OUC JOINS MAYOR CROTTY TO ANNOUNCE LARGEST SOLAR ARRAY IN SOUTHEAST
OUC, Orange County to Build 1-MW Solar Energy System Atop Convention Center  

ORLANDO – Orlando Utilities Comission Board President Katie Porta joined Orange County Mayor Richard Crotty on Thursday to announce plans to build the largest solar array in the southeast United States on top of the Orange County Convention Center.

The announcement, which also included the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Project Manager Thomas Kimbis and Florida Department of Environmental Protection Central District Director Vivian Garfein, was made at a special press conference at Focus the Nation, a two-day educational summit on climate change solutions on the campus of the University of Central Florida.

“As the hometown utility, OUC is proud to join forces with Governor Crist, the Department of Energy, Orange County, the Convention Center and UCF on this landmark solar project that will serve as a model for our state and nation,” Porta said. “This groundbreaking solar project that will provide clean, affordable and reliable power for Florida’s growing energy needs.”

OUC, in partnership with Orange County, received a $1.8 million grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to help fund the one-megawatt rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) system. In addition to the grant, OUC will contribute $1.5 million to the project and will receive 10 years worth of Renewable Energy Credits in that amount.

The array will utilize high efficiency flat-plate collectors and will cover about 200,000 square feet of the North/South Building roof. The PV system will generate 1,300 to 1,500 megawatt-hours of electricity each year, which will help the Convention Center reduce its annual consumption by about 5 percent. 

Established in 1923 by a special act of the Florida Legislature, OUC—The Reliable One is the second largest municipal utility in Florida. OUC provides electric and water services to more than 254,000 customers in Orlando, St. Cloud and parts of unincorporated Orange and Osceola counties.