First Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: FSLR) announced its 100 percent stake in Maryland Solar, a 20-megawatt (AC) photovoltaic (PV) solar power project in Hagerstown, Md.
The project, which has a contract to sell electricity and renewable energy credits to FirstEnergy Solutions, is expected to start construction in Q2 2012 and be completed in Q4 2012. It will use First Solar's advanced thin film PV modules to generate enough clean, renewable energy to power approximately 2,700 average Maryland homes, displacing approximately 23,000 metric tons of CO2 annually—the equivalent of taking 4,400 cars off the road each year.
"First Solar is pleased to continue its work in Maryland to help the state meet its renewable energy goals," said Frank De Rosa, First Solar Senior Vice President for business development — the Americas. "We are excited about moving forward on this project, which is expected to provide 125 construction jobs."