Duke Energy Florida has announced plans to add nearly 300 megawatts of solar energy to the state’s electric grid by early 2027. The company submitted a filing to the Florida Public Service Commission detailing four new solar sites in Columbia, Osceola, and Sumter counties.
The expansion is expected to provide significant cost savings for customers. According to Duke Energy Florida, the new sites will save its two million customers an estimated $1 billion over their service lifetimes by reducing reliance on fuel sources like natural gas. Fuel costs are passed directly onto customers, so decreasing these expenses helps lower electricity bills.
In addition, Duke Energy Florida currently transfers about $65 million in Inflation Reduction Act production tax credits annually to its customers. This results in a reduction of at least $2.50 per month for every 1,000 kilowatt-hours used, with further reductions anticipated as more solar facilities come online.
Each site will create approximately 150 temporary construction jobs locally. Environmentally, at peak output each facility is projected to offset about 1.1 million cubic feet of natural gas, 12,000 barrels of fuel oil, and 9,000 tons of coal per year.
“These solar energy sites will deliver real, tangible value for our customers,” said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. “It’s all part of a larger strategy to diversify our generation fleet and make it more efficient and cost-effective for the people, businesses and communities we have the privilege of serving across Florida.”
The four new projects are:
– Jumper Creek Renewable Energy Center (Sumter County), under construction with completion expected July 2026.
– Turnpike Renewable Energy Center (Osceola County), starting December 2025 with completion planned for December 2026.
– Lonesome Camp Renewable Energy Center (Osceola County), beginning January 2026 and finishing February 2027.
– Banner Renewable Energy Center (Columbia County), set to start February 2026 and complete by March 2027.
By the end of this year, Duke Energy Florida expects to operate around thirty solar sites statewide with a combined capacity exceeding 1,700 megawatts. The latest announcement marks the second phase in an agreement aiming for twelve new sites totaling an additional 900 megawatts between now and 2027.
Duke Energy Florida is a subsidiary of Duke Energy and supplies electricity across a service area covering thirteen thousand square miles in Florida.
Duke Energy is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina and serves millions of electric and natural gas customers across several states while investing heavily in grid upgrades and cleaner energy sources including renewables.
For more information about these initiatives or other company news visit duke-energy.com or the Duke Energy News Center.
