Solar plant opens on N.C. Christmas tree farm

– Charlotte Observer

A solar farm developed by a Cornelius firm opened Thursday on a Christmas tree farm in the mountains of Avery County.

Avery Solar covers six acres of the 38-acre tree farm in the county seat of Newland. Its 1-megawatt capacity is equal to the electricity about 120 homes use in a year. O2 Energies of Cornelius developed and owns the installation, which Chapel Hill-based Strata Solar built.

The solar farm will supply energy to Mountain Electric Cooperative, which serves western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/09/30/2650931/briefly.html