Beantowners will soon walk from one of the nation’s first photovoltaic-powered train stations to Fenway Park to watch their beloved Boston Red Sox play. Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D), Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray (D) and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino (D) were on hand Nov. 15 to break ground at the Yawkey Commuter Rail Station reconstruction project, which will be a net-zero energy project when completed, thanks to 212 kilowatt (kW) PV installation.

The $13.5 million station reconstruction is part of a $450 million Fenway Center development project that’s being financed through the Massachusetts Works recession recovery program.

“When completed, Yawkey Station will be a full-service commuter rail station—more than doubling service on the Worcester-Framingham Commuter Rail Line from 17 to 40 stops per day. The station construction is expected to create 150-200 jobs,” according to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.

“The solar PV array connected to Yawkey Station is projected to generate 212,000 kWh [i.e. kilowatt hours] per year," said John Rosenthal, president of project developer Meredith Management. "We conservatively project that the station will use 200,000 kWh, so the solar plant will generate more electricity than the Station uses, therefore it is expected to be a zero net energy station.”

He added that the larger Fenway Center development will likely include a 500 kilowatt array on the southern-facing roof of a parking garage in the development.

The station is in an area that sees more than 7 million visitors annually.

“Yawkey Station is the nearest commuter rail station (1 min walk) to Fenway Park (2.5 million fans annually),” rosenthal said. It is also close to Kenmore Square and the Boston University campus with 50,000 students and employees, and a short shuttle bus ride to the Longwood Medical Area with 45,000 employees, 2.5 million patient visits, 2 million other visitors.

The medical compound also is home to Harvard Medical School's Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

“A free shuttle bus service operated by the LMA picks up commuters to and from Yawkey Station,” he said.

Given the heavy use the area will see it’s a great opportunity to inform more people about solar. 

“There will certainly be an informational kiosk with educational displays and gauges showing the solar production at the Station,” Rosenthal said.