Solar Energy | Austin City Solar Array
A planned solar development expected to be worth in the vicinity of $180 million has been given the go-ahead by the Austin City Council who has authorized Austin Energy to seek an agreement with a San Francisco company.
The Gemini Solar Development Co. will build a 300-acre solar array in Webberville and it will have the capability of generating up to 30MW, enough to power around 5,000 homes annually.
The development will be comprised of 220,000 solar panels which Gemini will be receiving from Chinese manufacturer Suntech Power Holdings. There has been some opposition from local solar manufacturers who would like the chance for the contract for solar panels to come from local sources. The ad hoc coalition of manufacturers is called the Solar Electric Manufacturers in Texas, or SEMI Texas. They, at least, asked that Gemini Solar restructure its deal so that US companies could participate in the project.
Austin Energy would pay $250 million, $10 million a year for 25 years, for the electricity the solar array would generate.
March 7th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
Great news, but a shame about the lack of local involvement. I would have thought that the Austin City Council would be a little more aware of the need for local jobs and of money going into the local economy.
Sure it would have cost more, but at least local families could benefit.
March 29th, 2009 at 10:23 pm
I see texas are really going for it. i only read the other day that they are number one in the states for wind power. with heavy investment in solar i can see them challenging california before too long