The Ray Publishes “State of The Ray 2024” Annual Report
From coast to coast, our groundbreaking partnerships and cutting-edge technology services are driving resilient transportation infrastructure. By transforming idle roadsides into dynamic economic and ecological labs, The Ray is unlocking millions in funding to scale energy options, expand natural capital, and empower communities nationwide.
Key Takeaways:
Thriving Communities Program: Acting as a capacity builder for the USDOT alongside Arcadis, InfraStrategies, and Beverly Scott Associates, The Ray helped scale a $5.1M initial investment into an astonishing $180.1M in total grant awards for 15 underserved communities—delivering a massive 35x return rate.
Natural Capital Expansion: Partnering with Kia Georgia, Ryder, Goodyear, and the Horne Family Foundation, The Ray is using native wildflowers, vibrant pollinator meadows, and advanced monitoring tools to turn highway rights-of-way into resilient ecosystems that manage stormwater, trap carbon deep in the soil, and stabilize slopes.
Solar Right-of-Way (ROW) Mapping: In a powerhouse collaboration with Esri and state DOTs, The Ray’s GIS team mapped over 847,000 suitable acres for roadside solar installations, uncovering an incredible potential to generate 169,938 MW of clean energy and eliminate over 191M metric tons of CO2e annually.
Grid Transmission Planning: Utilizing a unique transmission analysis tool and collaborating with the AASHTO "Moonshot" program and the TSED project, The Ray is mapping out a resilient energy grid by identifying optimal paths along secure transportation corridors.
Renaissance94 Social Impact: Backing climate resilience and equitable transitions, The Ray is serving as the fiscal sponsor for Ren94—led by former EPA Regional Administrator Daniel Blackman—uniting sports, entertainment, and philanthropic leaders behind impactful climate initiatives.
“By converting empty highway rights-of-way into multi-use infrastructure, we are turning everyday transit lanes into high-value clean energy networks and thriving natural habitats.”
— The Ray Leadership Team
