New York Air National Guard Base to Get Solar Energy Farm

NEWBURGH, N.Y. (AP) - Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) says a new solar energy farm at Stewart Air National Guard Base will serve as a model for other military installations and demonstrate that solar panels are a cost-effective energy source.

The project, to be built this year, is funded by a $4 million federal investment under the 2010 Defense Appropriations bill.

Congress and the Pentagon have set new requirements that each branch of the military must purchase or generate at least 25 percent of the energy they consume from renewable sources by 2025.

The Stewart Air National Guard base solar farm will be constructed by The Solar Energy Consortium using Applied Materials thin-film solar photovoltaics technology. It's expected to generate the amount of electricity used by 100 homes.