USA: Solar panels, energy storage and technology to reduce locomotive engine idling are included in 46 rail and bus projects which the Federal Transit Administration announced had won funding under the Transit Investment in Greenhouse Gas & Energy Reduction programme on November 17.

The TIGGER III grants were awarded competitively, based on the ability of projects to reduce energy consumption and emissions while providing a return on the investment.

In the rail sector:

• Phoenix Metro has been awarded $2·7m for the Metro Solar & Shade Canopy, 1 300 m² of roof and solar panels over the operations and maintenance facility. This will shade stabled LRVs, and is expected to meet almost all the building's peak power needs.
• South Florida has won $5·7m for TriRail's Pompano Beach 'Green Station' demonstration which aims to use solar panels to meet more than 100% of the station's energy demand.
• Chicago's Metra was awarded $2·2m to fit 10 passenger locomotives with technology to reduce engine idling.
• Philadelphia's SEPTA got $1·4m to support lineside energy storage.
• Seattle's Sound Transit was awarded $1·6m for onboard energy storage on five light rail vehicles.