Developer FLS Energy has closed financing and started work on a 38MW portfolio of utility-sale projects in North Carolina.

The eight sites make up just less than half of the 80MW that the company expects to develop in 2014.

All the electricity from the first tranche of projects will be sold to Duke Energy under a 15-year power purchase agreement.

"We are excited about bringing 38 MWs of solar energy projects online at one time, and making such progress in our mission of making solar mainstream," said Dale Freudenberger, CEO of FLS Energy. "This type of scale, unheard of just a few short years ago, would not be possible without the support and dedication of our team at FLS Energy."

FLS Energy bought 13.2MW of JA Solar modules in April for the construction of these projects.

Financing for the projects was provided by Fifth Third Bank and the Self Help Credit Union.