Volkswagen Powers Chattanooga Auto Plant with the Sun

A few years ago, when the city of Chattanooga, Tennessee landed the highly-sought-after Volkswagen (VW) auto plant, one of the city’s advantages was its commitment to the environment.

Last week Volkswagen lived up to Chattanooga’s “green” reputation by opening the largest solar park dedicated to an auto plant in the U.S.

The numbers are quite impressive. Occupying 33 acres on a 66-acre tract next to the VW factory, the 33,600-panel solar farm, cost $25 million to build and is a 9.5 megawatt system. It will meet 12.5 percent of VW’s energy needs during full production and all of its non-production periods. The plant, which makes the Passat sedan, employs about 3200 workers.

by Pat Byington, The Green Register

Photo Credit: Pat Byington

Source: Chattanooga Times-Free Press