JEA bringing 5 new solar plants to Jacksonville

JEA says five new solar plants will drastically increase the amount of solar power Jacksonville generates.

Seven plants are already operational in the city, with work underway on an additional farm.

JEA just finalized plans for five more plants – much larger than any already generating power for homes and businesses.

“We think that we’ll be the top, or one of the top solar cities in the U.S. as far as solar within the city boundaries,” Steve McInall said.

McInall is JEA’s director of electric production resource planning. He said the new plants will generate 50 megawatts of solar power each, supplying about 5 percent of JEA’s power needs when they’re all online.

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McInall said the projects will bring new construction jobs to Jacksonville, and help provide energy security for the future.

He said customers won’t see a noticeable dip in their monthly bills, but the power purchase agreements for the plants will help keep solar affordable.

He said JEA is also paying much less for the energy coming out of the new plants.

“It’s a fixed rate, that price for the solar power is flat for 25 years. So we look at it as a hedge or a way to lock in that fuel rate for the long term,” he said.

The first of the new farms is expected to come online in late 2019 with all five operational by 2021.

McInall said the solar energy supply can help attract businesses with green mandates to Jacksonville and lessen our city’s impact on the environment.

Cox Media Group