Representational image. Credit: CanvaDuke Energy Florida has officially submitted its 2025 Solar Base Rate Adjustment (SoBRA) filing to the Florida Public Service Commission (FPSC). This request details the company’s plan to develop four new solar energy sites in 2025 as part of its ongoing commitment to delivering reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy to its customers. As outlined in the company’s settlement agreement, which was approved by the FPSC in August 2024, Duke Energy Florida is investing more than $521 million to establish solar facilities in four counties across the state.
These projects include the Sundance Renewable Energy Center in Madison County, the Half Moon Renewable Energy Center in Sumter County, the Rattler Renewable Energy Center in Hernando County, and the Bailey Mill Renewable Energy Center in Jefferson County. Collectively, these sites are projected to save customers approximately $843 million over their service lifetimes.
Construction has already commenced on the Sundance, Half Moon, and Rattler renewable energy centers, all of which are scheduled to be operational by January 2026. The Bailey Mill Renewable Energy Center is still in the permitting phase, with construction expected to begin in the summer of 2025 and operations targeted to commence by the summer of 2026. Each solar project will generate around 150 temporary jobs during the construction phase.
Once completed, these facilities will contribute nearly 300 megawatts of carbon-free energy to the electric grid. At full capacity, each of the four 74.9-megawatt solar sites will generate enough electricity to power approximately 23,000 homes while significantly reducing reliance on traditional fossil fuels. The combined impact of these solar projects is expected to displace 1.2 million cubic feet of natural gas, 15,000 barrels of fuel oil, and 12,000 tons of coal annually.
Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president, said in a statement, “At Duke Energy Florida, we work every day to modernize and strengthen our generation fleet. Solar energy is an innovative, cost-effective and clean solution we continue to implement on behalf of our customers all across the Sunshine State.”
Duke Energy Florida currently owns, operates, and maintains a network of more than 25 solar energy sites across the state, which together produce approximately 1,500 megawatts of power. Between 2025 and 2027, the company plans to construct 12 additional solar facilities, including the four outlined in the 2025 SoBRA filing, adding another 900 megawatts of renewable energy to the grid. Looking ahead, Duke Energy Florida projects that by the end of 2033, its utility-scale solar generation capacity will exceed 6,100 megawatts, further advancing its long-term sustainability goals.
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