Progress Energy unveils plans for solar plant

Utility company, Progress Energy is trying to reduce it’s impact on the environment. It’s doing it with some help from the sun.

The company’s CEO unveiled plans for a new solar powered plant project at this morning’s Chamber of Commerce breakfast in Wilmington.

The solar powered plant will be built on ten acres near the existing Sutton Power Plant off highway 421.

This plant is a push to meet state law passed in 2007 for utility providers to start producing renewable energy sources like solar energy.

Progress Energy CEO Bill Johnson said, “This is carbon-free, free energy from the sun and that would be a great thing for our environment. So this is really a step in producing energy with the least environmental impact.”

Progress Energy’s one 1.6 million customers won’t see an immediate change in their bills.

The solar power plant project is expected to be up and running by the end of the year.