Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA), participating municipal electric utilities and Origis Energy have completed the Rice Creek Solar Energy Center near Palatka, Florida, US.
Marking the third installation within the Florida Municipal Solar Project (FMSP), the centre is now delivering nearly 75MWac of carbon-free electricity to 12 cities across the state.
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This project represents the first foray into solar power for Havana, New Smyrna Beach, and Newberry.
Noted as “one of the largest municipal-backed solar initiatives in the US” by Origis, the site boasts 213,000 solar panels and can generate enough electricity to power approximately 14,000 homes.
The Rice Creek solar facility will supply power to 12 utility companies, including Beaches Energy Services in Jacksonville Beach and Keys Energy Services in Key West.
FMPA is responsible for project coordination while the 12 municipal utilities have agreed to purchase power from the project. Origis Energy is credited as the builder, owner, and operator of the facility.
Origis Energy Origination and Clean Hydrogen managing director Josh Teigiser said: “FMPA is doing all it can to bring cost-effective clean energy to a large base of customers in the Sunshine State.
“We are honoured to support this FMPA work. Long-term agreements for solar generation, including for Rice Creek Solar, provide a stable rate base contributing to lower and more predictable customers’ bills.”
In line with the expansion plans for the FMSP, the construction of a fourth solar site, Whistling Duck Solar in Levy County, began at the end of last year. The FMSP is expected to grow to encompass seven sites over the coming years, eventually generating approximately 525MWac of power in total.
