Press Release Archive

May 30, 2002 News Media Release

Austin Energy GreenChoice^SM customers to get renewable energy from hydroelectric plant

First there was clean, renewable energy derived from the sun and then the wind and earth. Now Austin Energy GreenChoice^SM, Renewable Energy Program, customers will be getting electricity generated from river water as well.

Austin Energy is purchasing through its GreenChoice renewable energy program beginning Saturday, June 1, all 1.8 megawatts of hydroelectricity generated from a restored 103-year-old hydroelectric plant on the Guadalupe River three miles northwest of Cuero. The hydroelectricity can power 600 Austin homes.

"Although this project is small, encouraging entrepreneurial investment for development of renewable energy projects is the type of support the public and government should provide," said Juan Garza, Austin Energy General Manager.

Austin Energy currently contracts for 111 MW of wind power generated in West Texas and 8 MW of methane gas from landfill projects under development in the state. The Utility also owns several solar installations located throughout the Austin community. The electricity from these projects is flowed into the Austin Energy grid.

Austin Energy offers its customers the opportunity to subscribe to electricity generated from renewable energy through the GreenChoice program - which is one of the lowest-priced green power programs in the country. Currently, about 6,700 residential customers, 150 small business and 30 large companies subscribe to the program for more than 250,000,000 kilowatt hours of electricity - enough electricity to power more than 20,000 homes year-round.

The hydroelectric plant - owned by Small Hydro of Texas, Inc. - is one of the oldest hydro plants in North America and one of the first plants in Texas to generate alternating current.

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For more information, contact Ed Clark, Public Information.
Phone: (512) 322-6514
Pager: (512) 802-2000