Council approves plan to build nation's largest solar panel array in Austin

From Impact News, March 5, 2009...

Austin City Council voted unanimously March 5 to negotiate and execute a contract with San Fransisco-based Gemini Solar Development Company to produce up to 30 megawatts of solar power over 25 years at $10 million per year, for a total of $250 million. Funding will be provided through the electric fuel charge revenue or future Green Choice revenue. The bid was selected out of 15 proposals.

The facility, which will be located in east Austin, will be the nation's largest solar panel array. The array will be online by 2010. City staff said benefits include no carbon emissions, no fuel cost, energy production coincident with peak demand and the creation of a handful of green collar jobs.

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Austin proposes nation's largest solar array

From statesman, January 29, 2009...

Austin could soon have one of the largest solar power facilities in the world.

Austin Energy, the city's electric utility, wants to set aside 300 acres it owns outside Webberville in eastern Travis County for a solar array, which would be built and owned by San Francisco-based Gemini Solar Development Co. Austin Energy would be the exclusive client and pay $10 million a year for 25 years for the power generated by the array.

The facility would open in late 2010 and produce enough energy annually to power up to 5,000 homes.

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