Energy Procurement

Background Materials

Calendar Year 2023 Power Content Label
 

Each calendar year, BART’s power supply sources are inventoried and independently verified in its Power Content Label (PCL), produced under the California Energy Commission’s Power Source Disclosure (PSD) program.

In 2022, BART achieved a power supply that was 100% GHG-free while growing its total share of eligible renewable electricity to approximately 61.5%. BART’s renewable power mix was comprised primarily of photovoltaic solar (36.9%) and wind (23.7%), supplemented by a contribution from small hydroelectric resources. Its remaining power (38.5%) was sourced from large hydroelectric generation.

This was the first full year of commercial operations for BART’s two new renewable power purchase agreements (PPAs), Slate Solar (50.5 MW) and Sky River Wind (30 MW), after both resources came online in late 2021. Together, these projects generated over half of BART’s electricity needs in 2022.

Previous PCLs can be found here.

Pursuing Renewable Energy

Goals

BART is one of Northern California’s largest electricity end users, requiring approximately 400,000 megawatt hours annually to power its system. The composition of BART’s power supply is a key determinant of BART’s greenhouse gas ("GHG") emission intensity, and directly contributes to decarbonization of California’s transportation sector for the benefit of the state, the region, and ridership it serves. 

BART’s power procurement is guided by its Wholesale Electricity Portfolio Policy, adopted in April 2017 by the BART Board, with the intention of maintaining a power supply that is stable, reliable, affordable, and clean.

Highlights of the policy include the following clean energy performance measures:

  • Has an average emission factor no greater than 100 lbs-CO2e/MWh during the period 2017 through 2024 (inclusive).
  • Is from at least 50% Eligible Renewable sources and from at least 90% low and zero carbon sources by 2025.
  • Is 100% from zero carbon sources by 2035.
  • Is 100% from Eligible Renewable sources by 2045.

More details on the goals and performance measures can be found in the BART Wholesale Electricity Portfolio Policy (PDF).

Power Purchase Agreements

To advance the clean energy commitments established by the Wholesale Electricity Portfolio Policy, BART relies on a portfolio of power purchase agreements to supply electricity and other wholesale energy products to the District.

In 2017, BART executed two long-term power purchase agreements with renewable energy resources that will supply approximately 50% of the District’s electricity needs over the next 20 years. These projects both achieved commercial operation in 2021.

  • Slate Solar: 50.5 MW (Kings County)
  • Sky River Wind: 30 MW (Kern County)

In addition, BART maintains a portfolio of power purchase agreements with generating resources located both onsite within the BART system and elsewhere across the state. BART buys electricity from the following generation facilities:

  • Gridley #2 Solar: 30 MW (Butte County)
  • South Feather Hydroelectric: 121.5 MW (Butte County)
  • Lake Nacimiento Hydroelectric: 4.4 MW (Monterey County)

BART is the sole consumer of power from our five on-site solar facilities:

  • Warm Springs Onsite Solar: 550 kW (BART’s Warm Springs Station)
  • Antioch Onsite Solar: 1.125 MW (BART’s Antioch Station
  • Lafayette Onsite Solar: 1.125 MW (BART's Lafayette Station)
  • Richmond Onsite Solar: 160 kW (BART’s Richmond Shop)
  • Hayward Onsite Solar: 255 kW (BART’s Hayward Maintenance Yard)

Contact Information

Please address any questions or comments regarding Energy at BART to [email protected].