GEC’s Power Provider Maintains a Diversified Fuel Resource Portfolio

Glades Electric’s wholesale power provider, Seminole Electric Cooperative (Seminole), maintains a diversified portfolio of resources for electricity generation. This ensures that Seminole Members, including Glades Electric receive safe, affordable, reliable electricity now and into the future.

Seminole’s portfolio has multiple components, ensuring that Glades Electric doesn’t rely too heavily on any one fuel source or generation facility. This includes coal, natural gas, and renewables such as solar. Seminole also purchases additional power from the energy grid to meet the needs of its Members.

Seminole’s primary resources include the Seminole Generating Station (SGS) in northeast Florida, the Richard J. Midulla Generating Station (MGS) in south central Florida, and the Cooperative Solar facility adjacent to MGS. SGS consists of two 638-megawatt, coal-fired generating units and is located in Putnam County, near the St. John’s River, south of Jacksonville. MGS, located on the Hardee/Polk County line, is an 870-megawatt facility that uses natural gas as its primary fuel. The station’s 560- megawatt combined-cycle unit began commercial operation in 2002. Seminole added 310-megawatts of peaking capacity in 2006.

Seminole is currently constructing a new natural gas-fired facility adjacent to SGS in northeast Florida, which will reduce Seminole’s reliance on coal as a fuel resource. Currently named the Seminole Combined Cycle Facility, the new plant will have a generating capacity of 1,050 megawatts and is scheduled to be commercially operational by the fall of 2022.

Seminole has also entered into four agreements for the purchase of 298 megawatts of additional solar. The four new photovoltaic (PV) solar sites are expected to generate 74.5 megawatts per facility, enough to power approximately 60,000 homes. The proposed solar facilities are located across north Florida in Gilchrist, Columbia, Putnam, and Gadsden counties. These additional resources will allow Seminole and its Members to continue to provide electricity to its member-consumers at competitive prices.

With the inclusion of the Seminole Combined Cycle Facility and new solar resources in Seminole’s resource portfolio, carbon dioxide emissions are expected to drop 36% by 2024. This is the equivalent of removing approximately 650,000 cars from the road for one year!

Seminole is dedicated to maintaining a balanced and diverse power generation portfolio, investing in a mix of technologies and fuel types based on keeping electricity costs affordable, being a good steward of the environment and ensuring members— including Glades Electric— have the power they need.