Atlanta, GA – Federal stimulus dollars will help the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority save money and go green.
Today, US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced Atlanta's rapid transit authority is getting about $10 million.
Secretary LaHood says MARTA will use the money to buy solar panel roofs for 22 bus canopies.
“These green roofs will provide power that will feed into Atlanta's power grid,” said LaHood. “This in turn will allow MARTA to generate new revenue by selling surplus electricity back to Georgia Power.”
It's unclear how much money MARTA will make by selling power. However, the panels will save the transit system about $150,000 a year for the next 45 years.
In addition to financial savings, LaHood says the funding helps MARTA use less energy and cut down on green house gas emissions.
MARTA is one of 43 transit systems getting this type of stimulus money from the Federal Transit Administration. In all, the agency is giving out 100 million green stimulus dollars. MARTA's $10.8 million is the largest of the awards.
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