The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (Metro) business goals reiterate the importance of promoting sustainability by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing energy efficiency. This renewable energy feasibility study focused on determining the feasibility of installing an energy efficiency project, solar PV canopies over bus parking areas located at multiple Bus Divisions. PacRim assisted in determining the most favorable sites for deployment of the solar canopies, prepared conceptual design studies for three bus division sites, and conducted stakeholder engagement meetings with end-users to gain consensus.
The most favorable sites were determined and based on technical requirements and decision-making parameters. PacRim provided solar canopy system components, requirements, costs, and other information relative to project feasibility. Conceptual drawings for the three candidate facilities were presented to Metro to show how the PV canopy structural support elements can be integrated into bus parking areas, including required dimensions, clearances, circulation, etc.
PacRim also provided a White Paper on the energy resiliency analysis of three critical bus divisions. The three bus divisions were identified by stakeholders at Metro as critical facilities. The three Bus Divisions selected by Metro for the energy resilience analysis were Division 8, Division 1 and Division 18. The analysis included a review of existing agency documentation, a literature review, and structured interviews with key stakeholders. The interviews served to collect information and discuss Metro’s critical operations, perceived energy threats, vulnerabilities, current risk management, shared lessons learned, and best practices. The interviews provided the most value for this report.
The White Paper provided a baseline assessment and analysis to evaluate the energy resiliency of Metro’s critical Bus Division facilities and appropriate recommendations for future energy resiliency planning purposes. The recommendations for energy resiliency at these three critical divisions, represents efforts to improve the ability or capacity to recover from an energy supply disruption for LA Metro countywide. This includes actions or activities that lessen the impact by reducing the magnitude, geographic extent, or time frame associated with an energy supply disruption.