The Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA), partnered with participating Florida municipal electric utilities and Origis Energy, has announced the completion of Rice Creek Solar Energy Center. The center is now supplying nearly 75 MWac of carbon-free electricity to 12 Florida cities. 

Rice Creek, located near Palatka in Putnam County, is the third site in the Florida Municipal Solar Project. It consists of 213,000 solar panels, which generate enough power for approximately 14,000 homes. 

The new solar center marks the first solar project for Newberry, New Smyrna Beach and the town of Havana, which are among the 12 utilities that will receive power from Rice Creek. 

Other municipalities that will receive power from the center include Beaches Energy Services (Jacksonville Beach), Fort Pierce Utilities Authority, Homestead, Keys Energy Services (Key West), Kissimmee Utility Authority, Lake Worth Beach, Mount Dora, Ocala and Winter Park. 

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

FMPA serves as the project coordinator, while the 12 FMPA member-owner municipal utilities, 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, Origis’ managing director of origination and clean hydrogen, in a press release. “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.” 

A fourth FMSP site, Whistling Duck Solar in Levy County, began construction at the end of 2024. The project is expected to increase to seven sites over the next few years, to generate about 525 MWac of power in total.