Solar Energy (Photo: Google Images)

The New York State Power Authority and the University at Buffalo this morning unveiled what officials said would be the largest solar energy project in the state to date.

Under the Power Authority's statewide renewable energy program, 5,000 solar panels will be installed on seven acres on the UB North Campus in Amherst, near Maple Road, to power 735 UB apartments.

The project will cost about $6.5 million to $7 million, and be paid for by a Power Authority grant.

The collection of solar panels, which will produce 1.1 megawatts of solar energy for the campus, is expected to be installed by fall of 2010.

Power Authority President Richard Kessel and UB President John B. Simpson announced the project at a news conference in the Center for Tomorrow on the North Campus.

It's part of an ongoing initiative to meet more of the university's energy needs through renewable sources, Simpson said.

"This grant not only recognizes UB's long record of environmental leadership, but it commits us to a greener, more sustainable future," Simpson said.

"Green is our future," Kessel said. "It will save the university about $75,000 to $100,000 a year."

This will be the second array of solar panels installed on UB's North Campus. UB completed a smaller project in 2006 on the roof of Norton Hall.