Exelon Generation Company this week announced the construction of a 3 megawatt solar electric generating facility in Falls Township, Bucks County. The $20 million project will be the nation's fourth largest solar photovoltaic generation project, trailing only facilities in California and Arizona.

The facility, to be called the Exelon-Epuron Solar Energy Center, a SunTechnics Project, will generate electricity through approximately 16,500 solar panels.

“This major announcement shows that affordable, secure and alternative sources of power are available now and will result in a cleaner environment, competitive energy prices and the reduction of our dependence on foreign fuel,” said Gov. Rendell. “In the next few years, consumers and businesses across the state are expected to encounter dramatic energy cost increases. In order to avoid economic hardship on our families and businesses and we must act now.

“With the introduction of new, reliable alternative energy choices for Pennsylvania’s consumers, we will empower our citizens and businesses to take control of escalating utility bills by adjusting usage to take advantage of lower, off-peak rates; encourage energy efficiency; use new, clean electricity generation and invest in Pennsylvania’s home-grown energy,” the Governor said.

“EPURON is excited about this landmark photovoltaic project,” said Arndt E. Lutz, EPURON general manager. This project will launch utility-scale solar power plants in Pennsylvania and the entire Eastern U.S. The array will be one of the largest in the country and is the result of a successful partnership between Exelon Generation, Waste Management and the EPURON / SunTechnics team, and a major step toward energy independence and greenhouse gas reduction.”

“This agreement adds another element to Exelon’s renewable energy portfolio,” said John Rowe, Exelon Corporation’s chairman, president and CEO. “As the nation turns its attention toward cleaner energy sources, it’s essential that Exelon play a part. We believe there is a growing demand for renewables, and we want to help meet that demand.”

Exelon Generation Company has signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with Epuron LLC for the energy produced at a Morrisville, Pa., solar energy facility. Epuron is the U.S. subsidiary of one of the world's leading project development and structured finance companies in the renewable energy sector.

The project is situated adjacent to Waste Management's G.R.O.W.S. Landfill where Exelon Generation also has a landfill gas-based generation project. A pipeline transports landfill methane from the Waste Management facility to a gas turbine owned by Exelon Generation that produces 30 MW.

Exelon Generation will sell the physical electricity produced by the project to PJM Interconnection. The project is scheduled to be operational in the second quarter of 2008.

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