Duke Energy installed its one millionth solar panel in Florida this month while putting the finishing touches on the Columbia Solar Power Plant. The site, in Fort White, Fla. about 45 minutes north of Gainesville, is the latest in the company’s effort to bring 700 megawatts of solar to the state by 2022 and 1,500 megawatts by 2028.
By mid-2020, Duke Energy will have installed enough solar in Florida to eliminate 1.5 billion pounds of carbon dioxide emissions annually. Duke Energy Florida state President Catherine Stempien said that’s the equivalent of taking 130,000 cars off the road each year.
Duke Energy Florida is investing in several projects from solar power, batteries, electric vehicle infrastructure and more to modernize the grid. In addition to Columbia Solar Power Plant, there are three other solar projects are underway in Florida: DeBary Solar in Volusia County, Twin Rivers Solar in Hamilton County and Santa Fe Solar in Columbia County.
Here’s a look at the 300,000 solar panels at Columbia that are helping Duke Energy harness the power of the Sunshine State.
Visit the Duke Energy News Center for more footage and facts about solar in Florida.