Controlled Burns Around Stanton Energy Center Benefit Wildlife Habitats

ORLANDO, Fla. – Today, the Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) started a series of prescribed burns at Stanton Energy Center in the north section (Zone 3), as part of an ongoing effort to reduce brush buildup that can fuel wildfires. 

The utility plans to burn 70 acres of vegetation and is scheduled to begin around 10:00 a.m. This prescribed burn is part of our ongoing efforts to reduce hazardous fuel buildup and enhance habitat for the Red-cockaded Woodpecker. OUC’s employees follow strict guidelines to keep the flames – which are typically no higher than six inches off the ground – under control.

The annual burns are required by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Florida Division of Forestry and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and support environmental growth and sustainability by recycling nutrients back into the soil and nurturing plant growth. They’re also crucial to the survival of species with low populations, such as the Red-cockaded Woodpecker, a threatened bird that lives in Central Florida and other parts of the Southeastern United States.

Residents can learn more about how OUC protects wildlife and their habitats at Stanton Energy Center’s 3,200-acre nature preserve by visiting OUC.com/Stanton. 

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For more than 100 years, OUC—The Reliable One has provided exceptional value to its customers and community through the delivery of sustainable and reliable services and solutions. The utility provides electric, water, chilled water, lighting and solar services to more than 400,000 accounts in Orlando, St. Cloud and parts of unincorporated Orange and Osceola counties. As OUC prepares for the next century, it remains committed to a goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 while supporting the Central Florida community with conservation, sustainability and energy efficiency resources. Visit www.ouc.com to learn more.