Warren County facility would provide 5 megawatts of clean energy to regional grid

PPL Renewable Energy on Monday (9/15) announced that it has taken steps toward development of the first phase of a large-scale solar power system that converts the energy from sunlight into clean, renewable electricity in Warren County, N.J.

PPL is working with local officials to receive approvals and permits to begin construction on a 5-megawatt facility, which would be the first utility-scale solar project to be developed in New Jersey. Utility-scale projects supply power directly to the electric grid or large wholesale customers instead of to a single retail customer.

PPL has the ability to expand the solar facility, which, if fully developed, would have a capacity of up to 50 megawatts.

“PPL has made significant investments in renewable energy and especially solar projects throughout New Jersey,” said Paul T. Champagne, president of PPL Development Company. “This project would add a considerable amount of solar power in New Jersey, which benefits residents by increasing the amount of renewable energy available on the regional grid and contributing to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.”

The first phase of the project would be a 5-megawatt photovoltaic power plant that will generate enough electricity to power 1,500 homes during peak, daytime hours. Generating the same amount of electricity with fossil fuels would produce about 5,500 tons per year of greenhouse gases.

The 5-megawatt solar energy facility would be built on 50 acres of land owned by PPL in White Township, across the Delaware River from the company’s Martins Creek power plant. The project is expected to be completed next spring. 

PPL will work with the New Jersey Clean Energy Program to develop the first phase of this project, which will generate over 5,000 megawatt-hours annually. The power and renewable energy credits will be marketed by PPL EnergyPlus, PPL’s marketing and trading arm.

PPL Renewable Energy already has developed renewable energy projects that total more than 30 megawatts of generation — enough to power 24,000 homes. In May, PPL announced plans to build, own and operate a 1.7-megawatt solar project for Schering-Plough Corporation in Summit, N.J.

“When the first phase of the Warren County project is completed, PPL will have more than 15 megawatts of solar generation in operation or under contract to support the region’s growing energy needs,” Champagne said.

PPL Renewable Energy develops, owns, operates and maintains renewable energy projects in the northeastern United States. The company plans to invest at least $100 million in additional renewable energy projects over the next several years.

PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL), headquartered in Allentown, Pa., controls more than 11,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the United States, sells energy in key U.S. markets and delivers electricity to about 4 million customers in Pennsylvania and the United Kingdom.