The New 10 MW
Chicago Solar Power Plant
Chicago solar power is forging even further ahead with the planned development of a 10 Mega Watt photovoltaic power plant to be built on a disused industrial site on the south side of the city.
The project is to be built on 39 acres of the West Pullman Industrial Redevelopment Area, which has fallen into disuse. The area will be leased from the City of Chicago by Exelon, the company set to build the power plant. Exelon already has nearly 2000 MW of renewable energy projects operating to date.The company is hoping to have the power plant operational by the end of the year. Power Plant SpecificsThe power plant will consist of 32,800 solar panels and will come in at a cost of $60 million, and will provide enough electricity to power up to 1500 homes. The panels will be mounted on tracking bases so they follow the movement of the sun, allowing for maximum electricity generation. The solar panels will be provided by SunPower, a US based company that specializes in producing high output solar modules. Project Cost And JobsThe current US renewable energy stimulus incentives allow for up to 80% of the project cost to be covered by the federal government. This has no doubt been a major factor in the decision to build this plant. The plant will provide both short term construction jobs and longer term jobs maintaining the arrays. It is good to see real positive benefits starting to appear as a result of federal spending. Exelon is also committed to using as many locally sourced materials as they can, within the scope of the project budget. Locally sourced materials will have a knock-on effect to local industries, meaning more Americans will benefit from the project.
28 April 2009
Top Of Page
Return from Chicago Solar Power Plant to Solar Power News
or
return to the Green Planet home page for more Solar Power Facts.
|
