“I am so pleased that this project is transforming environmentally marginal land into a new and sustainable form of energy for this city,” said Mayor Nutter. “Economic development does not have to get in the way of environmental progress.”

The Exelon Epuron Solar Center at the Navy Yard is an $8-12 million deal which will eventually produce 1 to 1.4 MW of energy – enough to power approximately 200 Philadelphia homes for one year. The Navy Yard project will have the same ecological impact as planting 300 acres of mature trees.

"With the cost of fossil fuels continuing to rise, renewable energy technologies like solar, wind and biomass are becoming increasingly attractive and cost-competitive. This innovative solar project will take land that has set idle and turn it into an asset for the commonwealth, creating energy, jobs and a stable, reliable supply of electricity to serve our families and businesses," said DEP Secretary Kathleen McGinty.

Epuron expanded to Pennsylvania from Germany in 2006. So far it has built another major installation in Bucks County, which combined with the Navy Yard project, make it the largest solar panel installation on the East Coast.

"As a Pennsylvania based company headquartered in Philadelphia, Epuron is proud to announce plans for the largest solar electric power plant of any major US city. This public private partnership is a joint effort of the Governor's Office, DEP, PIDC, Exelon and the Mayor's vision for a cleaner Philadelphia. We could think of no better site for this project than the Navy Yard which is the home of the City's most important redevelopment effort," says Arndt E. Lutz, Epuron's Managing Director.

Epuron will create the solar energy which it will then sell to Exelon who will in turn release it to the grid. "This agreement adds another element to Exelon's rapidly expanding renewable energy portfolio," said Ken Cornew, Exelon Power Team President. "By producing clean, renewable power this project will reinforce Exelon's commitment to reduce, displace, or offset our carbon emissions 2020. As such, it represents the leadership role Exelon plans to play in the nation's drive toward cleaner energy sources." Philadelphia was just named a “Solar American City.” This is a Department of Energy award given to large cities to speed the deployment of solar technologies. The City will receive $200,000 to study how to triple the capacity of photovoltaic installations, like the ones to be installed at the Navy Yard, in Philadelphia by 2011.