Austin Solar Plant

Large solar plant takes step forward with site plan submission

Developer says plant will be operational by end of 2011

Oct. 19, 2010 - After a lengthy delay, a renewable energy company submitted to city officials a preliminary site plan Monday for a massive solar plant east of Austin.

The solar plant, which will help the City of Austin meet ambitious renewable energy goals, was meant to be operational by the end of this year. Now, the renewable energy development company FRV hopes it is completed by the end of 2011.

In March 2009, the Austin City Council approved spending $250 million over 25 years for power from the solar array. At the time, the plant was to be built on 300 acres at the northern end of a 2,870-acre tract near Webberville owned by the City of Austin.

But environmental features like wetlands and trees presented enough obstacles that FRV decided it would be more cost-effective to move the plant to the southern end of the tract, said Scott Pryor, development chief for San Francisco-based FRV, short for Fotowatio Renewable Ventures.

The next step: City authorities will examine the site plan from environmental and engineering perspectives and could ask that it be modified, said Lynne Lightsey , spokeswoman for the city's watershed protection and development review department. {read rest}