Nov. 27, 2011 - Austin Energy, hoping to add significantly more solar power over the next decade but leery of relying primarily on rooftops, is looking west.
The city-owned electric company could build up to three large solar arrays on West Texas land it owns or has under contract, thereby increasing its supply of solar power about eightfold, according to a recent report on the utility's solar plans.
The report came at the request of the City Council, which wanted to see how solar could fit into a larger plan for starting to wean Austin off of coal power during the next decade and toward sources that do not contribute to global climate change.
None of the steps outlined in the report is certain to happen, said Michael Osborne, author of the report and a special assistant to Austin Energy's general manager.
But, Osborne said, "this is one way to get (to the city's goals) using the resources and programs we currently have."
Solar is now Austin's most expensive source of electricity — and, despite the attention it receives in city policy discussions, represents a negligible amount of the city's roughly 2,800 megawatts of generating capacity. Austin largely has relied on wind to satisfy its renewable goals, signing three deals this year alone for 491 megawatts of coastal wind. But the report strikes a mostly optimistic tone about solar's long-term potential, noting that panel prices are dropping, and linking municipal projects to Austin's potential as a research and manufacturing hub.
The report comes just weeks before the expected opening of a solar array east of Austin. The Webberville facility will be the state's largest and provide 30 megawatts of generating capacity. read more>>>
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