KISSIMMEE, Fla., November 18, 2019 – Kissimmee Utility Authority today participated in a groundbreaking event for the Florida Municipal Solar Project, a large-scale solar energy project that will enable KUA to provide renewable energy to its customers, beginning next summer.
One of the largest municipally-backed solar projects in the United States, the Florida Municipal Solar Project is a joint effort between KUA, 11 other Florida municipal electric utilities, the Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA) and Florida Renewable Partners, LLC.
A total of 900,000 solar panels will be installed at two sites in Osceola County and at one site in Orange County — enough solar panels to fill 900 football fields or stretch from Jacksonville Beach to Key West two and a half times. The total generating capability will be 223.5 megawatts of zero-emissions energy, which is enough to power 45,000 typical Florida homes.
KUA has agreed to purchase 30 megawatts of power from the project.
“Through this partnership, we are able to build a large-scale solar project that lowers the cost of solar power and enables us to offer our customers affordable, emissions-free electricity,” said Brian Horton, KUA president and general manager. “We look forward to the completion of the first phase of this project and adding more renewable energy to our power generation mix.”
Construction on phase one of the project will continue through mid-2020. When complete, the power output from the project will be equal to 37,250 average-size rooftop solar systems.
FMPA is serving as the project coordinator. The builder, owner and operator of the solar farms is Florida Renewable Partners. KUA and the other participating municipal electric utilities will purchase power from the project. There are no up-front costs for the participating municipal electric utilities, and KUA will only pay for the power it purchases.
KUA customers wishing to subscribe to community solar can complete an online application at www.kua.com/solar.
Founded in 1901, KUA is Florida’s sixth largest community-owned utility powering 77,000 customers in Osceola County, Fla. For more information, visit http://kua.com.