Seattle’s public service operator, Sound Transit, has signed a deal to use wind energy to power its light rail network.
From the start of 2019, the authority’s Link light rail services will begin using carbon neutral energy sources following the signing of an agreement with Puget Sound Energy (PSE).
Under the 10-year agreement Sound Transit will purchase wind energy directly from PSE’s Green Direct programme, which in turn is able to fund the construction of more wind-power facilities and further the development of other renewable energy sources.
Sound Transit chief executive Peter Rogoff said: “This innovative agreement with Puget Sound Energy sets Sound Transit as a leader in providing clean energy services.
“By operating Link light rail on green power starting in 2019, Sound Transit will offer transit users a carbon-neutral option for leaving their cars behind and help reduce the region’s greenhouse gas emissions.”
Sound Transit says it is committed to ‘reducing its greenhouse gas emissions, expanding the use of renewable energy and making all of its facilities and electricity carbon-neutral by 2030’, following the introduction of legislation in 2015 and 2016.
The Link light rail service runs from the Angle Lake station to the University of Washington.
Sound Transit’s agreement follows a similar announcement in Melbourne earlier this year.
