New Polk solar plant built

LAKELAND — SunEdison Inc. has completed construction of a 6-megawatt (MW) solar power plant that will supply electricity to Lakeland Electric through a 25-year power purchase agreement. The plant is located on West Bella Vista Street west of Interstate 4 in Lakeland.

TerraForm Power Inc., a global owner and operator of clean energy power plants, has acquired the project.

The Bella Vista solar power plant is designed to generate about 14 gigawatt-hours of electricity each year, enough to power more than 1,300 homes.

In addition to the Bella Vista solar power plant, SunEdison has completed three other projects for Lakeland Electric and is developing two more. The six projects are expected to generate a total of 24 MW. SunEdison expects to have all the projects completed for Lakeland Electric by the first quarter of 2016.

SunEdison Services will operate and maintain the solar system.

Lakeland Electric is the third-largest public power utility in Florida. It sells power to more than 120,000 customers.