Austin Energy will be 30 million kilowatts of solar power plant

Source and time: Austin Business Journal 3/13/09
Texas, Austin City Council in the ares (3) month to authorize the municipal utility Austin Energy Corporation, with headquarters in San Francisco, Gemini Solar Development Co. Consultations signed a contract in Texas, the eastern part of Webberville, the United States set up an area of 300 acres of Solar energy power plant; investment amount of 200 million 50 million U.S. dollars; the annual electricity generation amounted to 30 million watts (megawatts), sufficient for the required home 5000.

Austin Energy said that the city plans to upgrade the 2020 rate of use of renewable energy to 30% (including 100 million kilowatts from solar power), this proposed new 30 million-watt solar power plant, which is one of the main part, it is expected beginning in 2010 the completion of power supply, then the city's energy use, renewable energy will account for 13%.

At present, the plans are controversial Austin Energy customers will increase the cost, because the use of the current cost of solar power generation, wind power is about twice; general power four times. While in Texas, the eastern part of Webberville to build solar power plant can be avoided from the west Texas wind power caused by congestion of the electricity transmission networks, but the solar panels of the high cost means that solar power will be provided by Austin Energy the most expensive electricity . Experts believe that this is Austin Energy's marketing will be a major challenge, Austin Energy hopes in the next few months plans solar power plant was completed, the exercise to encourage the use of solar power. Of course, these must be in time, Funk Youcheng. Like Whole Foods at the beginning of set up shop in North Lamar, the organic food before sprouting, little shop sales, now are very popular, to supermarkets such as Wal-Mart, HEB, etc. can be purchased.

Austin Energy for the promotion of renewable energy (wind power is currently only), beginning in 2002 to set up "Green Choice" program to promote. The annual wind electricity are sold out, but beginning January this year the wind can supply electricity only sold 1%, this attributed to wind electricity prices. Through the sale of wind power program is for per unit (kilowatt hours) 8 cents for the 6 years ago at the time of the early sales of 5 times; general power only 3.65 cents per unit. On the use of electricity customers, it may be no need to consider the power source, it is important that the operating cost of electricity at the time, usually wind power on electricity bills accounted for 2 / 3 the amount.

Austin Energy is using the "Green Choice" program, the promotion of renewable energy for two sets of client options: (1) single-use solar power (2) the integrated use of solar power, wind power and biomass power. If the lack of solar power electricity sales, the cost shall be passed on to the 400,000 customers of assessments, which is assiduously avoided by Austin Energy things happen.

"Green Choice" program of corporate clients such as Freescale Semiconductor Inc., Spansion Inc. Such as the company said that the new power to solar power in 2015, should not simply be interpreted as Austin Energy's customers by increasing the burden of fuel used to it; who have felt economic stress衰颓large electricity customers, has not been spared.

Austin Energy's electricity distribution, electricity generation accounted for 32 percent of carbon; nuclear power 27 percent; natural gas for power generation 26%; 10 percent renewable energy; purchased electricity 4%.