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Powered by the Sun BY DANIELLE DYALS CITY OF OCALA
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any people don’t have access to or cannot afford solar energy. The Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA) and 16 Florida cities have partnered together to provide solar power for customers in the most cost-effective way. Resident Cynthia Little is ready to help the Ocala community invest in clean, green energy generation. Like many people, she is not only budget-conscious but also environmentally-conscious. As the proud owner of a Tesla electric car, for her the decision to ‘go solar’ was the next logical step. “Solar is the future,” said Little. “I am excited that my community-owned energy provider is acting and making sound investments that will benefit Ocala for years to come.” As is the case for many Florida homeowners, Little simply could not justify the cost to install solar panels on her roof not knowing how much longer she would be in her residence. While looking at renewable energy options, she learned of the Community Solar Program provided by Oca-
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| MAR 2021 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM
la Electric Utility. This program provides both homeowners and renters equal access to solar energy without the hassle or cost of installing a rooftop system. Instead, the electricity comes from the Harmony Solar Energy Center located in Central Florida. The Florida Municipal Solar Project is a partnership between the FMPA and 16 Florida public power utilities. The Harmony Solar Energy Center is one of two projects that came online in June 2020 and is part of one of the largest municipal-backed solar projects in the nation. A total of 600,000 solar panels are installed at two new solar farms, covering about 1,000 acres. Each solar farm can generate 74.5 megawatts, for a combined addition of 149 megawatts of emissions-free energy to surrounding areas. The agency is building five solar farms comprised of 1.5 million solar panels that will generate 375 megawatts of energy by the end of 2023. That is enough energy to power 75,000 typical Florida homes. The cost of energy from the Florida Municipal Solar Project is approximately one-third
the cost of energy from a private rooftop solar system. “People need affordable, reliable power, and they want it to be clean. However, they don’t want to pay a lot for solar energy,” said Jacob Williams, General Manager and CEO of the Florida Municipal Power Agency. “This is the most economical way for us to meet our customers’ expectations to be greener.” “Many of our customers can’t afford solar on their own, due to the equipment and upkeep,” said Eric Weaver, Director of Ocala Electric Utility. “This project enables us to offer customers who want solar energy a cost-effective way to get that renewable energy.” Going solar is a big decision, and it is important to be informed of your solar options. Ocala Electric Utility is your hometown public power provider, and we are here to assist you with all your solar needs. To receive locally generated Florida solar energy, visit OEUSolar.ocalafl.org or call 352-629-2489.
