Solar

07 Oct Solar Power Shines in Austin – Now Double It!

Posted at 11:47h in Blogs by
0 Likes

Guest Post – from Al Braden

Austin City Council’s vote on October 1st was groundbreaking – authorizing 300 MW West Texas Solar – roughly one full solar panel or 300 watts of solar for every citizen in the Austin area.

On October 15th, they’ll be able to double that!

 

Imagine 600 watts of clean solar energy per person on the way to our goal of 100% renewable energy by 2030. Intensive negotiations are underway to make it happen and keep it affordable.

The approved ‘Batch 1’ was about 3.8¢ per KWH – far below any public solar bids to date – and well below Austin Energy’s own average cost of generation which is in the range of 4.6¢ to 4.8¢

The second stack of current bids is believed to be in the 4.2ç KWH range – still below today’s average costs. Austin Energy is working with the vendors to fine tune their offers, while everyone involved is working to get ready for that vote on October 15th.

First up is a joint Electric Utility Commission (EUC) and Resource Management Commission (RMC) on Monday, October 12 at 6 pm at Austin Energy headquarters. Be there and voice your support. The two commissions may review the actual bids in executive session in the process of making their recommendations to Council. Then the full Council will vote on this draft action item #3:

3. Adopt a plan of achieving 600 megawatts of utility-scale, solar generation capacity by 2017 in addition to solar capacity currently existing or under contract, and to authorize negotiation and execution of power purchase agreements with qualified offerors for up to 350 megawatts of utility-scale, solar-generated electricity (for a total acquisition of approximately 600 megawatts of new solar capacity, if available and affordable) for terms of up to 25 years, for a combined estimated annual amount of $44,000,000 and combined total of $1,100,000,000.

Great new ideas are needed now to bring all the sides together and make this practical. How about a Bright Choice Plan – or Solar Choice Plan – to take over from the innovative Green Choice Plan that put wind power on the map in Texas?

Stabilized low solar rates that would be fixed for the life of the contract while fossil fuel prices rise.

Just my suggestion, but there may be other ideas out there that help Council solve the Rubik’s Cube of renewables, rates and affordability. Now is the time to have your oar in the water and work for 600 watts – two panels – per person.

Utility solar power is now both practical and affordable! Talk to your allies and Council Members and be there on the 12th and 15th if you can.

Let the sun shine on Austin!

Tags:
No Comments

Post A Comment