Duke Energy today announced the completion and operation of its new 74.9-MW Hamilton Solar Power Plant in Jasper, Florida.
The plant’s carbon-free power is enough to energize more than 20,000 homes at peak production.
The 1.8 million customers across Duke Energy’s Florida service territory—and the environment—are now benefiting from approximately 300,000 solar panels that generate clean, renewable energy.
“Duke Energy solar projects bring the greatest amount of renewable energy on line for customers in the most efficient and economical way,” said Catherine Stempien, state president at Duke Energy Florida (DEF). “Building solar power plants like Hamilton is part of our ongoing strategy to offer sustainable, diverse and smarter energy solutions that our customers have told us they value.”
The Hamilton plant is part of the company’s strategic commitment to install or acquire 700 MW of solar energy in Florida through 2022, helping ensure residents have increasingly clean and diverse power sources. DEF currently owns and operates nearly 100 MW of solar energy resources throughout its regulated service territory.
The company broke ground for the Hamilton plant in July 2018 and brought it online Dec. 22. The project, originally developed by Tradewind Energy, was completed by Duke Energy.
Also in 2018, DEF plans to break ground in 2019 on the Columbia Solar Power Plant in Fort White, Florida, which will be developed by Core Solar. DEF will own, operate and maintain the 74.9-MW facility, which is expected to be fully operational in March 2020.
Together, the Hamilton and Columbia solar power plants are expected to eliminate approximately 645 million pounds of CO2 emissions in Florida during their first year of commercial operation. That’s the equivalent of taking 63,000 passenger cars off the road.
In addition to expanding its solar investments, Duke Energy is making strategic, targeted investments in battery storage technology, transportation electrification to support the growing U.S. adoption of electric vehicles, and a modernized power grid to deliver the diverse and reliable energy solutions customers want and need.
News item from Duke Energy
Michael Henderson says
Duke Energy recently broke the contract it had with me. Duke Energy terminated without justification the WC rate schedule which allowed disconnection of my water heater and approximately 7300 additional customers during peak power usage periods. This was to reduce peak demand. For this, Duke agreed in the contract to provide electrical power at a reduced rate for water heating. The Public Utility Commission on North Carolina has been either unwilling or unable to provide justification for this action or breach of contract. One can only assume the addition revenue to finance solar projects is being provided by this breach of contract and breach of consumer trust.