Duke Energy begins construction on two new solar sites in north Florida
In Florida, Duke Energy Florida announced that two new solar projects will begin construction later this month in Bay and Madison counties. The new projects are part of the company’s community solar program, dubbed Clean Energy Connection. The firm noted that construction on the following sites will begin this month and will take approximately nine to 12 months to complete, creating approximately 200 to 300 temporary jobs during that time. Mule Creek Renewable Energy Center will be built on approximately 700 acres that includes thoughtful site buffers for the community in Bay County, Florida. Once operational, the 74.9-megawatt (MW) facility will consist of approximately 175,000 solar panels. Also, after a successful community open house, Winquepin Renewable Energy Center will be built on approximately 530 acres in Madison County, Florida. Once operational, the 74.9-MW facility will consist of approximately 220,000 solar panels. At peak output, each site will generate enough carbon-free electricity to power what would be equivalent to around 23,000 homes. Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 10,300 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 1.9 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area in Florida.
