After completion, it would be the second largest power generation plant for the company after the 1,912MW Hines Energy Complex near Bartow.
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."
Duke Energy has already secured all regulatory approvals and permits last year required to move ahead with the construction.
The two units of the project, with an installed capacity of 820MW each, are planned to be commissioned in spring 2018 and December 2018 respectively.
The project received site certification from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, need determination from the Florida Public Service Commission, wetlands permit from the US Army Corps of Engineers and various other permits and approvals.
Fluor was earlier selected as the project’s engineering, procurement and construction contractor with plans to employ temporary workers in spring this year.
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.
Featuring Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems-built combustion turbine generators, the plant is expected to create nearly 700 temporary jobs during the construction phase.
Separately, Duke Energy is installing nearly 15,000 panels on a 17-acre land in central Florida, US.
The company aims to double its installed solar capacity in the state by 2024.
Image: Duke Energy plans to begin construction on a new combined-cycle natural gas plant in Florida in near future. Photo: © Duke Energy Corporation.
