
A $370,600 project is now underway in Portland, Oregon, which will make the city more energy efficient.
The city's 52-mile light rail system will have solar panels installed along the entire system, with construction recently starting at the Portland State University terminal on the yellow and green line routes, according to the Oregonian.
The source reported Oregon's largest transit agency approved 253 panels for the station, to create more than 67,000 kilowatts of clean energy annually and help Portland State University study renewable energy.
“Installation of solar panels at the south terminus furthers TriMet’s commitment to including sustainable practices in our projects and systems,” Neil McFarlane, general manager of TriMet, told the news source.
TriMet said it will save $3,680 a year in energy costs thanks to the solar installation. The project's cost will be covered by leftover green line construction funding, green energy rebates and grants from private corporations.
TriMet estimates there was a weekday average of 318,500 boardings for the transit agency's systems during 2011.

