Perryville Hosts State's Largest Solar Array

Furniture retailer IKEA has switched on its solar power source and reduced its carbon footprint in Perryville.

The company announced that on Tuesday it began drawing power from a 768,972-square-foot array of 18,576 solar panels on the roof of its Perryville distribution center.

The panels will reduce the facility's carbon emissions by 2,397 tons of carbon dioxide, equivalent to the emissions caused by 359 homes, according to a press release.

The Perryville project is IKEA's 36th solar installation in the United States, and it is the largest solar array in Maryland, according to the release.

"As one of the largest rooftop arrays in the country, this installation will ensure that the IKEA Perryville distribution center consumes very little power from the electric grid,” Ed Morris, Perryville distribution center manager, said in the release. “IKEA is thrilled at this opportunity to further our investment in this community while also continuing our commitment of incorporating sustainability into our supply chain operations.”

IKEA first opened its Perryville center on Firestone Way in 2002. The 1.7- million-square-foot facility employs 550, according to the release.