On Oct. 30, Washington Area Metropolitan Transit Authority (WMATA) celebrated a new solar carport on top of the Anacostia Station parking garage.
The Anacostia Station was the first to break ground, followed by the Southern Avenue Station, both of which are now up and running with a combined 4.4 megawatts of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels. The two stations are among four WMATA facilities being transformed in the District of Columbia and Maryland under the Solar Carport Project.
"We are excited to celebrate with the community and get the electricity flowing at Washington, D.C.'s Anacostia Station. Together with the Southern Avenue Station, we are making huge strides in building a more sustainable future for the region," said WMATA General Manager and CEO Randy Clarke. "This innovative project is helping advance equity and sustainability, not just at WMATA, but as a regional partner to create cleaner, healthier communities for us all."
Solar carports are overhead canopies built of steel to support solar panels collecting sunlight that is converted to electricity. The covered parking also protects customers from the elements. To enhance customer safety, WMATA installed new security cameras, emergency call boxes, improved LED lighting and bus shelters.
WMATA leveraged private investments, economic opportunities and clean energy policies within the District of Columbia to open doors for the project. This project is part of WMATA's ongoing commitment to sustainability initiatives and the 2025 Energy Action Plan, which will help advance the Clean Energy DC Plan that seeks to cut carbon emissions in half and transition to 100 percent renewable energy by 2032.
"This project encompasses the Strategic Transformation Plan adopted by the WMATA Board to support sustainability and partner with the region to develop innovative solutions that will benefit our customers and communities," said WMATA Board Chair Paul C. Smedberg. "We applaud the talented staff at WMATA who had the vision to capitalize on our existing property to create millions in new revenue for WMATA."
WMATA's solar carport project is a collaboration with TotalEnergies (formerly SunPower) to install the solar paneled carports and subsidiaries of MN8 Energy (formerly Goldman Sachs Renewable Power LLC), which own and operate the four WMATA sites. Collectively, they will generate around 10 megawatts of electrical capacity.
"As one of the largest community solar projects in the region, the success we're celebrating today wouldn't have been possible without the power of partnerships. This was a truly collaborative effort involving the community, local workforces and a team of people that came together to make this dream a reality," said Bradley Dakake, senior account executive of TotalEnergies.
The renewable energy generated from the solar carports will be provided to subscribing District of Columbia residential and commercial community solar customers.
"The Anacostia Solar Carport project is a shining example of community solar's potential in the District and beyond. MN8 Energy is proud to have been a partner in this innovative and community-oriented project. We hope everything we see today inspires similar projects across the country," said Ashlee Effler, senior vice president and general counsel for MN8 Energy.
Construction is also underway on solar carports at two other stations: Naylor Road, expected to be completed in winter 2023, and Cheverly, scheduled to finish in spring 2024.
