Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF – Fri-Yay/Good News

~ John W. Howell

Today’s good news is taken in its entirety from the Good News Network.

File photo by Jay Blacktrans

DC Subways Will Have $50M in Revenue From New Solar Panels Covering Parking Lots With Shade By – Good News Network –

The transit agency for the Washington, DC Metro area announced Friday a deal worth up to $50 million over 25 years to install solar panels atop buildings and parking structures at four subway rail bus stations.

Combined, Metro says the four sites will generate 12.8 megawatts of electrical capacity and make this “the largest community solar project in the National Capital Area and one of the largest in the nation.”

It will also provide Metro customers who park their cars at the stations with new shaded parking and protection from the elements.

Under the agreement, SunPower Corp. will install photovoltaic solar panels over carports and canopies that shade surface lots and above parking garages. The four Metro sites are Anacostia, Cheverly, Naylor Road, and the Southern Avenue stations.

Goldman Sachs Renewable Power will own the solar power system and provide annual payments to Metro through 2047, providing a long-term revenue stream that will support the regional transit agency’s operations—at no cost to Metro, which is run by the governments of DC, Maryland, and Virginia.

“This project benefits residents of our region, even people who don’t ride Metro, by leveraging the potential of our stations to generate revenue and increase the community’s access to a clean, renewable source of energy,” said Metro CEO Paul Wiedefeld. “This project advances the region’s sustainability goals while generating revenue to help keep Metro safe and affordable in an extremely tight budget environment.”

When complete, the stations (located in DC and Prince George’s County, Maryland) will have 17 acres of photovoltaic solar panels—the equivalent of 13 football fields—and generate enough electricity to power at least 1500 single-family homes. Homes and businesses in the local PEPCO area will be able to sign up for a share of the clean, renewable energy generated by the project while saving on their utility bill.

The project is part of Metro’s sustainability initiatives and will help advance the Clean Energy DC Plan that seeks to cut carbon emissions in half—and transition to 100 percent renewable energy by 2032. Construction is expected to begin early next year.

The good news here is sustainability need not cost money but, if planned, can save money. Today’s JohnKu talks about intelligent projects.

Sustainability by John W. Howell © 2022

Clean energy goals,

Can be met through a good plan. . .

That benefits all.

75 thoughts on “Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF – Fri-Yay/Good News”

  10. Very cool project. I’m in favor of these when the ground is already in use. Out here they put them in the sagebrush and, while they generate power, it a new eyesore. There was a group in Idaho that proposed covering all carports with such things years ago. They even had an idea for the parking lots that people could drive on.

    Liked by 1 person

  15. These thoughtful responses to our current challenges are very encouraging. Thank you, John, for sharing. Maybe there’s hope for effective and productive desalination plants — so needed in the western states. 😊

    Liked by 1 person

  24. Hi John! Your Johnku is on point! This is a great idea, and if it works for Washington then maybe the other states will do the same. Thanks for the good news. Have a great weekend, my friend! 😀

    Liked by 1 person

  25. Great idea—thanks as always for the feel-good Friday news. Hopefully, some of the money saved is passed on to the consumer.

    Liked by 1 person

  26. Brilliant!!! We should do that here!
    Shade and protection, while generating clean energy.
    Your JohnKu says it all, and makes me think there is lots of hope for the future.

    Liked by 1 person

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