enXco helps Pocono Raceway switch to solar power

May 21, 2010

Renewable energy developer enXco has begun construction on a three megawatt solar photovoltaic array at the NASCAR racetrack, Pocono Raceway, in Pennsylvania.

The project is enXco’s first turnkey solar project, its first development in Pennsylvania and one of the largest renewable energy stadium projects in the world.

Once complete later this summer, the facility will be owned and operated by Pocono Raceway providing most of the race track’s electricity, although the site will still make use of the local power grid.

The solar project is being built on a 25-acre site in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania.

It will comprise 40,000 solar modules, and is expected to cut greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 2,370 tons a year.

Sustainable

Peter Solomon, enXco’ Director of Solar Origination, said: “We recognize the dedicated efforts of NASCAR to become more sustainable and we look forward to helping other tracks to follow Pocono’s leadership to reduce their carbon footprint through the generation of solar energy.”

The solar upgrade at Pocono Raceway came on the back of the deregulation of Pennsylvania’s electric utility laws, which allows more flexibility on power purchases.

Brandon Igdalsky, Track President, said, “This new system, along with other initiatives we are implementing demonstrates that it is not that “tricky” to go green. This new system will satisfy the Raceway’s energy needs, and will allow us to help power close to one thousand homes.”

enXco, part of French energy company EDF Energies Nouvelle, worked with development partner Evolution Energies and solar PV contractor Belectric on the project.

Add your comments

Chance
“is expected to cut greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 2,370 tons a year.” Please explain how this happens, does the power plant that burns fuel stop when the sun is out?
Let’s look at the facts in this. The sun does not shine 24/7, so where does the power come from when the sun isn’t shining? Solar does not pervent poulition!
For the same $16 million and using the 25 acres of land to grow sunflowers or rapeseeds they could have got a system that provided the same 3MW generating capacity, would run 24/7 (or close due to some maintenance time) produced no poulition, around 2,000 gallons of diesel fuel per year, and created more long term jobs.
The 3MW generating equipment would cost $6 million leaving $10 million to build the fuel production facility and farm equipment.
I beg everyone to stop encouraging and promoting solar power it cost too much and it doesn’t solve the poulition problem, or the bigger problem of this country exporting large amounts of $ for a product we can produce here thus keeping all the $ here at home.
My e-mail is tdamericap@gmail.com for those who are considering solar but want better for less $.
http://brighterenergy.org James Cartledge
The thing with solar power is this: It doesn’t generate power during the night, but then most people are not awake at night, and therefore do not consume so much electricity during those hours when the sun goes down.
Not all power plants are required to generate electricity 24/7. Therefore, solar power makes a lot of sense as part of the overall portfolio of power sources.