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Published Fri, Feb 03, 2012 04:25 AM
Modified Fri, Feb 03, 2012 07:31 AM

Solar energy plant under way

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BY JOHN MURAWSKI - STAFF WRITER

RALEIGH -- City officials said Thursday that construction has begun on what will be the biggest urban solar energy plant downtown.

The 500-kilowatt system planned for the rooftop of the Raleigh Convention Center is expected to start generating electricity in April.

The system is financed by an unusual arrangement. Two alternative energy companies, FLS Energy and Power Works, will build, own and operate the solar panels. Progress Energy will buy the electricity.

The city is leasing space on the Convention Center roof to house the solar array. It is Raleigh's 10th solar energy plant; the systems have a combined capacity of 2.15 megawatts.

However, 500 kilowatts (1/2 megawatt) is not the largest system in the state. Several systems in development are about 5 megawatts, and one, in Davidson County, is 15.5 megawatts.

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