US utility Duke Energy Florida, LLC (DEF) has received green light from the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) for the development of 3 solar power plants with a total capacity of 194.4 MW. Duke Energy announced the 3 projects in March 2019 (see US Utility Plans PV Expansion With 195 MW).
DEF's projects – namely, 74.9 MW Trenton Solar Power Plant in Gilchrist County, 45 MW Lake Placid Solar Power Plant in Highlands County and 74.5 MW DeBary Generating Station in Volusia County -, were found by the commission to be cost effective and meeting the provisions of its 2017 Settlement Agreement. These projects are expected to save around $105 million for the customers.
Duke Energy had requested the commission to recover the estimated investment costs associated with the projects. The PSC has allowed the utility to request PSC approval for cost recovery of up to 700 MW of solar generation during the agreement term.
Previously, the PSC approved cost recovery for DEF's first group of solar projects identified as 74.5 MW Hamilton Solar Power Plant that was energized earlier this year in January 2019 (see 75 MW Hamilton Solar Plant Energized In Florida). Another project, 74.9 MW Columbia Solar Power Plant, is anticipated to come online by March 2020 (see Duke Energy Plans 150 MW PV Capacity In Florida).
A subsidiary of Duke Energy of North Carolina, Duke Energy Florida aims to add 700 MW of solar power generation through 2022 with an estimated investment of $1 billion.