When this facility is up and running -- likely by September or October of this year -- it will be among the largest in the country, and certainly the largest east of Arizona, said Governor Rendell during groundbreaking ceremonies for the Exelon-EPURON Solar Center. This project embodies the commitment weve made to renewable energy in the commonwealth.

By enacting one of the nations most ambitious alternative energy portfolio standards, investing our resources wisely, and leveraging our strengths, weve been able to attract exciting projects like this, along with some of the worlds leading renewable energy companies, to Pennsylvania.

The $20 million Exelon-EPURON Solar Center will feature 16,500 solar panels on a 16.5-acre tract of land adjacent to Waste Managements GROWS Landfill. Governor Rendell announced the project in August.

Upon completion, the solar plant will annually produce approximately 3,700 megawatt hours of power, which is enough to meet the energy requirements of approximately 400 homes. At this output, emission levels of carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide that directly contribute to pollution and acid rain will be reduced by the equivalent of planting 33 acres of trees every year or taking more than 440 cars off the road each year.

The facility is owned by EPURON, a subsidiary of the worlds largest solar integration company, Conergy AG, which has its North American headquarters in Pennsylvania. Another Pennsylvania-based Conergy subsidiary, Conergy Systems USA -- formerly SunTechnics -- will build the solar center.

We are pleased to begin construction of the largest East Coast solar energy facility, and the fourth largest in the U.S., said Arndt E. Lutz, EPURON general manager. This project will be the first of many in Pennsylvania that will help meet the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard that the commonwealth had the vision to implement.

It is our goal to develop and build solar energy in Pennsylvania for many years to come. We would like to express our thanks to the Governor, state legislature, Exelon and Waste Management for making this project happen.

The Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act requires that 18 percent of all energy generated in the state come from alternative and renewable sources by 2021, including 0.5 percent from solar. Approximately 850 megawatts of additional solar capacity are expected to be installed in the state by 2021.

Exelon Generation Company LLC made an important financial commitment to the project through a 20-year power purchase agreement for the energy produced, recognizing the environmental importance of solar energy, according to Kenneth Cornew, president of Exelon Power Team.

Exelon recognizes the importance of minimizing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions associated with electricity production, said Cornew. We are an industry leader in this area. Our fleet emits less greenhouse gas than any other large electric generation company, but we all need to do more to reduce our carbon footprint and meet Americas future energy needs.

This is why Exelon is proud to be a partner with the governor, the state legislature, EPURON, and Waste Management in bringing the benefits of one of the nation's largest solar power projects to Pennsylvania and the region.

During his remarks, Governor Rendell said the commonwealth would be in a better position to compete for cutting-edge projects like the solar center if the state were equipped with the measures he called for more than a year ago in his Energy Independence Strategy.

The Governor called on the state Senate to pass separate pieces of legislation approved by the House of Representatives. House Bill 1202 was passed by the House in June and would replace nearly 1 billion gallons of imported fuels with homegrown alternatives.

Earlier this month, the House passed Special Session House Bill 1 calling for $850 million in new state investments to grow Pennsylvanias advanced energy sectors by $3.5 billion, create 13,000 jobs, and provide incentives for consumers to use energy more efficiently and incorporate renewable technologies into their homes and businesses.

We need the Energy Independence Strategy today, said the Governor. In the last couple of weeks, gasoline has traded regularly at more than $100-per-barrel; motorists are paying more than $3.20 for regular octane fuel; and our trucking industry has been plagued by diesel prices that are hovering around $4 per gallon. Thats putting pressure on our families and our businesses, and with electricity rate caps coming off in the next two-and-a-half years statewide, theyre going to feel the added pressure of double-digit rate increases.

I urge the members of the state Senate to follow the positive steps taken by the House and pass an $850 million energy investment package that will help us compete, and an alternative fuels bill that includes requirements for both ethanol and biodiesel. Together, these measures can help save our consumers $10 billion over the next decade.

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