Duke Energy is set to break ground on the new 1,640MW combined-cycle natural gas plant in the US state of Florida on 2 March.
Upon completion, the plant is said to become the second largest generator for Duke Energy Florida, after the 1,912MW Hines Energy Complex near Bartow.
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Phase I and phase II of the project, with an installed capacity of 820MW each, will become operational in spring 2018 and December 2018 respectively.
Duke Energy is moving forward with construction after receiving all regulatory approvals and permits last year.
The project received site certification from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, need determination from the Florida Public Service Commission, along with a wetlands permit from the US Army Corps of Engineers and various other permits and approvals.
Fluor, the project’s engineering, procurement and construction contractor, started land clearance in late 2015, with plans to employ temporary workers in spring this year.
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By GlobalDataDuring the construction phase, the facility is expected to create nearly 700 temporary jobs.
Duke Energy Florida state president Alex Glenn said: "The construction work is projected to have an area economic benefit of more than $600m.
"The project will benefit more than a dozen companies across the US and around the world."
Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems is manufacturing the combustion turbine generators in Japan and Savannah, Georgia, for the project. It also has significant operations in Lake Mary, Florida.
The backfill material for the foundation, dump trucks hauling the material and fencing will be procured from local suppliers.
A local concrete supplier will also provide 286,700 cubic yards of concrete for the project.
In a separate development, Duke Energy is installing nearly 15,000 panels on a 17-acre land in central Florida, US.
The company aims to double the amount of utility-owned solar energy in the state by 2024.
Image: Duke Energy to begin construction on a new combined-cycle natural gas plant in Florida. Photo: © Duke Energy Corporation.
