Press Release

PITTSBURGH -- Joining officials from Green Mountain Energy Company, IKEA and Sun Power Electric, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commissioner Terrance J. Fitzpatrick today unveiled 175 electric solar panels that make up the largest solar electric power plant in Western Pennsylvania and further secure Pennsylvania’s leadership for green energy.

"The power of customer choice has energized the market for renewable electricity in Pennsylvania," said Commissioner Fitzpatrick, who helped to draft Pennsylvania’s electric-competition law, and leads the Public Utility Commission’s (PUC) Demand Side Response Working Group.

"The Pittsburgh region is fast becoming a hotbed for green technology. In the past two years, we have seen three new wind-power projects and now this solar electric plant built in Western Pennsylvania. While the number of customers shopping for electricity has declined recently, many Pennsylvania consumers still want green power. And 119,000 electric customers now have made that choice thanks to Electric Choice -- more than any other state.

"I congratulate Green Mountain Energy, IKEA and Sun Power Electric on this region’s largest solar electric array and 38,000 kilowatt hours of new green power a year. Without Electric Choice, this solar plant would not be here. And I thank all parties for helping the PUC to ensure consumers’ smiles ‘shine brightly’ as well."

The new facility, Green Mountain Solar at Pittsburgh, which sits atop the IKEA furniture store in Robinson Town Centre, includes a special public education display in the store’s main entrance and inside the building’s restaurant that shows the air pollutants avoided by the system.

Green Mountain Energy Company has served Pennsylvania electric customers since the Commonwealth opened its energy market to competition in 1999.

Last week, PUC Chairman Glen R. Thomas dedicated two new wind farms in Somerset and Fayette counties. Chairman Thomas said those new wind farms, along with the Green Mountain Wind Farm in Somerset County -- the first utility-scale wind-power project on the East Coast -- send a powerful message about Pennsylvania’s energy leadership.

The PUC is charged with ensuring Pennsylvania consumers have access to safe, affordable and reliable electric, natural gas, water, telephone and transportation service, as well as serving as stewards of competition.