MBTA to launch solar energy program at Wonderland

REVERE – The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is launching a pilot solar energy program and it’s starting with Wonderland.”Wonderland will be the first introduction of solar on an established structure,” said Mike Donaghy, manager of Energy Efficiency. “We built the parking garage and thought it was a great opportunity to look into adding solar panels.”Donaghy, who spoke via cell phone while riding an MBTA bus, said the new parking garage at the Wonderland MBTA stop offers the perfect opportunity for solar panels.The energy captured with the solar panels will be utilized by the MBTA. Donaghy said it won’t necessarily be used at Wonderland but it will be credited through National Grid to other MBTA sites.The decision to go solar is in part to increase the amount of renewable energy, including solar energy that is either generated or consumed by the MBTA, Donaghy said. It is also a goal that’s consistent with the governor’s administration’s aim of increased renewable energy.According to a presentation made to the MBTA Board of Directors, “the renewable energy generated by this project will result in a reduction of over 1.4 million pounds of greenhouse gases.”Donaghy said the board was enthusiastic about the idea.The project was already put out to bid and in June Gehrlicher Solar America Corporation out of Springfield, N.J. was awarded a contract to design, install and maintain the solar panels.The plan is for Gehrlicher to install the panels on the roof of the Wonderland garage. Another field of panels, more than 10 times the size of Revere’s, will be installed at the Readville Yard Dedham as well.Donaghy said the proposal calls for the solar system to be installed no later than 365 days from the time the contract is signed but he expects it to be ready to go by June 2013.Chris Stevens can be reached at [email protected].