More Solar for Austin: Austin Energy Utility Oversight Committee Meeting

Austin has an opportunity to contract for the cheapest solar power ever after receiving solar proposals with prices as low as 3.8 cents per kilowatt-hour.

Austin Energy has not yet decided whether or not to move forward with these solar proposals, so the Austin City Council will vote on a resolution on August 27 that will get the utility to move forward with the projects. If you're interested in showing your support for solar, or sharing your input with City Council, this meeting is the chance to do it.

What: Austin Energy Utility Oversight Committee meeting to consider a resolution to contract for 600 megawatts of solar – wear green!
When: August 27 at 9 a.m.
Where: Austin City Hall, Council Chambers, 301 W. 2nd Street
 

Background Info:

In July, Austin Energy announced that it received bids from developers to build 600MW of new solar capacity at the lowest prices (less than 4 cents/kWh) the world has ever seen. This is good news for Austin. The more that prices drop, the cheaper and easier it becomes for the city to meet its aggressive solar energy goals.

However, these rapid price drops are making Austin Energy a bit nervous. The Austin Monitor reports that at a recent committee meeting, Austin Energy told city council that they would prefer to contract out 200MW of solar now, and then wait a few years for solar prices to come down even further before purchasing the remaining 400MW. Warning against buyer's remorse, and the higher costs associated with early adoption, Austin Energy promised that 600MW of solar would be built, but urged council not to build it all at once.