Food Lion selected for Duke rooftop solar energy program

Greensboro, N.C. Food Lion said Sunday that its distribution center in Greensboro is one of four sites where Duke Energy will install rooftop solar panels as part of the first phase of its solar power generation program in North Carolina.

Duke will install 5,616 solar panels at the Food Lion facility, which will generate 1.3 megawatts of electricity, Duke said in a statement.

"We believe it is the right thing to do for our company and our environment," said Christy Phillips-Brown representing Food Lion. "This enables us to participate in solar energy while giving back to the environment through technology."

Phillips-Brown noted the construction will be completed by the end of first quarter 2010.

The North Carolina Solar Photovoltaic Distributed Generation program, approved by the N.C. Utilities Commission earlier this year, enables Duke Energy to install solar panels on the roofs and properties of manufacturing facilities, commercial buildings and homes in the company's North Carolina service territory.

Duke Energy will invest approximately $50 million to construct and own a total of 10 megawatts of solar energy capacity in the state, capable of providing electricity to approximately 1,300 homes, the company said.