The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) and Lightsource BP have signed a long-term power agreement to provide solar energy to the transit organization and the state, the two companies announced on Wednesday.
According to the announcement, Lightsource will build two solar farms in Franklin County, Pa., which will generate 67,029 Megawatts of solar energy. The power generated is the equivalent of nearly 20 percent of SEPTA’s energy needs per year, or of providing energy to more than 6,100 U.S. homes annually, the companies said.
“This project is a win-win, creating good-paying jobs for Pennsylvanians while locking in low prices with a clean energy source for SEPTA,” said SEPTA Board Chairman Pasquale T. Deon, Sr. “We’re excited to be a part of moving the Commonwealth’s energy industry forward.”
The solar farms are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 47,309 metric tons, the equivalent of taking 500 of SEPTA’s buses off the road each year. The farms will also support the state’s goals to increase the percentage of its power to clean electricity, to diversify the state’s energy portfolio and to increase locally generated power.
“We’re thrilled to partner with SEPTA, an organization committed to its sustainability goals while supporting development of new solar energy sources within the state to create jobs in local communities during these challenging times,” said Kevin Smith, chief executive officer of Lightsource BP in the Americas. “Working together, we’re helping advance transportation’s transition toward low carbon along with benefiting Pennsylvania’s environment, as well as its economy.”