US to build 10MW solar powerplant

The US is set to build its biggest solar powerplant yet, in the South Side of Chicago.

The $60 million plant will cover 39 acres of industrial wasteland, with 33,000 solar panels pumping out 10 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 1,500 homes.

Carbon emissions saved by the plant will be equivalent to taking 2,500 cars off the road.

Exelon Corp, the energy company building the power station, sees the project as a way to start participating in renewable energy.

Tom O’Neill, Exelon’s senior vice president of generation development, said: “Ultimately, we are putting 10 megawatts of electricity on the grid.

“It’s not much. But you’ve got to start somewhere.”

The project will be part funded by money from the US government’s $787 billion stimulus package, and the powerplant is set to go live by the end of this year.

The power station will be designed, manufactured, installed and operated on behalf of Exelon by California-based SunPower Corp.