CPV Renewable Energy Company will be installing a 10MW solar farm close to the proposed natural gas generator project by CPV. The new project, named “CPV Piney Reach Solar Farm,” was announced as part of the 9,100-acre “Model Green City” project in Charles County by the American Community Properties Trust (ACPT).
This massive solar farm will have arrays of PV panels to produce electricity from sunlight. The project, which is largest in the state, is expected to be commissioned in 2012. Selecting the same location for both the solar farm project and the natural gas generator project marks a novel “hybrid” power generation method that combines the environmental advantages of producing renewable energy with the low-emission characteristics of natural gas generation for the purpose of meeting varying energy demand.
Doug Egan, CEO and Chairman of Competitive Power Ventures, expressed the company’s excitement in being able to set up the solar farm for serving Maryland in conjunction with its natural gas generator project. He also stated that the new method of co-locating renewable energy projects with natural gas generators is poised to become the future standard and that the Maryland project represents an advancement in this area.
This initiative from CPV will propel Maryland on the track to its stated goals of achieving 1,500 MW of solar power capacity by 2022. CPV is developing several solar and wind projects throughout the nation.