September 18, 2006 News Media Release

Austin Energy opens competition for innovative power lines, trees project

Austin Energy has opened a competition to colleges and universities to find the most innovative and cost-effective way to integrate power lines in urban areas while protecting existing mature trees and promoting the planting of street trees. The winning team will receive an award of $250,000 from Austin Energy with the second place finisher receiving $30,000 and two semifinalists receiving $10,000 each.

It is expected that the winning approach will be put in place as a pilot project in Austin.

The winning team will be selected by a jury of representatives from Austin Energy, other utilities, members of Austin’s citizen task forces, and representatives from national and urban planning organizations.

The competition presupposes no preferred approach. The winning team will be one that most effectively considers the benefits and drawbacks of an underground or overhead approach or an entirely different electric system. The winning entry also must demonstrate advances that promote system reliability, improved streetscapes and public spaces, effective approaches to other utility line issues such as cable, Internet and phone lines, and protection of the urban forest.

The entries must be developed by cross-discipline teams with expertise in electrical engineering, landscape architecture, civil engineering and urban planning. Applicants must notify Austin Energy by October 27 of their intention to participate and the deadline to submit a report is June 1, 2007. The winning entry will be selected next summer. The application is available online at www.austinenergy.com/go/competition.

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