Uncategorized Archive
Texas Surpasses 10,000 MW of Wind Power & State Target for 2025
Texas has now “officially” exceeded the 10,000 MW of installed wind capacity threshold (with 10,030 MW) based on information on ERCOT's Renewable Energy Credit (REC) Program website.
Texas has also exceeded the target for total installed renewable energy capacity of 10,000 MW by 2025 (with more than 10,350 MW of total...
Read More At what price greener electricity?
by Anthony J. Capraro
Austin is in the process of deciding which fuels it will use to generate electricity through 2020. A scenario proposed by Austin Energy (a.k.a. the Staff Recommendation) would make some green progress relative to the current generation fuel mix, but would still continue to utilize coal...
Read More Green Power: Best Deal for Austin
By Axel Gerdau for PowerSmack.org
The debate over Austin’s energy future is getting louder. Energy experts and consumer rights activists are taking a firm stance against criticism voiced by predicament advocates and state legislators against Austin Energy’s generation plan proposal. Their argument: The utility should do more, not less, for green...
Read More Coal: Not Cheap
Coal has long been considered cheap energy: unhealthy yes, but with an intoxicatingly low price. That mindset should be abandoned. Austin's coal expenditures tripled in 10 years to $180 million in 2008. Now, carbon regulation looms. More...
Learn about the medical dangers of burning coal in our video with Dr. Elliot...
Read More Clean Energy is Painful in Austin ???
By Mike Sloan for PowerSmack.org
In response to concerns expressed in the September 21, 2009 Austin American Statesman lead story : “Clean Energy may be Painful”:
Clean Energy: Austin’s Cheapest Sources in 2008
Contrary to conventional wisdom, Austin Energy’s lowest cost electric resources for 2008 were: ...
Read More Utility Proposes Energy Future
More Wind and Solar Part of Austin Energy’s Plan, But Coal and More Gas Too
By Axel Gerdau for PowerSmack.org
Austin’s energy future will be greener, but at least until 2020 it should also include electricity from coal, widely regarded as the world’s dirtiest fuel. That’s what senior staff at...
Read More Townhall Meeting: Austin Energy Proposes Energy Future
Austin Energy is going public with its generation plan proposal. Starting on Tuesday at 6 pm utility administrators will present their vision of Austin’s energy future during an open town hall meeting at AE headquarters at Town Lake Center (721 Barton Springs Road). Previously, the utility’s General Manager Roger Duncan...
Read More In the Press: More Transparency Needed, Lower GreenChoice Rates Coming
[caption id="attachment_1344" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="Austin Chronicle: Twisting in the Wind"][/caption]
This weeks cover story in the Austin Chronicle, “Twisting in the Wind – Austin Energy is all tangled up in smoke and wind mills over energy pricing”, provides a glimpse into the ongoing debate over Austin’s energy policy. Author Nora Ankrum...
Read More Austin is Running on Coal far into the Future
By Axel Gerdau for PowerSmack.org
For 30 years Austin has been running on the world’s dirtiest fuel – and that’s not going to change anytime soon. Administrators at Austin Energy want to continue our dependence on coal power. If City Council and Mayor Lee Leffingwell accept the utility’s “Recommendation for the...
Read More Transparency: A Cornerstone of Public Policy, But Not Austin’s Energy
By Axel Gerdau for PowerSmack.org
A budget shortfall is threatening institutions of civic life in Austin. The newly elected City Council is scrutinizing municipal expenditures in order to save at least $43 million this year, and its members are considering shutting down swimming pools, cutting police services and reducing funding for...
Read More 
