Wrecking Ball Swings At Frederick Solar Plant

FREDERICK, Md. (AP) -- A landmark solar panel plant in Frederick is being dismantled.

The Frederick News-Post reports that demolition began Friday of the former BP Solar plant along Interstate 70.

Owner Bristol Capital Corp. says the site will become a business park.

The building had a large array of solar panels facing the highway. It was erected in 1981 by locally based Solarex.

Solarex became the nation's largest, domestically owned solar-cell producer by 1994. It had 500 workers producing solar panels.

Solarex was acquired by Amoco, which sold a half-interest to Enron Corp in 1995. BP acquired both companies a few years later.

BP found it cheaper to shift production overseas and focus on solar installation. It closed the plant in 2010.