FPUA to Begin Receiving Solar Energy from Rice Creek Solar Energy Center

FPUA is now set to begin receiving solar energy from the completed Rice Creek Solar Center. The project will supply nearly 75 megawatts of power with alternating current (MWac) of carbon-free electricity to 12 Florida cities, including 7.5 MWac to FPUA. With the completion of Rice Creek, FPUA is receiving a total of 9.6 MWac of solar energy.

Rice Creek Solar is the third solar site in the Florida Municipal Solar Project, one of the largest municipal-backed solar projects in the U.S. Located in Putnam County, near Palatka, it consists of 213,000 solar panels that generate enough power for approximately 14,000 homes.

In addition to FPUA, eleven other Florida utilities will receive power from the Rice Creek solar facility including Beaches Energy Services (Jacksonville Beach), Homestead, Keys Energy Services (Key West), Kissimmee Utility Authority, Lake Worth Beach, Mount Dora, New Smyrna Beach Utilities, Newberry, Ocala, Town of Havana and Winter Park. This is the first solar power project for Havana, New Smyrna Beach and Newberry.

Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA) serves as the project coordinator, and the twelve municipal utilities, who are member-owners of FMPA, will purchase power from the project. Miami-based Origis Energy, a leading renewable energy and decarbonization solution platform, is the builder, owner and operator.

“FMPA is doing all it can to bring cost-effective clean energy to a large base of customers in the Sunshine state,” said Josh Teigiser, Managing Director Origination and Clean Hydrogen for Origis Energy. “We are honored 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.”

“We are excited to expand our solar power generation and bring even more affordable and clean energy to our members,” said Jacob Williams, general manager and CEO of the Orlando-based wholesale power agency. “By working together, our Members and their communities benefit from additional solar-powered energy that’s both cost-effective and carbon-free.”