Photovoltaic panels to power two Rail Runner stations

Written by jrood

The Rio Metro Regional Transit District has selected Santa Fe-based solar company Positive Energy for the development of photovoltaic energy systems at two more Rail Runner train stations.

"There’s no better place
than New Mexico to convert sunlight into electricity", said Dewey Cave, Interim
Executive Director, Mid-Region Council of Governments. "This emerging
technology has numerous environmental and economic benefits. It makes perfect
sense to pair it with the New Mexico Rail Runner Express, which is also a
clean, efficient and environmentally friendly system".

The systems will be mounted
on shade structures covering parking spaces at both the Belen and U.S.
550/Sandoval County Rail Runner Stations. These two stations were selected due
to their high number of riders, the stations’ high visibility to the populations
of two different counties and high parking volumes. Both systems will include
informational signage and real-time Internet monitoring of electricity
production to demonstrate clean energy technologies and promote alternative
transportation.

"These projects enhance the
service that the commuter rail system and related bus systems offer regional
residents," said Isaac Benton, Chair of the Rio Metro Board. "They also offer
the State of New Mexico an opportunity to lead by example in areas of
alternative energy and energy conservation projects".

 Estimates show that the PV systems will meet 85 percent of
electricity needs of these stations. Additionally, a portion of the covered
parking spaces will be dedicated for carpool cars, which could result in an
estimated 9,600 gallons of petroleum saved annually.

The initiative is being
funded by a $438,000 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant from the
State of New Mexico’s Energy Minerals and Natural Resources Department using
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds. Rio Metro will also contribute
funds to the project. In its first year, the system is projected to result in
approximately $27,000 in savings for the Regional Transit District.

The South Capital Rail
Runner Station’s photovoltaic system went online in August of 2009, and has
since generated 7,000 kWh of electricity.

Construction on the PV
systems at the Belen and U.S. 550 Rail Runner stations is scheduled to begin in
the next four months and take about three months to complete. Both stations
will operate on their normal schedules during the construction phase.

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