07 May Local Solar Advisory Committee established by Austin City Council
A recent company by company survey identified 615 full time jobs in Austin working in the solar industry. If the industry was one business it would be the 40th largest employer in Austin. The industry is at an inflection point where solar jobs will grow in Austin or go to other cities. With additional commitment to local solar programs, Austin is positioned well to attract more jobs and grow a Clean Tech business cluster. In addition, with the price drops that have occurred over the last two years, solar is now even more cost-effective for our community.
Austin City Council recognizes the many benefits of growing the local solar industry, and putting more photovoltaic solar on the roofs of Austin homes and businesses. However, there are questions of how best to maximize the benefits of local/rooftop solar for our community. City Council established the Austin Local Solar Advisory Committee to work in collaboration with Austin Energy and recommend goals and timelines for growing local solar, develop plans to reach the goals, maximize benefits to the community, maximize federal tax incentives, leverage financing mechanisms, establish ways that renters and homeowners with shaded roofs can get solar, and ultimately lower energy bills for Austin Energy customers. The committee may also recommend/oversee research studies to address logistical issues for Austin Energy that may come with broad adoption of rooftop solar. The committee will make recommendations for the 2012 Resource Generation and Climate Protection Plan Update.
Facts:
- Proponents of local solar propose a goal of 300 MW local solar which would be 3.4% of Austin Energy's 2020 electricity capacity. The advisory committee will could recommend that this goal be increased or decreased.
- A 2010 Austin Energy commissioned study determined the solar rooftop capacity to be 2,324 MW (which would produce ~3,000 GWh of energy a year). This did not include covering parking lots, installing solar along roadsides, or putting it on other structures.
- The City of Los Angeles has an 800 MW local solar goal and just setup a purchasing plan to buy up to 150 MW of local solar by 2016.
- Italy has already installed 9 GW of solar.
- Germany’s 2020 goal is 54 GW of solar.
Benefits:
- Creates more jobs in Austin than solar installed outside Austin.
- There are efficiency gains for installing solar where it’s used. (Reduced line loses and ERCOT fees)
- Solar (photovoltaic) is clean, emissions free and drought-proof power
- Reduces peak energy use
- Local Solar can lowers energy bills
- Provides electricity for a fixed price for 30 years which provides added hedging benefits when compared with natural gas, coal and nuclear power production.
- Energy Efficiency measures (when needed) are implemented when solar is installed.
The financial savings from solar benefits Austin businesses and residences and is likely to be reinvested in our community (vs. costs of coal that benefit Wyoming). Provides reliable power –especially when it’s needed most on hot sunny days. Decentralized power production empowers people. Changes the relationship Austin residences have with power production. Austin’s solar programs enhance Austin’s international reputation as a vibrant and forward thinking city.
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