DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA –- GE Aviation Durham is flipping the switch on its second solar power array that will produce 1.2 megawatts (MW) of electricity. The new solar power field combined with a 700 KW array installed in 2011 will provide enough renewable energy to power half of the facility’s electrical power during daylight hours.

“Since the first solar power field become fully operational more than three years ago, it has produced more than 3,700 MWHs of electricity, which is enough energy to power more than 8,400 homes,” said Rob Beach, facilities manager at the GE Aviation Durham site. “This solar power has also helped our site reduce its CO2 emissions by more than 2,500 metric tons, which is the equivalent of removing 500 cars from the road. Our second solar power installation will drive further energy savings for our site.”

Similar to the first solar power field, the second solar power field will be located next to the Durham facility and will utilize products from GE Energy's growing portfolio of solar solutions.

The solar power field is part of GE's ecomagination initiative, which is the company’s commitment to technology solutions that save money and reduce environmental impact for customers and GE’s own operations. For more information about GE's ecomagination, visit: www.ecomagination.com.

GE Aviation Durham opened in 1993 and contributes to eight engine lines for GE and its joint venture partners. The engines are: GE90, GEnx, CF34-8, CFM56*-7B, as well as assembling engine cores for CFM56*-5B and GP7200+, along with subs for CF6 and Marine & Industrial engines.

GE Aviation, an operating unit of GE (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of jet, turboprop and turboshaft engines, components and integrated systems for commercial, military, business and general aviation aircraft. GE Aviation has a global service network to support these offerings.