By Kari Williamson

Wanxiang America will supply the solar photovoltaic (PV) panels from its Rockford-based solar panel assembly plant.

“Our Farm firmly plants a prodigious prototype to be followed by other Illinois cities and other airports throughout the country for the reduction of carbon emissions, management of energy costs and most importantly the much needed creation of highly paid skilled jobs.” says Michael Pontarelli, Senior Vice President of Development of New Generation Power.

Ameren Illinois has also executed a 20-year power purchase agreement with Rockford Solar Partners to acquire the energy and all renewable attributes from the solar project as part of the Illinois Power Agency’s long-term renewable energy procurement programme.

Rockford Solar Partners has committed to scale up the project to 62 MW to help meet the demands of the Illinois solar renewable portfolio standard, which projects 6% solar by 2015.