The PA Turnpike Commission recently released a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking businesses to develop, install and support a planned stationary Inductive Charging Showcase at its Central Administration Building.

A milestone on the PA Turnpike’s journey to becoming America’s First Sustainable Superhighway by 2040, the showcase will place wireless electric vehicle charging technology at up to 20 parking spaces, which will be located beneath a solar canopy.

“We are excited to partner with technology leaders to reinforce the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s commitment to sustainability and innovation,” said PA Turnpike CEO Mark Compton. “Today’s announcement builds on the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s goals of accelerating mobility and understanding charging systems to better support customers’ needs and the growing demand for electric vehicles.”

The Inductive Charging Showcase is intended to provide the PA Turnpike with the data and technical insight on charging systems from multiple, wireless charging manufacturers to determine efficient business models, classify inductive charger types and establish best use cases for each product – before publicly testing and deploying the technology.

Long-range plans include installing inductive charging lanes along the Mon/Fayette Expressway in 2034.

“On a holiday weekend, the Pennsylvania Turnpike sees 3.5 million travelers on our 565+ mile roadway. You can’t make it from one end of our system to the other without stopping to charge,” said Keith Jack, Director of Facilities Operations and co-chair of the Turnpike’s Sustainability Committee. “Not every vehicle is going to be electric 20 years from now, but a growing number will be. This project provides the background and knowledge to help make our roadway as efficient as possible for our customers.”

This is one the PA Turnpike’s ongoing investments in renewable energy solutions.

In 2021, a solar microgrid, with backup natural gas generator, launched at the Greensburg Maintenance Building in Westmoreland County.

The PA Turnpike aims to install microgrids throughout the system, at interchanges, service plazas and in its right-of-way to reach its goal of energy independence by 2040. 

For more than three decades, the PA Turnpike has made environmental stewardship and sustainability a top priority.

It was the first state agency to achieve three, consecutive 100% scores from the Commonwealth’s GreenGov Council.

Its sustainability and stormwater management programs earned two IBTTA Toll Excellence Awards for Social Responsibility.

To learn more about the PA Turnpike’s goal of becoming America’s First Sustainable Superhighway by 2040, please visit its website.

Resource Link:

-- PA Turnpike Releases Request For Proposals To Construct Solar Energy Facilities In Its Rights-of-Way; 7,900 Acres Have Solar Potential  [PaEN]

Related Articles This Week - Energy:

-- Gov. Shapiro, Joins 4 Other Governors To Call On PJM To Reform Its Electric Generating Capacity Auction Rules To Prevent Billions Of Dollars In 'Unnecessary’ Costs To Their Residents, Businesses  [PaEN]

-- State Now Accepting Applications For Low-Income Home Energy Assistance  [PaEN]

-- PA Turnpike Seeks Partners For Stationary Electric Vehicle Inductive Charging Showcase At Dauphin County Headquarters  [PaEN]

-- Penn State EarthTalks Series: Nov. 4 - Repurposing Underutilized Lands For Energy - Marginal Farmlands, Abandoned Mine Sites, Brownfields  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- Inquirer: Electric Bills Are Rising In PA, NJ; Governors Want PJM To Help Cut Costs

-- PPL Utilities Increases Price Of Electricity Dec. 1 To 10.77 Cents/kWH Up From 10.04 Cents/kWH

-- National Fuel Gas Increases Natural Gas Costs 3.7% On Nov. 1

-- WESA: Change Will Simplify Applications For Public Utility Assistance In PA

-- Capital & Main - Audrey Carleton: In Pennsylvania, Older Climate Activists Tell Would-Be Voters: ‘We Caused It, We Can Solve It’

-- WITF StateImpactPA - Rachel McDevitt: PA Communities Start To See Impact Of Federal Climate Spending, As Election Casts Doubt On Future Of Programs

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal - Ad Crable: Pennsylvania Near Bottom For Renewable Energy Growth, Virginia 4th

-- PittsburghUnionProgress.com: PA Turnpike To Test Electrified Parking Pads For Electric Vehicles

-- BP: BP Subsidiary Archaea Energy And UGI Celebrate Start Up Of Landfill Gas Project In Schuylkill County

-- DCED Invests $6.7 Million To Support Mitsubishi Electric Power Products To Support Move To Renewable Energy And Decarbonization Goals

-- Utility Dive: FirstEnergy CEO Again Suggests PA, Other Competitive Electricity States Should Procure Power Supplies Outside PJM Power Auctions

[Posted: October 28, 2024]

11/4/2024