Tampa Electric Expanding Use Of Solar Power In Florida

TAMPA - Tampa Electric will expand its use of solar power in the next four years by adding 6 million solar panels in 10 new projects across West Central Florida. After the projects are complete, the utility will have the highest percentage of solar generation in Florida. The 600 megawatts of solar energy that will be produced is enough to power more than 100,000 homes.

Nearly 7 percent of Tampa Electric's energy generation will come from the sun when the 6 million solar panels are in operation, according to a press release.

Tampa Electric is purchasing land and solar panels, and the company plans to invest about $850 million in these projects over four years. As the solar projects are completed, they will cost a typical residential customer (who uses 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month) about 1 percent a year, or about $1 on the average monthly residential bill. Over their lifetimes, the projects will provide savings to customers in the form of lower fuel costs, the utility said.

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"Our customers have asked us for more solar technology – and we heard them,'' said Gordon Gillette, president and chief executive officer of the Tampa-based utility. "This expansion in solar power will have minimal initial rate impact and will be cheaper for customers in the long run."

The parties involved in the agreement include Florida's Office of Public Counsel, the Florida Retail Federation, the Florida Industrial Power User's Group, a consortium of hospitals and the federal government – representing MacDill Air Force Base.

“This is a continuation of Tampa Electric's longstanding commitment to clean energy," Gillette said "We have long believed in the promise of renewable energy, and we believe now is the time to add large utility-scale solar generation, as the costs of construction have come down and while federal tax credits remain in place.”

The first phase, which includes two projects totaling nearly 150 megawatts, is scheduled to be complete in September 2018. The second phase, which includes four projects totaling about 250 megawatts, is scheduled to be complete by Jan. 1, 2019. Two other phases are scheduled to be complete by Jan. 1 of 2020 and 2021.

The solar additions also will significantly reduce Tampa Electric's carbon dioxide emissions and give customers the benefits of zero fuel-cost solar generation for years to come, the press release said.

Tampa Electric has filed a request with Florida’s Public Service Commission to approve the agreement for the projects. The agreement also includes a provision that Tampa Electric will not increase its general base rates before Jan. 1, 2022. The PSC is expected to vote on the agreement by the end of this year.

Tampa Electric is a subsidiary of Emera Inc., an energy and services company headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

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