy Center is the first of 10 solar sites, totaling 750 MW, that are part of the company’s new Clean Energy Connection community solar program.
Duke Energy Florida customers are able to subscribe to solar power without the need to install or maintain equipment.
“Bringing cleaner resources onto the grid is important to our customers and our company,” says Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida’s state president. “By subscribing to the Clean Energy Connection program and supporting solar sites like this one, our customers are joining a community that is helping drive Florida to a cleaner energy future.”
The 74.9 MW facility was built in Hardee County, Fla. on 500 acres of repurposed mining land. The project includes nearly 265,000 panels. They are installed on 500 acres of repurposed mining land in Hardee County, Fla. A fixed-tilt racking system will produce enough energy to power more homes than 23,000 at peak production.
Bay Trail Renewable Energy Center, Citrus County’s second Clean Energy Connection site is expected to support Clean Energy Connection subscriptions in the latter part of this summer.
Launched in April 2022, the Clean Energy Connection program allows customers to subscribe to kW blocks of solar power from the company’s Clean Energy Connection solar portfolio. The monthly subscription fee will help pay for the cost of construction and operation of the solar power plants and is conveniently added to a customer’s regular electric bill.
The program sets aside 26 MW for income-qualified customers who participate in government subsidy programs or Duke Energy’s low-income energy efficiency program, Neighborhood Energy Saver.