July 22, 2013 - The government's endeavour to make the State a world leader in solar energy by generating 3000MW by 2015 received a shot in the arm with the laying of a foundation stone for the first 100MW solar energy park at Kavanoor, near Parakamudi on Sunday.

Minister for Industries P. Thangamani and Minister for Handlooms and Textiles S. Sundararaj laid the foundation stone for the Rs. 920 crore 'Raasi Solar Park', jointly established by Raasi Green Earth Energy private limited (RGEE) and Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) on about 600 acres of land.

After the State government unveiled its solar policy last year, RGEE had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with TIDCO to establish the park. Mr Thangamani said the park would generate 70MW of solar power by January and reach its full capacity of 100MW in April next.

Mr Sundararaj said Ramanathapuram would emerge as a top power generating district in the State as the government proposed to set up a 1600MW thermal power plant at Uppur with an investment of Rs 10,000 crore and another 4000MW plant in Kadaladi block with an investment of Rs 20,000 crore.

Assuring all assistance, Collector K. Nanthakumar called upon industrialists to set up solar power projects. The district was already generating 450MW power from natural gas and has proposed to establish a wind farm in Rameswaram, he said.