Rice Creek Solar Center Delivers 75MWac to 12 Florida Cities

A major new source of renewable energy has come online in Florida, as the Rice Creek Solar Center began commercial operations in early January 2025. This 75-megawatt (MWac) facility is now generating carbon-free electricity for a dozen municipal utilities across the state, a significant achievement for the Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA) and its project partner, Origis Energy.

Project Scope and Impact of Rice Creek Solar Center Delivers 75MWac to 12 Florida Cities

Located in Putnam County near Palatka, the Rice Creek facility is the third operational site within the Florida Municipal Solar Project, one of the largest municipal-backed solar initiatives in the country. The plant consists of an expansive array of 213,000 photovoltaic panels, capable of producing enough electricity to power an estimated 14,000 homes. This collaborative effort provides cost-effective, clean energy to communities while strengthening the state’s green energy infrastructure.

Empowering Florida Communities with Rice Creek Solar Center Delivers 75MWac to 12 Florida Cities

Twelve municipal utilities are the direct beneficiaries of the power generated at Rice Creek: Beaches Energy Services (Jacksonville Beach), Fort Pierce Utilities Authority, Homestead, Keys Energy Services (Key West), Kissimmee Utility Authority, Lake Worth Beach, Mount Dora, New Smyrna Beach Utilities, Newberry, Ocala, the Town of Havana, and Winter Park. For New Smyrna Beach, Newberry, and Havana, this project marks their inaugural integration of utility-scale solar power into their energy portfolios.

Jacob Williams, FMPA’s General Manager and CEO, noted that the expansion of solar generation through such partnerships is essential for providing communities with affordable, clean energy. Under the project’s structure, Miami-based Origis Energy is responsible for building, owning, and operating the facility, while FMPA coordinates the project and the 12 municipalities purchase the power.

The Future of Municipal Solar: Rice Creek Solar Center Delivers 75MWac to 12 Florida Cities

The Florida Municipal Solar Project continues to expand its footprint. A fourth facility, Whistling Duck Solar in Levy County, is already under construction. Ultimately, the comprehensive project is planned to encompass seven sites, which will collectively generate approximately 525 MWac of clean energy. FMPA, which provides wholesale power to 33 municipal utilities serving over 3 million Floridians, remains committed to its mission of delivering reliable, low-cost, and clean power through innovative collaborations.

Sources

1. Beaches Energy to Begin Receiving Solar Energy from Rice …
2. Featured News
3. City of Lake Worth Beach Electric Utilities, FMPA and Origis …
4. FMPA and Origis Energy Announce Completion of Rice …
5. Whistling Duck Solar Now Online, Powering Four Florida …
6. FMPA, Origis complete 75MW Rice Creek Solar …
7. FMPA and Origis Energy Announce Completion of Rice …
8. FMPA and Origis Energy Announce Completion of …