Austin may land giant solar field

WEBBERVILLE, Texas (KXAN) - Austin Energy, the city's electricity provider is looking to build the nation's largest solar field. The field would be located on 320 acres of city owned land near Webberville.

Austin Energy would enter into a 25 year contract with San Fransisco based Gemini Solar Development Company to generate 30 megawatts of power. Austin currently generates 2,900 megawatts of power.

The cost to Austin ratepayers would be about $10 million per year, with the plant going online in late 2010. Austin Energy spokesman Ed Clark said the array would add about 60 cents a month to the average ratepayers bill. The average monthly bill for 2008 was $98.51, Clark said.

"We're trying to meet a goal with the city," said Clark.

The city council has set a goal to get 30 percent of its power from renewable sources by 2020. Some big power users in town have balked at the idea of paying possibly tens of thousands more dollars a year for power, especially at a time when many technology companies are laying off workers. Freescale Semiconductor and Spansion are two companies that have raised concerns.

City Council Member Mike Martinez said he is concerned the city is going forward with a costly project during a down economy.

He also said he is concerned for large companies that use a lot of electricity.

"If we add to their utility cost, do we weaken them more causing them to layoff more and reduce their workforce more for a few hundred green jobs," said Martinez.

The city's Electric Utilities Commission voted 6-0 with one abstention to go ahead with the project.

The city council was set to vote on the project two weeks ago, but delayed a vote to address some of those concerns of the major power users.

 Martinez said he is going to ask the city council to postpone the proposal again at this week's council meeting

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