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Several important new initiatives and projects are making the county better than ever. Here are just a few.
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Let the Sun Shine In
A high-energy project will make Dover a leader in solar power.
When completed, Dover’s Sun Park will be the largest solar energy field in the Northeast—and make Delaware a national leader in green energy.
“News of its development has attracted solar panel manufacturers from as far away as Africa,” says Bill Neaton, economic development manager for the city of Dover. “By the end of 2010, Dover will be generating 10 megawatts of solar power, enough to provide the energy needs of 1,700 homes.”
The park is an initiative of Dover City Council’s 2030 Committee, which formed to meet the anticipated power needs of the city by the year 2030. Requests for proposals went out in 2008. New York City-based LS Power was the successful bidder on the $40 million project. Ground will be broken at the 381-acre city-owned Garrison Tract on White Oak Road this spring. The first megawatt of solar energy is expected to flow from the park by the end of the year.
According to Neaton, the benefits of solar power generation go beyond providing clean energy to Dover residents, businesses and other power companies that will help distribute electricity from the solar park. In addition to attention from businesses around the world, companies with green-energy initiatives in their business models will also be attracted to Dover.
The solar park will operate on 80 acres of the Garrison Tract. The photovoltaic panels will be visible to travelers on Del. 1. Joe Gorberg, LS Power’s senior vice president for renewable energy, says the project is one of several solar installations LS has developed.
