Fund the architectural and engineering (AE) phase of a renewable energy microgrid project

The Federal Transit Administration awarded Sunline Transit Agency $625,000 on July 28, 2026, under Community Project Funding Congressionally Directed Spending (CFDA 20.534) to fund the architectural and engineering phase of a renewable energy microgrid project supporting transit operations and hydrogen fuel production for the agency's hydrogen fuel cell electric bus fleet.

Sunline will conduct site assessments, load analysis, preliminary engineering reports, system design and sizing, construction drawings, environmental compliance assessments, and permitting support for a solar microgrid installation. Deliverables include completion of 100 percent design and engineering plans for battery capacity and the solar microgrid system, permit-ready construction documents, secured environmental clearances as needed, detailed construction cost estimates and schedules, and positioning of the project for subsequent construction grant funding applications. The work will also strengthen agency capacity in managing renewable energy projects through project management training and experience gained during execution.

The project is located in California, with performance extending through August 31, 2028. Sunline Transit Agency, a local government entity based in Thousand Palms operating fixed-route and paratransit bus services in the Coachella Valley region, receives the award directly with no sub-recipients named. The award benefits transit operations through lower operational costs via onsite renewable energy generation, transit riders through improved reliability and sustainability, the community through reduced greenhouse gas emissions and better air quality, priority populations in disadvantaged communities served by the transit system, and local workforce through increased opportunities for contractors, engineers, and consultants in solar energy and green infrastructure projects.

Purpose

The purpose of this award is to fund the architectural and engineering (AE) phase of a renewable energy microgrid project. This will support transit operations and enable the agency to more efficiently produce hydrogen to fuel its hydrogen fuel cell electric bus fleet.

Activities

This project will support architectural and engineering (AE) services to conduct site assessments load analysis preliminary engineering reports system design and sizing construction drawings environmental compliance assessments and permitting support for the solar microgrid installation.

Expected outcomes

This project will produce the completion of 100% design and engineering plans for the battery capacity for solar microgrid system submission of permit-ready construction documents environmental clearances secured as needed for the project development of detailed construction cost estimates and schedules positioning of the solar microgrid project for construction grant funding applications and strengthening of agency capacity in managing renewable energy projects through project management training and experience gained.

Intended beneficiaries

This project will benefit the transit operations with lower operational costs through onsite renewable energy generation; transit riders with improved reliability through a more resilient and sustainable transit infrastructure; community with reduced greenhouse contributing to better air quality; priority populations with improved environmental conditions and infrastructure investments benefiting disadvantaged communities served by the transit system; local workforce with increased opportunities for local contractors engineers and consultants involved in solar energy and green infrastructure projects.

Subrecipient activities

Sunline transit has no sub-recipient with this grant.