Calif. rail station plans solar carport, EV charging

metro-link-solar-carportTrain commuters who park their EVs and PHEVs at the Metrolink station in Industry, Calif. will be able to plug into EV charging stations by next year and have their cars shaded by a giant solar carport.

The city is planning to build about 1,000 carports at the Industry Metrolink Station parking lot, and the rooftops will have a photovoltaic solar array that will generate 2 megawatts of energy for Southern California Edison, an electricity provider for central, coastal and southern California.

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The project is part of an Edison program to create 500 megawatts of solar energy from the rooftops of warehouses, and from ground-mounted sites.The project will create shaded space for 500 cars, as well as solar panels on the roof, according to Foothill Transit spokeswomanFelicia Friesema.

The cityā€™s goal is to begin building this summer, and to be finished by January or February 2012. The $1.2 million project will be paid for by general funds, and is accepting bids for the project this month.

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