October 24, 2015
In an effort to cut energy consumption and improve the resilience of its facilities, the board of SEPTA approved two new sustainability projects Friday that will be completed over the next two years.
The projects comprise a series of energy retrofits and a natural gas plant to power both the Regional Rail System and SEPTA's largest bus garage. The $40 million combined cost of the projects will be financed entirely through energy savings guaranteed under the Pennsylvania Guaranteed Energy Savings Act (GESA), the agency announced in a news release.
"The sustainability projects leverage significant private sector investment that adds value for riders while at the same time saving taxpayer dollars," said SEPTA General Manager Jeffrey D. Knueppel. "The self-funding strategy continues a business-like approach towards sustainability, and it will make our system stronger moving forward."
The first project, designed in collaboration with Constellation, is an $18.2 million retrofit for five SEPTA facilities and railcar fleets, which will receive high-efficiency technologies. The retrofits will include LED lighting, building insulation, HVAC controls, and water conservation, generating more than $26 million in energy savings over the next 17 years.
Facilities chosen for the retrofits are as follows:
• Southern Bus Garage (1934 Johnston Street, Philadelphia)
• Berridge/Courtland Shop (200 W. Wyoming Avenue, Philadelphia)
• Fern Rock Shop (5801 N. 11th Street, Philadelphia)
• Germantown Shop (6721 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia)
The following railcars were also selected for the upgrades:
• Regional Rail (Silverliner IV, Silverliner V, Push-Pull Fleets)
• Broad Street Line (B-IV Fleet)
• Norristown High Speed Line (N-5 Fleet)
Construction on the retrofits will begin this year.
The second project, to be designed by Noresco, is a $26.8 million Combined Heat & Energy Plant at SEPTA's Midvale Complex in North Philadelphia. As proposed, the CHP plant will use twin natural gas generators to provide power to the Wayne Junction Substation and Midvale Bus Garage, which houses more than 300 vehicles.
In addition to using excess heat for three nearby facilities, the CHP plant would provide SEPTA with a power source in the event of a regional electrical grid outage, allowing service to continue even in the midst of a blackout.
Approval for the CHP is pending an investment grade audit to ensure that the plant will be self-funded under GESA. Once confirmed, the project could be operational by 2017.
Learn more about SEPTA's sustainability initiatives here.
