SEPTA to reinforce regional rail signals with solar power

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) Board is betting big on solar energy, approving two solar-related projects and an energy retrofit of the authority’s headquarters at its July 25 meeting.

SEPTA explains the measures reinforce its commitment to reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions through its SEP-TAINABLE Sustainability Program.

"SEPTA has been a transit industry leader in sustainability by focusing on projects that both make financial sense and lay the foundation for a green future," said SEPTA Board Chairman Pasquale T. Deon Sr. "These efforts approved…represent a major step forward, with an approach that will help control costs while delivering significant environmental benefits in the communities we serve."

SEPTA plans to outfit the Warminster, Doylestown and West Trenton Lines with solar power reinforcement for rail signals. The project will make SEPTA the first major transportation agency to reinforce power for rail signal systems using solar technology at this scale.

The $16.2 million project is funded in part by a grant from the Federal Transit Administration under the 2013 Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, which is designed to improve transit systems during severe weather events. SEPTA explains that the solar power signal implantation eliminates the need for conduit and external wiring and will allow its system to run for 48 hours if the normal power source is lost.

SEPTA says the technology produced positive results when it was initially tested on the Chestnut Hill West Line.

The second solar energy related measure to be approved was a 20-year power purchase agreement with two solar farms in Franklin County, Penn. The Lightsource BP-owned and operated farms are expected to come online in 2021 and generate 35 MW of power for which SEPTA will be the sole recipient.

SEPTA’s annual electricity demand is 380,000 MWh and the energy generated will provide an estimated annual total of 71,765 MWh, or approximately 19 percent of SEPTA's annual demand. The energy will be provided at a fixed cost of $28.65 per MWh with no price increase for 20 years. SEPTA says the agreement will reduce GHG emissions by 55,750 metric tons of CO2 annually.

Additionally, the agreement stipulates that SEPTA receives Green-e® certified Renewable Energy Credits (RECs), which will certify that the authority meets the highest environmental and consumer protection standards in North America.

The third action approved by the authority’s board was an agreement with Constellation New Energy to provide energy conservation measures (ECMs) at SEPTA's headquarters. The energy retrofit will see the installation of LED ceiling lights, lighting controls including daylight sensors and dimmers, solar-controlled electronic window shades, perimeter weather sealing, water efficient fixtures and intelligent HVAC system controls. The $13 million in recommended upgrades will generate $18 million in guaranteed energy savings which will be used to pay for the project over an 18-year contract period.

"These projects will enhance the services that we provide our customers today, and better prepare us to face future challenges," said SEPTA General Manager Jeffrey D. Knueppel. "SEPTA continues to seek avenues to use the industry's best available technology to improve the sustainability, resiliency and reliability of our system. These projects reflect major strides towards each of these objectives."