Homestead Public Services – Energy Participating in Large-Scale Solar Project Expansion

The Homestead City Council approved the participation of Homestead Public Services – Energy division (HPS Energy) in a major expansion of the Florida Municipal Solar Project, one of the largest municipal-backed solar projections in the nation. HPS Energy joins Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA), 19 other Florida municipal electric utilities and Origis Energy on the project.

The project currently consists of two solar farms, Taylor Creek Solar in Orange County and Harmony Solar in Osceola County, that generate nearly 150 megawatts (MW) of solar power – enough to power approximately 30,000 Florida homes. Upon completion, the expansion will quadruple the amount of solar power the project currently generates.

The expansion includes two phases. Phase 2 includes the addition of two more solar farms, Rice Creek Solar in Putnam County and Whistling Duck Solar in Levy County. Project developers anticipate Rice Creek Solar will be complete by the end of this year and project Whistling Duck Solar will be complete in 2024. When both new sites are online, they will generate nearly 150 MW of solar energy.

Phase 3 of the project will bring another four solar farms online, doubling the size of the project from four to eight sites that will generate nearly 600 MW of solar power, which is four times what the project currently generates. Construction and operation of these four additional sites, which will be located in Columbia, Levy and Bradford Counties, will be staggered throughout 2025 and 2026.

By the end of 2026, the Florida Municipal Solar Project will consist of more than 1.8 million solar panels installed on eight farms.

“By partnering with our municipal electric utilities members and Origis Energy, we are able to take advantage of a great opportunity to increase the volume of our low-cost, reliable solar generation at a time when solar costs have been escalating,” said Jacob Williams, general manager and CEO of FMPA. “Expanding the Florida Municipal Solar Project will also enable us to serve several new communities that haven’t had access to solar before.”

A total of 20 Florida municipal electric utilities will purchase power from the project, and HPS Energy will purchase approximately 15 MW of power from the two phases of the expansion project.

“Participating in this large-scale project allows us to provide solar energy to our customers in the most cost-effective way,” said Barbara Quiñones, Director for HPS Energy. “The cost of solar power from the project is approximately one-third the cost of the typical private, rooftop solar system. We are proud to offer our customers alternative energy options at a lower rate.”

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Origis Energy, FMPA’s partner in the project, aims to bring clean, cost-effective solar energy for commercial, industrial, public sector and utility clients. The organization has completed more than 170 projects worldwide with more than five gigawatts of developed solar, energy storage and clean hydrogen capacity.

“Origis is very proud to contribute to this historic municipal solar program led by FMPA,” said Tanya Sessions, vice president, business development of Origis Energy. “What is unique about working with FMPA is the opportunity to work with a large group of cities across Florida that all have a passion to bring clean energy solutions to their communities, to their homes, while not sacrificing reliability or cost.”

For more information on the Florida Municipal Solar Project or FMPA, visit www.fmpa.com. For more information on HPS Energy, visit www.cityofhomestead.com. For more information about Origis Energy, visit www.origisenergy.com.