simple + green

Bay Area Rapid Transit, better known as BART is making a change to the way they use power. Yesterday, BART directors made some changes which will allow them to purchase and use Green power.

The BART Board of Directors, eager to reduce the agency’s carbon footprint, voted unanimously last week to lift the agency’s price cap on the purchase of alternative energy. Without that action, BART couldn’t afford to buy the more-costly sources of renewable power.

At an average cost of $100 per megawatt hour, alternative energy exceeded the $70-per-megawatt hour price-limit for green power BART had in place, which meant that no wind, wave, thermal or other alternative sources of power were being purchased. A megawatt hour is enough to power about 750 homes for one hour.

While many would complain that the money could be better spent in areas such as overall station and train cleanliness and maintenance, those are BART see this as a move with many positives:

BART director Tom Radulovich said the green power initiative has several benefits, including allowing BART to diversify its energy portfolio to protect the agency in case there’s a big price increase in a particular market, such as fossil-fuel-generated electricity. He said BART’s investment also can be used as a catalyst to expand the alternative-energy supply, which eventually may help bring down the price.

And finally, Radulovich said, “We can put our money where our mouth is. The BART board is saying yes to spending a little more money to be green.”

Any time a budget is exceeded, feedback can be negative. Bay Area residents may be split:

* BART is so important to many commuters, any positive change will be seen as good.
* Green power is a popular topic for the area, some riders will be very happy.
* No one likes to see costs rise, as they assume that prices will also rise.
* Some people will just not care either way, as long as the fare doesn’t increase.

Does the possible jump in cost justify the reduction in carbon footprint?

I don’t have to ride BART to work, but have in the past. To be able to use public transportation that is trying to use something other than oil for power would make me happy. I realize I might be somewhat in the majority, but - as with the buses that are now promoting their use of biodiesel - the changes are far too important to ignore.

Public transportation is getting some cool back!