TEP Unveils Plans for Giant Photovoltaic Array and New Solar Power Plant

clipped from www.worldofphotovoltaics.com Tucson Electric Power (TEP) is working with partners to develop two new solar power systems that would rank as the Tucson area`s largest renewable power plants, generating enough clean energy to serve more than 6,000 Tucson homes. The systems, including a new 25-megawatt (MW) photovoltaic (PV) array and a 5-MW concentrating solar power (CSP) plant, are expected to be completed by January 2012. TEP has agreed to purchase power from both systems, which will be privately owned and operated. "These new systems will exponentially expand our community`s solar energy resources, helping us reduce our use of fossil fuels while taking a significant step toward achieving our renewable energy goals," said Paul Bonavia, Chairman, President and CEO of TEP and its parent company, UniSource Energy (NYSE: UNS). The array is expected to produce enough energy to power more than 4,600 typical Tucson homes while avoiding the production of more than 48,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year.