For the fourth consecutive year, OUC has earned a ‘B’ from the Sierra Club for our commitment to balancing sustainability with reliability, affordability, and resiliency.

The utility gained eight points in the most recent annual report, jumping to 69 out of 100. Since 2021, the Sierra Club has analyzed plans of 75 utilities in the United States and provided grades based on CO2 emission reduction efforts while developing clean energy alternatives.

Workers install solar panels at the Harmony solar farm.

Some OUC projects recently completed or underway include:

Development of two new utility-scale solar farms

Storey Bend and Harmony II solar farms each have 300,000 panels and generate a combined capacity of 149MW. OUC’s newest solar farms came online in December 2024.

Furthering development of a mega floating solar array

OUC’s largest floating solar array – and the largest in the southeastern U.S. – is slated for deployment on a Florida Department of Transportation retention pond in Southeast Orlando. Once launched, the 2MW system will be OUC’s third floating solar project, featuring more than 3,700 panels to send electricity back into the grid.

Capturing and storing solar energy

The $5 million pilot installation of the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) represents a critical step toward tackling solar intermittency challenges. By using a fully functional 4MW/8MWh large-scale battery, OUC can store excess solar energy to provide power during periods of low or no solar generation – such as during a storm, on a cloudy day, and at night.

Battery Energy Storage Systems like this one store excess solar energy to provide power during storms, cloudy days and at night.

Leveraging “bridge technology” to back up solar power

The Osceola Generation Station (OGS) will enable OUC to mitigate fluctuations in solar energy production. The 510MW single-cycle natural gas-fired power plant is comprised of three separate turbines, which can be powered up or down in minutes.

Expanding access to EV chargers

In September 2024, OUC debuted its newest high-speed electric vehicle (EV) charging hub near the Orange County Convention Center. Open to the public 24/7, the hub features six DC fast charging ports. OUC’s first charging hub, the Robinson ReCharge Mobility Hub in downtown Orlando, is the largest of its kind in Florida, and includes six 240-kilowatt (kW) and 15 120kW Level 3-rated charging ports capable of recharging all makes and models of EVs.

“Being recognized by the Sierra Club alongside some of the nation’s largest utilities highlights OUC’s commitment to resilient, sustainable energy solutions,” said Linda Ferrone, OUC Chief Customer & Marketing Officer. “From expanded solar farms to innovative floating solar arrays and investments in energy storage, we’re building a forward-thinking energy future for our community and generations to come.”