| Press Release Archive
Austin Energy Sets Solar Goal
The Austin City Council has approved a landmark 10-year strategic
plan for Austin Energy, the City's electric utility. Under
the plan renewable energy and energy efficiency would
meet up to 35% of the utility's energy needs by the year
2020.
That goal, the most ambitious by any utility in America,
keys on energy efficiency and green power programs already
among the most successful in the nation.
In addition, Austin Energy will launch the nation's most
ambitious solar energy initiative. The program will
target the installation of up to 100 megawatts (MW) of solar
installations
by 2020 -- providing rebates that are the nation's largest
to encourage solar installations on homes and businesses.
Austin Energy, in partnership with the City of Austin Neighborhood
Housing and Community Development Office, will also develop
the nation's first subdivision of 100 affordable Net Zero
Energy Homes - each powered 100% by solar-generated electricity.
"
We will commission a study to determine the comprehensive
value of solar power," said Roger Duncan, Vice President,
Governmental Relations, Energy and Environmental Policy for
Austin Energy. "This study will factor in avoided costs
related to transmission and distribution, generation, peak
demand requirements and the value to local economic development,
among other factors. We will facilitate the installation
of solar facilities at or below the composite value of solar.
This ensures that spending in this program will be cost effective."
The plan provides for the retirement of the Holly Power Plant
by December 31, 2007 and delays until 2008 the need for a
decision on the next power source for Austin. This allows
time to assess how new generation technology such as fuel
cells are progressing and allows the utility to determine
just how much of new load growth can be met through energy
efficiency and renewable energy sources.
The plan also sets goals to improve customer service, achieve
a AA bond rating by 2010 and achieve electric system reliability
that puts Austin Energy in the top 10% of electric utilities
nationwide. The Austin Energy system already performs better
than the industry average in the number of outages per year
and the average length of outages.
"
Our core goals of providing low cost reliable power and excellent
customer service are always our first priority," said
Austin Energy General Manager Juan Garza. "This plan
goes a step further by recognizing technology improvements
in clean energy sources as well an electric utility industry
that will be moving away from large stationary fossil-fueled
power plants toward on-site generation that may utilize cleaner
fuels such as hydrogen."
For more information, contact Ed
Clark, Public Information.
Phone: (512) 322-6514
Pager: (512) 802-2000
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