Retail Supplier Selected By SEPTA For Energy Retrofit, Solar PPA Also Signed
July 26,2019
SEPTA has signed an agreement with Constellation NewEnergy to provide energy conservation measures (ECMs) at SEPTA's headquarters at 1234 Market Street in Center City Philadelphia.
The energy saving contract (ESCO) agreement recommends $13 million in ECM project initiatives that will generate $18 million in guaranteed energy savings which will be used to pay for the project over an 18-year contract period.
Improvements to the 1234 Market headquarters, which was originally built in 1974, include:
• Installation of LED ceiling lights
• Lighting controls including daylight sensors and dimmers
• Solar controlled electronic window shades
• Perimeter weather sealing
• Water efficient fixtures
• Intelligent HVAC system controls
Separately, SEPTA announced that it has reached a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) to buy energy from two solar farms located in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. The two solar farms will generate 35 MW of power. With a planned operational date of 2021, they will be financed, built, owned and operated by Lightsource BP with SEPTA as the sole recipient of the energy produced.
The energy generated from the solar farms will provide an estimated annual total of 71,765 MWh, or approximately 19 percent of SEPTA's 380,000 MWh per year electricity demand. The energy will be provided at a fixed cost of $28.65 per MWh with no price increase for 20 years.
As part of the agreement, SEPTA will receive Green-e certified Renewable Energy Credits (RECs)