Metro News Release

For immediate release: April 24, 2006

Metro plans to use solar energy

Metro wants to go greener with solar energy. The transit authority’s Board today approved applying for clean renewable energy bonds that will be used to install a minimum of $15 million worth of solar energy equipment on 10 Metro buildings.

Metro is taking advantage of a U.S. Treasury Department program enacted last year which allows government agencies and electric cooperatives to apply to issue bonds to finance alternative energy projects. The bonds are zero interest and instead bond holders get tax credits for buying them. Metro would negotiate a 20-year deal with New York-based finance company, Allco Finance Group, and Baltimore-based solar energy company SunEdison to design, build, operate and maintain the equipment with no anticipated upfront costs to Metro and pay off the bonds. Metro would buy energy from the companies at a fixed rate.

The solar panels will help power buildings at eight rail yards and a maintenance and training facility and can last 40 years. Metro officials estimate the transit agency will save at least $75,000 a year in energy costs.

Metro’s other environmentally friendly efforts include, purchasing hybrid electric and compressed natural gas buses and ultra low sulphur diesel fuel for buses. Metro also began a “Go Green on Metro” ad campaign last week, which reminds people of the environmental benefits of using trains and buses instead of personal vehicles.

News release issued on April 24, 2006.