Pennsylvania’s Elk Hill Solar 2 project, developed under a PPA between the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) and Lightsource BP, has started commercial operation.
The 17.5MW solar farm in Franklin County is helping advance energy and sustainability priorities for both SEPTA and the State. The solar farm owned and operated by Lightsource BP.
The project is one of two solar farms that SEPTA and Lightsource BP announced on Earth Day in 2020.
Elk Hill 2 will generate an estimated 27,377 MWh of clean and affordable solar energy, or nearly 10% of SEPTA’s 380,000 MWh per year electricity demand−the equivalent of providing energy to more than 2500 US homes annually.
SEPTA board chairman Pasquale T Deon Sr 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.
“We’re excited to be a part of moving the Commonwealth’s energy industry forward.”
Generation from a solar farm of this size and type would be expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 19,360 metric tons of CO2 annually, equivalent to offsetting the emissions of 4,180 fuel burning cars each year.
It also supports Pennsylvania’s goals to generate a percentage of clean electricity by solar photovoltaics, helping to diversify the state’s energy portfolio and increase security with locally generated power.
Lightsource BP chief executive in the Americas Kevin Smith said: “We’re thrilled to partner with SEPTA, an organisation 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.
“Working together, we’re helping advance transportation’s decarbonization while benefitting Pennsylvania’s environment as well as its economy.”