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The Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA) in Lancaster, CA, recently introduced a 360 kilowatt photovoltaic (PV) solar panel system at its maintenance facility that it estimates will generate approximately 680,000 kilowatt-hours of green electricity each year. The “SmartPark” system places the solar array on a fixed structure that provides outdoor covered parking on an existing lot.

With this system in place, AVTA will generate approximately 70 percent of the facility’s energy needs.

According to AVTA, the use of solar power will lead to annual operating cost savings of more than $90,000 at current electricity rates. The agency also will receive rebates from Southern California Edison under the California Solar Initiative.

“AVTA is proud of this project,” said Executive Director Randy Floyd. “It put to good use a portion of our American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding. Not only did this project generate jobs; it is reducing our carbon footprint and reducing our operating costs.”

As 10,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity generation produces 3.8 tons of carbon dioxide emissions, AVTA estimates that the PV panel system will reduce CO2 emissions by 260 tons each year.

Since the maintenance facility operates around the clock, a significant portion of the bus maintenance, fueling, and washing takes place after the buses return from their routes at night. The PV system will be connected to the Southern California Edison grid and the excess power generated during the day and not used by AVTA will be fed to the grid during peak power consumption periods in the region. AVTA will draw power back from the grid at night during periods of low demand by other users.

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