Developers, civic leaders and other interested folk will break ground today on Fenway Center, a $450 million project that ultimately will have five buildings that will derive a significant portion of their power from solar panels installed on the structures, The Boston Globe reports.

When all is said and done, what is now underused parking lot space will be filled with apartment homes, office buildings and storefronts. The local public transportation center also will be upgraded as part of the project for which the main focus of construction will begin by 2012.

"This is going to turn ugly, underutilized parking lots into a world-class neighborhood," developer John Rosenthal told the Boston Globe, noting the city's nearby medical area will "continue to grow, and it’s going to need offices to support that growth."

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts will contribute $13.5 million toward revamping commuter rail stop Yawkey Station, which stands to become Massachusetts' first solar powered transit station. Its power will come from solar panels installed on the buildings.

Governor Deval Patrick and Mayor Thomas Menino are scheduled to attend groundbreaking for the project that continues searching for investors in addition to Massachusetts. Some deals are close to finalization, Rosenthal told the newspaper.