Largest Solar Energy Plant in New England Finished
1.8 MW Silver Lake project brings large-scale solar to New England

New England's largest solar energy plant is finished and ready for operation. The 1.8 megawatt project in Pittsfield, MA, is the first in Western Massachusetts Electric's (WMECO's) 6 megawatt solar program. WMECO estimates that the approximately 6500 solar panels will produce enough electricity to power 300 homes, and predicts that the facility will also generate about $15,000 in revenue for Pittsfield.

These two projects are largely possible because of the Green Communities Act, which allows state utility companies to generate solar power, and WMECO's commitment to building the plants on inexpensive, former brownfield sites, like capped landfills. A second solar plant will be built on a capped landfill in Springfield and is expected to be completed sometime in 2011.

• WMECO press release
• GetSolar.com announcement