DC Subways Will Have $50M in Revenue From New Solar Panels Covering Parking Lots With Shade

[Nevilledog]

Link to tweet

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/dc-metro-puts-solar-panels-over-parking-lots/

The transit agency for the Washington, DC Metro area announced Friday a deal worth up to $50 million over 25 years to install solar panels atop buildings and parking structures at four subway rail bus stations.

Combined, Metro says the four sites will generate 12.8 megawatts of electrical capacity and make this “the largest community solar project in the National Capital Area and one of the largest in the nation”.

It will also provide Metro customers who park their cars at the stations with new shaded parking and protection from the elements.

Under the agreement, SunPower Corp. will install photovoltaic solar panels over carports and canopies that shade surface lots and above parking garages. The four Metro sites are: Anacostia, Cheverly, Naylor Road, and the Southern Avenue stations.

*snip*

We should do this for every parking lot.

[Trailrider1951]

1. That's a great idea! But it will work only in some places, it's not for everywhere.

Example: Great idea for Phoenix, Denver, Salt Lake City, Miami, Atlanta, and other cities that receive many days of sunny weather each year. It wouldn't be so great a deal for Seattle, Tacoma, Portland, San Francisco, Houston or Cleveland, cities that do not have that many days of sunny weather in a year.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

2. Sure could use shade in parking lots around here in Kentucky.

Solar panels don't actually count the number of sunny days; they just produce energy when lit. Start replacing canopies any where the sun shines. Canopies don't usually pay back anything. Solar panels do.

[TroubleMan]

3. Actually it is for almost everywhere.

In Germany, solar is very popular and about 8-10% of supplied energy there. Germany's not known for its hours of sunlight.

Most places in the USA have more sunlight on average that Germany.

Sources:
https://www.currentresults.com/Weather/US/average-annual-state-sunshine.php
https://www.currentresults.com/Weather/Germany/annual-hours-of-sunshine.php

Sure in northern Alaska, it may not be as effective, but almost the rest of the USA, it would.

[marmar]

4. San Francisco actually averages 259 sunny days per year, more than Miami.

[Trailrider1951]

6. I did not know that. I've visited San Francisco a couple of times and it was cloudy and cold

in the summer, especially in the morning. And as to Florida, my father lived in Clearwater and it was always sunny and hot, even in the winter. I guess I just spent too much time in Texas. Thanks guys for the enlightenment.

[Deep State Witch]

5. Awesome!

Even better - they're putting them in stations in PG County and SE DC. I can't wait until they get installed in Greenbelt.

[ripcord]

7. I live in the California desert

We have these solar shade covers at schools, government offices and many businesses.