Largest urban solar power plant closer to reality

Exelon is one of the nations's largest electric utilities. The Exelon solar power plant would consist of more than 30,000 solar panels on a site in Chicago's West Pullman neighborhood.

Exelon says it would generate enough electricity to power about 1,200 homes.

The Chicago city council has approved a lease for the vacant industrial site, which is considered a brownfield.

The plant may have local support, but it will still take a major federal commitment to make it happen.

Exelon says the project depends on government guarantees for some 50 million dollars in loans, about 80 percent of the cost.