SEPTA and Lightsource BP sign contract for 43.8 MW of solar capacity –

The
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), and developer,
financer and manager of utility-scale solar projects, Lightsource BP, have
signed a long-term power purchase agreement for two solar farms totaling 43.8
MWdc in Franklin County, Pennsylvania.

Elk Hill 1
and 2 will be installed across two locations in Franklin County on 320 acres
leased from local landowners. The projects will cost an estimated $47 million and
create 200 jobs during the construction of the facilities.

Both Elk 1
and 2 are expected to be complete in 2021.

Lightsource
BP will finance, build, own and operate the farms, which could generate an up
to 67,029 MWh of solar energy annually, or nearly 20% of SEPTA’s 380,000 MWh
annual electricity demand.

The farms
also aim to support Pennsylvania’s goals to generate of clean electricity
through solar PV.

“Supporting the
development of local renewable energy is another way we can deepen our positive
environmental impact,” said SEPTA General Manager, Leslie S. Richards.

“The agreement will
help us achieve our long-term and ambitious sustainability goals in this vital
field, which will only become more important as we emerge from this crisis,”
Richards added.

“We’re thrilled to
partner with SEPTA, an organization 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,” said Kevin
Smith, chief executive officer of Lightsource BP in the Americas.