Solar energy grows 62% in Austin in 2014

Environment Texas

AUSTIN – Austin experienced explosive growth in distributed solar energy installations in 2014, growing from 13 megawatts (MW) in 2013 to 21 MW by the end of 2014, an increase of 62%. Solar panels were installed on hundreds of homes, schools and businesses, including at Huston Tillotson University, AISD’s new Performing Arts Center, Goodwill Industries and Howdy Honda. 

“Austin is a star when it comes to solar power,” said Luke Metzger, Director of Environment Texas. “We hope state leaders and other Texas cities will follow Austin’s shining example.”

Solar power is on the rise across the country, with another project installed every three minutes last year. Plummeting costs, increasing public concern over global warming and energy independence, and technological innovation have all played a role in spurring the growth of the pollution-free energy source. ERCOT projects that under a business-as-usual scenario, more than 10,000 MW of solar will be installed in Texas by 2029. An estimated 6595 Texans currently work in the solar industry.

As population centers, cities are home to large electricity markets, and can also have an important influence on the way grids are powered. In May 2014, the Austin City Council approved a deal with Recurrent Energy to build 150 megawatts of utility-scale solar in west Texas, in a historic deal priced cheaper than building a new natural gas plant. Austin Energy said solar power has grown exponentially in Austin recently in part due to city initiatives.

“I think the continued solar growth in Austin shows both what a strong local installer base we have, and that the Value of Solar is working,” noted Debbie Kimberly, Austin Energy’s Vice President of Customer Energy Solutions. “Despite reductions in incentives, the amount of Solar being installed each year has increased significantly, and thanks to the VoS rate structure, the utility and our other customers are kept cost-neutral. Rather than battling solar, we’re able to embrace it.”

Los Angeles, San Diego, and Phoenix topped the list for most solar power installations in a new Environment Texas Research & Policy Center analysis, Shining Cities: Harnessing the Benefits of Solar Energy in America. The report counted just solar installed inside city limits, thus excluding Austin Energy’s 30 MW Webberville solar farm, located just outside the city. As a result Austin came in ranked 17th in the nation. San Antonio came in 7th nationally with 88 MW (also not counting some large solar farms outside its city limits), Houston 32nd with 5 MW and Dallas 45th with 2 MW.   

In December, the Austin City Council approved a new generation plan setting a goal to obtain 750 MW of utility-scale solar, and 200 MW of local solar by 2025. Solar advocates called on Austin Energy to move forward with that goal by immediately issuing a request for proposals (RFP) to obtain an additional 600 MW of utility-scale solar, as directed in the generation plan.

“With the 30% federal tax credit for solar expiring at the end of 2016, Austin should work to maximize our investment in solar in the next year to make we sure we get the most bang for our buck,” said Kaiba White, energy and outreach specialist at Public Citizen’s Texas office.

While solar power is growing in Texas and throughout the nation, energy companies are campaigning to repeal the state’s renewable energy law. Environment Texas and other advocates urged legislators to reject Senate Bill 931, which passed the Senate Natural Resources Committee this week.

“With prices going down and concern about global warming going up, solar power is growing rapidly in our state,” said Metzger. “We need state leaders to continue the policies that allow solar to shine.”

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Environment Texas Research & Policy Center is a statewide advocacy organization bringing people together for a cleaner, greener, healthier future. www.EnvironmentTexasCenter.org