JACKSONVILLE, FL – JEA has solidified agreements to develop three renewable energy solar facilities within its service area, marking an important step in the facility’s journey toward a sustainable future.
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Combined, these solar sites will generate 200 megawatts of energy, enough to supply electricity to more than 37,000 households. The utility is also considering integrating battery storage with these solar sites to advance its 2030 clean energy goals.
“These solar facilities are an investment in sustainability and reducing emissions for our community for generations to come,” said JEA Interim Managing Director and CEO Vicki Caffey. “This is a critical step in helping us achieve our clean energy goals.”
JEA’s Integrated Resource Plan aims to reduce carbon emissions and integrate more zero-emission resources into its power plant fleet, targeting 35% clean energy by 2030.
Florida Renewable Partners (FRP) will build, own and operate the three solar facilities, which will be key to advancing clean energy in Northeast Florida. FRP will lease the land from JEA and sell the energy produced back to the facility under 35-year power purchase agreements, ensuring cost-effective access to JEA’s new electricity generation.
Licensing of the solar sites is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2024, and is expected to be completed and produce energy by the end of 2026.
JEA has been a proponent of solar energy since the 1990s, purchasing power from eight solar sites ranging from 1 MW to 12 MW. The addition of the new sites will increase the share of solar in JEA’s mix by 3%, complementing its current mix of approximately 10% nuclear and 4% other renewable resources.
At full capacity, the new solar facilities will provide enough electricity to power more than 37,000 homes in Northeast Florida, the equivalent of avoiding nearly 200,000 metric tons of carbon emissions annually, or the greenhouse gas emissions of about 47,000 passenger vehicles driven for a year.
During the permitting process, FRP and JEA will ensure the preservation of on-site wetlands to keep these new solar facilities sustainable for years to come.
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