ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Today, Duke Energy Florida announced the completion of two new solar energy sites: Half Moon Renewable Energy Center in Sumter County and Rattler Renewable Energy Center in Hernando County.

Why it matters

• Expanding solar energy helps displace the cost of fuel, like natural gas, that would otherwise be needed to generate electricity. This creates savings for customers because the price Duke Energy Florida pays for fuel is a direct pass-through cost reflected on their bills.
  
   
• The two solar sites each produce 74.9 megawatts (MW) of clean energy that have been added to the electric grid, saving the company’s 2 million customers an estimated $500 million over their service lifetimes.
  
   
• These sites are part of the first phase of an agreement with the Florida Public Service Commission to build 12 new solar sites between 2025 and 2027. Together, these 12 sites will create 900 MW of energy and save customers a total of approximately $3 billion throughout their service lifetimes.

Our view

“Our customers are the motivation for our ongoing solar energy expansion – as they are for everything we do, every day,” said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. “Each new solar site creates considerable savings for them, while diversifying and strengthening our generation fleet, ensuring we’re delivering on our commitment to providing safe, reliable energy at the lowest price possible.”

Zoom out

• Duke Energy Florida currently owns, operates and maintains a portfolio of more than 30 solar energy sites across the state that contribute approximately 1,700 MW to the system.
  
   
• By the end of 2033, Duke Energy Florida projects to have over 6,100 MW of utility-scale solar generating capacity online.

Duke Energy Florida

Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 12,300 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 2 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area in Florida. 

Duke Energy

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America’s largest energy holding companies. The company’s electric utilities serve 8.4 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 54,800 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. 

Duke Energy is executing an ambitious energy transition, keeping customer reliability and value at the forefront as it builds a smarter energy future. The company is investing in major electric grid upgrades and cleaner generation, including natural gas, nuclear, renewables and energy storage. 

More information is available at duke-energy.com and the Duke Energy News Center. Follow Duke Energy on X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook, and visit illumination for stories about the people and innovations powering our energy transition. 

Contact: Aly Raschid

24-Hour: 800.559.3853

X: @DE_AlyRaschid