Tampa begins electricity production through solar systems

Tampa Electric announced Tuesday it had begun producing electricity from three new solar plants, a milestone in its solar expansion.

The Laurel Oaks Solar, Riverside Solar, and Big Bend Solar II Phase II can now produce 1,000 megawatts of electricity, the company said, enough to power more than 160,000 homes.

“Thanks to our strategic investment in solar power, Tampa Electric customers saved about $80 million in fuel costs last year,” said Archie Collins, president and chief executive officer of Tampa Electric. “At a time when fuel costs are escalating, we know how important these savings are for customers. And this year, we expect to generate even more power from the sun.”

The solar investments have changed how the company creates electricity, the company said, noting that its fuel mix in 2023 is expected to be about 85 percent natural gas, 10 percent solar, and 5 percent coal.

Another 230 megawatts of solar power projects are under construction, the company said, and more are planned through 2025, when the company expects to have more than 1,600 megawatts of solar power, enough to serve 260,000 homes. When those projects are complete, Tampa Electric estimates about 17 percent of its electricity will come from solar projects – the highest percentage of solar generation of any utility in Florida.

Officials said solar investments reduce costs for customers while conserving conserve land and water and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Tampa Electric estimates its solar projects have saved more than 4.3 billion gallons of water and reduced carbon dioxide emissions by more than 2.35 million tons per year.