Dover urged to buy plant's solar energy (News Journal)

[eppur_se_muova]

By JAMES MERRIWEATHER • The News Journal • July 14, 2009

DOVER -- The city's Utility Committee voted unanimously Monday to recommend to City Council a contract that would obligate the city to buy all the energy produced by a privately developed solar plant.

The 10-megawatt plant, dubbed as Dover SUN Park, would be built on 90 acres in the city-owned Garrison Oak Technology Park by White Oak Solar Energy LLC, an affiliate of LS Power Development of East Brunswick, N.J. The developer describes it as the first utility-scale solar power plant in the region, and Francis Hodsoll of Pace Global Energy Services, who advises city officials on energy projects, called it the biggest on the Eastern seaboard north of Florida.

For what were described as "commercial confidentiality" purposes, the city's proposed cost for the energy was redacted from the contract considered Monday, but Hodsoll said its terms would have "less impact than a 5-cent move in the price of natural gas." City Manager Anthony DePrima said a cost analysis would be shared later with council members meeting in closed session.

Besides obligating itself to buy energy from White Oak, the contract also would require the city to buy the value of the plant's generating capacity. Terms of a contract between the city, Delmarva Power and LS Power that would divvy up renewable energy credits generated by the project are under negotiation, but Hodsoll said Delmarva would acquire most of the credits.
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more: http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20090714/BUSINESS/907140319/1003