It seems Dover, Delaware will play host to a 10-megawatt (MW) solar energy installation — one that will be the largest of its kind in the mid-Atlantic region. State and local officials yesterday gathered in Dover City Hall to finalize the agreement, paving the way for construction to begin later this year.

Dubbed “Dover SUN Park,” the solar power plant will be sited on 103 acres in Dover’s Garrison Oak Technology Park and is expected to generate enough electricity to meet the demand of 1,300 homes. To see the deal through, the City of Dover agreed to buy all the facility’s electricity output under a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA). Notably, Dover SUN Park will place Delaware third among states that generate the most solar power per person.

As relayed by The Dover Post, Delaware Governor Jack Markell see the project represents an important milestone for the state:

“We have been very engaged in terms of trying to promote sustainable energy and energy efficiency in Delaware,” he [Gov. Markell] said. “We want to do everything we possibly can to be a leader.”

As for the renewable energy credits (RECs) produced by the new solar installation, it was agreed that Dover’s electric utility would retain 15 percent of the credits. The remaining RECs are to be purchased by the state’s main utility entities – Delmarva Power, Delaware’s sole investor-owned utility, and Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation, a group of publicly operated electricity providers.

Under Delaware’s renewables portfolio standard (RPS) — also called a renewable energy standard — Delmarva Power  and retail suppliers are required to source 20 percent of their electricity mix from renewable sources by 2020. Two percent of this amount must come from solar energy sources.