PA Turnpike Releases Request For Proposals To Construct Solar Energy Facilities In Its Rights-of-Way; 7,900 Acres Have Solar Potential

On September 18, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission announced it has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) to construct a series of solar generation facilities in its right of way areas.  

The successful vendor would design, build, finance, operate and maintain 15 facilities, each with an installed capacity of up to three megawatts, on PA Turnpike-owned land adjacent to its roadway.  

Prior to releasing the RFP, the PA Turnpike engaged longtime sustainability partner The Ray, a Georgia-based nonprofit, to conduct a system-wide solar analysis, which revealed 7,900 acres suitable for development. 

The Solar Right-of-Way Project will not only offset the PA Turnpike’s electrical consumption but also contribute surplus energy to the electrical distribution system. 

Under the agreement’s proposed terms, the PA Turnpike would purchase the generated power, at a predetermined rate, from the vendor for 20 years and retain the associated Solar Alternative Energy Credits (SAECs) to provide additional revenue. 

This project also helps reduce the PA Turnpike’s environmental footprint. 

“Staying true to our legacy of innovation, the PA Turnpike continues to adopt cutting-edge technologies that enhance customer safety, sustainability and reliability,” said PA Turnpike CEO Mark Compton. “We have a 30+ year track record of commitment to sustainability and are proud to continue finding ways to support responsible stewardship.”    

“Over the next two decades, the PA Turnpike will see full-scale Open Road Tolling, additional solar installations, and the possibility of inductive charging and autonomous vehicle technology,” said Keith Jack, Director of Facilities Operations and co-chair of the PA Turnpike’s Sustainability Committee. “Implementing these innovations will significantly reduce our operational costs while improving our environmental footprint.”  

Pennsylvania’s Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard (AEPS) Act mandates yearly increases in the percentage of alternative energy-produced electricity sold to retail customers. 

Another key provision of the AEPS Act is to make it easier for customers using technologies like solar panels to connect to the electrical distribution system. 

The Solar Right-of-Way Project brings grid connectivity points closer to consumers – in much the same way the PA Turnpike’s fiber optic network bridges the digital divide by bringing potential access to rural areas. 

For more than three decades, the Pennsylvania Turnpike has made environmental stewardship and sustainability a top priority. 

It was the first state agency to achieve two, consecutive 100% scores from the Commonwealth’s GreenGov Council. Its sustainability and stormwater management programs earned two IBTTA Toll Excellence Awards for Social Responsibility. 

To learn more about the PA Turnpike’s goal of becoming America’s First Sustainable Superhighway by 2040, please visit the PA Turnpike’s Sustainability webpage.  

[Posted: September 18, 2024]  PA Environment Digest