SOLAR AND CLEAN ENERGY
Building a community powered by clean, renewable energy will help us achieve an inclusive and healthy quality of life. Orange County’s goals are to reduce barriers, dramatically increase clean energy in our region, and power 100% of County operations from clean, renewable energy by 2035.
In partnership with Solar United Neighbors of Florida, solar co-ops provide an opportunity for homeowners to save money by leveraging the power of bulk negotiation. By joining forces, residents in a co-op can ensure they get the right system, a strong warranty, quality installation and unbiased support at a discounted price. Orange County solar co-ops have generated more than $8.3 million in economic development to local contractors and has offset 56,240 metric tons of carbon.
For residents living in unincorporated Orange County, an electrical permit is required for solar installation. The permit checklist and fee schedule (PDF) are available for download.
SIGN UP FOR A SOLAR CO-OP AT: https://solarunitedneighbors.org/orange
Installing solar systems provides many benefits including:
- Slashing electricity bills each year for residents
- Creating abundant well-paying jobs for solar installers
- Lowering respiratory illness rates caused by air pollution from fossil fuel power plants
The road to solar power is paved one panel at a time. Return to this page to watch for the announcement of the next Orange County co-op opportunity, offering all residents cost savings to install solar energy systems on their homes. Visit https://solarunitedneighbors.org/orange for more information.
Prior Installations and Capacity per Solar Co-op
Solar Co-op
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Installations and capacity
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Orlando-Winter Park 2015
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31 installs, 267 kW
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Orlando-Winter Park 2015
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56 installs, 610 kW
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Orange County 2016
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80 installs, 703 kW
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Orange County East 2018
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50 installs, 532 kW
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Orange County West 2018
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31 installs, 276 kW
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Orlando 2019
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64 installs, 756 kW
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Orlando 2020
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44 installs, 494 kW
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Orange County 2021
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52 installs, 633 kW
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Orange County 2022
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57 installs, 666 kW
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Orange County/Orlando 2023
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37 installs, 468 kW
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Total
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502 installs, 5,405 kW (5.4 MW)
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LEADERS IN SOLAR PROGRAMS
Orange County is a top-ranked county in Florida for installed solar on the grid. In 2018, Orange County was the first county in Florida to earn the national SolSmart GOLD designation from the U.S. Department of Energy for advancing solar growth in the community by making it easier for homes and businesses to install solar energy through streamlined permitting, technical training for staff, contractor training, and community wide education. Solar permits are typically approved within 24 hours.
Orange County is generating clean energy at five locations including the UF/IFAS Extension Center (19.8 kW), the Orange County Sheriff’s Office (38.8 kW), the Orange County Convention Center (1.1 MW), the Southern Regional Water Supply Facility (1.2 MW), and the Northwest Water Reclamation Facility. With another 1 MW being added to our Orange County Convention Center and close to 1 MW in design for two new facilities. Additionally, the County has solar subscriptions totaling 145.5 kW. The commitment to clean, renewable sources of electricity is moving forward for Orange County.
In 2007, Orange County’s Board of County Commissioners adopted its first Climate Protection Pledge that outlined strategies to support energy conservation and the growth of renewable energy in our region. In 2021, Orange County unveiled the Orange County Sustainable Operations & Resilience Action Plan that includes a roadmap to dramatically increase clean, renewable energy throughout the County.
COMMUNITY-WIDE PROGRAMS
- Orlando Utilities Commission's (OUC) OUCommunity Solar and Duke Energy Florida's Clean Energy Connection Program allow business and residential customers to gain “virtual” access to sustainable, maintenance-free solar energy at a nearby utility-scale power plant.
- SELF Home Improvement Financing Program – Orange County is proud to partner with SELF(Solar & Energy Loan Fund), a nonprofit community lending partner providing equitable and accessible financing for assorted home improvements to help save money, improve hurricane resistance, and enhance comfort and livability.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)