The Elk Hill Solar 2 solar farm was developed and is owned and operated by Lightsource bp and is one of two solar farms that SEPTA and Lightsource bp announced on Earth Day in 2020. The solar farms will generate an estimated 27,377 MWh of clean and affordable solar energy, or nearly 10 percent of SEPTA’s 380,000 MWh per year electricity demand - the equivalent of providing energy to more than 2,500 US homes annually.
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.
“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.”
SEPTA General Manager, Leslie S. Richards, added that transit is inherently sustainable and that this is just another example of how solar investment benefits, not just the environment, but the transit industry as a whole”.
“Supporting the development of local renewable energy is another way we can deepen our positive environmental impact and this premier project will start the charge in achieving our long-term and ambitious sustainability goals in this vital field, which will only become more important in the future” said Mr Richards.
Lightsource bp and project investors fully funded the project, an estimated $18 million of investment into energy infrastructure for Pennsylvania. In addition to providing cost-competitive, locally generated renewable energy, Elk Hill Solar 2 created 100 jobs during the construction of the facility. Over 43,800 bifacial solar panels, which collect the sun’s energy from both sides of the panel, were installed on about 80 acres. The solar panels will follow the sun during the day to collect the optimal amount of sunlight.
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