PERU – After doubling the size of a new solar park to be constructed in Peru, the Indiana Municipal Power Association said it now plans to triple the size of its project.

The company, which provides 59 cities and towns in Indiana with wholesale electricity, last year approved a $2.1 million park that would contain 3,900 solar panels and produce 1 megawatt of energy.

In February, the utility announced it would double the size of the project, which would increase the investment to $3.6 million.

The IMPA said this month it will now invest $5.36 million to install 11,850 solar panels that will generate 3 megawatts of energy.

Jack Alvey, IMPA’s senior vice president of generation, said the utility is installing solar parks throughout the state this year in order to meet its goal of generating 10 megawatts of solar energy in 2015.

The company decided to triple the size of the project after hitting roadblocks in acquiring land for solar parks in other Indiana towns, he said.

The Peru park will be built on 30 acres of land the IMPA is leasing from Peru Utilities on East Wabash Road, just outside the city limits.

Brooke Robertson, director of business retention and expansion for the Miami County Economic Development Authority. said another factor in the company expanding the project is the support from county and city officials.

Carson Gerber can be reached at 765-854-6739, carson.gerber@kokomotribune.com or on Twitter @carsongerber1

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Power association triples size of Peru solar park project - Kokomo Tribune_ News