The City of Tallahassee and Origis Energy celebrated a major milestone in the construction of the Capital City's first solar farm. City leaders and Tallahassee Solar subscribers looked on as the first the first of more than 200,000 solar panels that will make up the 20 megawatt (MW) solar farm were installed.

Over the next few months, 150 crew members will work to complete the solar panel installation. The following phase of construction will include installing power inverters. When the solar farm is completed this winter, it will be one of the largest in the state, capable of producing 37 million kilowatt (kWh) hours of electricity - enough to power 3,400 homes and businesses in Tallahassee. 

"As Florida's Capital City and #1 Public Utility, we want to set an example by protecting our community's natural resources for generations to come," said City Commissioner Nancy Miller who was on hand to help install solar panels at Tallahassee's first solar farm. "We are looking forward to providing Tallahassee utility customers with easy access to solar energy - the Sunshine State's most renewable energy source."

Energy produced by the solar farm will feed into the City's electric grid. Customers who wish to participate in Tallahassee Solar, the City's new solar program, can sign up today by visiting Talgov.com/Solar. Tallahassee Solar allows residential and small- and medium-sized commercial customers the opportunity to customize their participation level in the program at 25, 50 or 100 percent.

"The City of Tallahassee is truly a leader in the solar field - not only for the state of Florida, but for the entire nation," said Johan Vanhee, managing director of business development for Origis Energy USA. "The leadership and vision exemplified by the City of Tallahassee and supported by the community should inspire other cities across Florida and the nation to consider innovative programs like Tallahassee Solar to involve their residents in solar programs."

Origis Energy | www.origisenergy.com