179. CARTS Station
I love anything that uses alternative energy and wish alternative energy sources were more affordable and commonplace. The Capital Area Rural Transportation System or CARTS station here in Georgetown aims to be a model of energy efficiency.
The new station opened late last year and was a curiosity for many months with its whirligig on a pole and distinctly slanted roof. The new transportation center is a model of green building for other CARTS stations.
It is built on land that was once the Georgetown city dump. It has a 2,000 square foot 24 kw solar array on the roof that is powered by the sun. The 60 foot whirligig thing visible from the IH35 corridor is a 2.4 kw wind generator that pivots to catch the wind. The station even has an 11,000 gallon rainwater collection tank which is used to irrigate the landscape. Fortunately, the landscape has been planted with drought resistant vegetation. The solar and wind generators also power two electric car charging stations!
Williamson County is the most populous and fastest growing of the CARTS rural counties. This new public transit station is a significant attempt to reduce the carbon footprint of county residents. All of the energy generating and water collection features will help the CARTS station operate off the grid. Any excess power generated will be fed back into the Georgetown Utility System.
Check out the CARTS website for transit service routes, fares and schedules. Be sure to go by and check out the station. It's pretty impressive.
Location: CARTS Station
3620 S. Austin Ave.
Georgetown, TX 78626
800-456-7433 to schedule a ride
http://ridecarts.com/service-to/georgetown
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