Last month, the U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. Department of Energy announced their plan to utilize our nation’s highway right-of-way (ROW) land to integrate fiber and electric power infrastructure, modernize our nation’s electric grid, and support the development of renewables.
The guidance document directly supports The Ray's model for a consistent utilization of the ROW for renewable energy generation, electrical transmission and distribution projects, broadband projects, vegetation management, inductive charging in travel lanes, alternative fueling facilities, and more.
"My father, Ray C. Anderson, would be proud to see this program come to fruition," said Harriet Anderson Langford, president and founder of The Ray. "Since our creation, The Ray has been inspired by the opportunity we saw in the underutilized land on our interstate roadsides. Our hope is by bringing ROW solar development forward, this program will be a catalyst for future projects that unlock the full potential of our ROW land. Like our solar megawatt on The Ray Highway, ROW solar projects also have the capability to repurpose the soil below as pollinator habitats for our bees and butterflies. Solar is only the beginning."
"Through our partnerships with over half a dozen states, The Ray has brought ROW solar to the forefront of highway innovation," said Laura Rogers, director of strategic partnerships for The Ray. "With these build-ready projects, State DOTs win on day one by optimizing underutilized land to generate clean renewable energy that benefits their communities, the environment and their budgets. Now, with the help of our solar mapping tool, we are ready to work alongside all 48 contiguous states to transform the thousands of acres of interstate roadside suitable for solar development.”
The Ray is ready NOW to partner with State DOTs across the country with planning and technical assistance to help take advantage of the underutilized land on our interstate roadsides.
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