When structures resembling anti-tank defenses used in World War II started appearing in an open field and trees that once filled a vacant lot came down, people asked questions.

The answer to both developments in separate parts of the city is the same: this is all part of building a solar park.

Erection of the bases for more than 15,500 solar panels on a 36-acre site between the Airport Connector and Kilvert Street is well underway. Crews from Conti Solar with offices in Edison, N.J. and Worcester, Mass. were on the former Leviton Manufacturing property this week installing what look to be pieces in a giant game of pickup jacks. Those stands will support solar panels capable of producing 8.4 million kilowatts of electricity annually.

That’s enough electricity to power 1,100 homes for a year, estimates Ralph Palumbo, managing director and owner of Southern Sky Renewable Energy RI. The second solar park located on about 10 acres, which is now being cleared, is off West Shore Road adjacent to the railroad underpass in Apponaug. This park, consisting of 2,600 panels, is projected to produce 1.3 million kilowatts, enough electricity to power about 200 homes for a year.

A Warwick resident and certified public accountant, Palumbo said Tuesday both projects are on schedule and budget, although the Kilvert Street park provided a surprise. A brownfield because of waste dumped on the property, Palumbo said grease used in the manufacturing processes used by Leviton had to be removed. He said working with the Department of Environmental Management, a “remedial action plan” was implemented that involved removing the contaminated soil. He said Southern Sky has DEM wetland permits for both sites. City approvals of both developments were granted earlier this year. Concerns over screening, glare and noise from inverters to convert the power from DC to AC were raised by neighbors to the West Shore Road park.

At the time of city hearings on the two parks, Palumbo said they would annually produce $1.4 million in meter credits. He said Warwick would make a two-cent “spread” that would amount to about $200,000 annually. Palumbo reasoned there is no way for the city to lose as the credit is applied to existing municipal bills.

Even though exempt from taxes, Palumbo said Southern Sky would voluntarily pay the city $35,000 annually, which is about what the properties generate in taxes.

“I live in Warwick and I’m happy to have the opportunity to build projects in the City of Warwick,” Palumbo said. He said he is appreciative of the cooperation he’s received from the city in locating and permitting the two parks.

“We have worked hard to make it work [for the city],” he said.

Palumbo anticipates both parks would be operational by July or August of next summer. The interconnection with National Grid should be easier for the West Shore Road park than that for Kilvert Street, which makes projecting a date difficult, he explained. Southern Sky is leasing both sites.

While the projected lifespan of a solar park is 25 years, Palumbo believes 30 to 35 years is possible with proper maintenance and technology upgrades. He placed the cost of the two parks at $11 million to $12 million.