City of Tallahassee approves expansion of solar project

January 26, 2017

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV)-- The Tallahassee City Commission has approved the expansion of its solar farm project.

The City will now receive power from a second solar farm, set to be built adjacent to its original solar farm, on Tallahassee International Airport property. That's located off of Springhill Road. The new farm

will be 40MW, which is double the size of the original farm- tripling the amount of solar energy the City will now own.

Both facilities are owned and operated by the company Origis Energy, which will lease the land from the airport; the City will then purchase all of the solar energy produced there. Residents throughout Tallahassee will be able to elect to use solar energy for their electricity.

The idea is to give residents more options.

"We believe in sustainability in the City of Tallahassee," said Commissioner Scott Maddox. "This will give our customers the option to use solar without paying for expensive solar panels on their own homes. They can ask specifically for renewable energy, get it at a cost effective basis, and it will be great for the environment."

City officials say the expansion to a second farm, is just another way the City can show its commitment to clean energy.

Although the farm expands this type of solar power, it doesn't make up the majority of the City's energy production. COT utilities also produces power through natural gas and hydropower.

The Commission also elected to participate in the Sunshot Initiative, a national effort to drive down the cost of solar.