Located around 30 miles outside of Austin, Texas, there is a town called Georgetown, Texas. In the next few years, it is supposed to be powered completely by renewable energy. They have begun to invest in two large renewable energy programs, one solar and one wind. Now, unfortunately they didn’t change over because it’s good for the environment. The Mayor, Dale Ross, says they did it because it made sense.
According to Ross, “This was a business decision and it was a no-brainer. This is a long-term source of power that creates cost certainty, brings economic development, uses less water, and helps the environment.”
Texas is known for having one of the best aboveground renewable energy profiles in the US. Wind is a very abundant source in west Texas. Texas also has its own energy grid, which allows Texas to be in charge of how it produces its energy, not the United States government.
Georgetown will bring in 150 megawatts of wind energy and 150 megawatts of solar energy, taking full advantage of what Texas has to offer. In Texas, where oil derricks are better known, a small Texas town going completely green energy was a shocker. When Burlington, Vermont announced it was changing to completely green energy, not many people were surprised. This was last year. They plan to have changed over by 2050. Georgetown plans to by 2017.
The town hopes that its change will inspire other Texas towns to do the same. While most of Texas’ solar power is in the west, it would be completely possible for Austin to go green with solar power, because they get 300 sunny days a year. In other areas that don’t need as much energy, residents could sell their solar power back to the grid.
To be fully powered, Georgetown requires around 300 megawatts of energy. For now, their contracts fit this, and should for 10 to 15 years. However, their city is growing quite fast, and this will change. The town hopes to continue to be powered by alternatives after this, as they are seeking out other deals for after. For now, they are selling any excess power to other cities.
According to Ross, “This was a business decision and it was a no-brainer. This is a long-term source of power that creates cost certainty, brings economic development, uses less water, and helps the environment.”
Texas is known for having one of the best aboveground renewable energy profiles in the US. Wind is a very abundant source in west Texas. Texas also has its own energy grid, which allows Texas to be in charge of how it produces its energy, not the United States government.
Georgetown will bring in 150 megawatts of wind energy and 150 megawatts of solar energy, taking full advantage of what Texas has to offer. In Texas, where oil derricks are better known, a small Texas town going completely green energy was a shocker. When Burlington, Vermont announced it was changing to completely green energy, not many people were surprised. This was last year. They plan to have changed over by 2050. Georgetown plans to by 2017.
The town hopes that its change will inspire other Texas towns to do the same. While most of Texas’ solar power is in the west, it would be completely possible for Austin to go green with solar power, because they get 300 sunny days a year. In other areas that don’t need as much energy, residents could sell their solar power back to the grid.
To be fully powered, Georgetown requires around 300 megawatts of energy. For now, their contracts fit this, and should for 10 to 15 years. However, their city is growing quite fast, and this will change. The town hopes to continue to be powered by alternatives after this, as they are seeking out other deals for after. For now, they are selling any excess power to other cities.