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RobertEarl

(13,685 posts)
Fri Jun 12, 2015, 06:27 AM Jun 2015

It's only Natural

A Texas city goes green.

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/06/11/3666649/georgetown-texas-one-hundred-percent-renewable/

Located about 30 miles north of the Texas capital in a deeply conservative county, the city of Georgetown will be powered 100 percent by renewable energy within the next couple years. Georgetown’s residents and elected officials made the decision to invest in two large renewable energy projects, one solar and one wind, not because they reduced greenhouse gas emissions or sent a message about the viability of renewable energy — but because it just made sense“. This was a business decision and it was a no-brainer,” Ross told ThinkProgress from his office along one of the city’s main thoroughfares. “This is a long-term source of power that creates cost certainty, brings economic development, uses less water, and helps the environment.”


By bringing nearly 150 megawatts of wind energy from north Texas and another 150 megawatts of solar from far west Texas, Georgetown is taking full advantage of what the Lone Star State has to offer. And in doing so, it is getting some of the cheapest, most reliable, and most sustainable energy in the country. , according to Mayor Dale Ross.

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lovemydog

(11,833 posts)
3. Maybe it makes economic sense.
Fri Jun 12, 2015, 06:52 AM
Jun 2015

I don't know much about that area.

Maybe someone will explain further.

Where are the biggest oil & gas interests in Texas? Like, what part of the State? North, South, East or West?

It's such a humongous place compared to so many other states, lol.

 

RobertEarl

(13,685 posts)
4. Fixed price, dependable
Fri Jun 12, 2015, 07:07 AM
Jun 2015

The source of the energy can be counted on to be delivered without much possible disruption, price quirks or Wall Street profits changing the levels.

And if there is a blow-up, wind spills and sun everywhere is only natural.

DamnYankeeInHouston

(1,365 posts)
7. Production is in the west and off shore - some in the north.
Fri Jun 12, 2015, 08:35 AM
Jun 2015

Houston is the corporate oil capital. That's one reason why the TV show Dallas was stupid.

Dustlawyer

(10,497 posts)
8. I went to a solar fair up there. The reason is that there are a lot of electric co-ops that
Fri Jun 12, 2015, 09:21 AM
Jun 2015

pay the going rate for generated power from residential solar. It's all about the money. Solar reduces your electric bill by 80%, which when it is 105 degrees there and your AC is running non-stop is a big deal. With a 30% rebate for residents and the system pays for itself in 6-7 years it is a BIG SAVINGS, the panels have a 25 year warranty as well.
In my part of the state, Entergy won't pay hardly anything for excess power while the co-ops don't care where they get the power!

 

awoke_in_2003

(34,582 posts)
10. I work with a right winger...
Fri Jun 12, 2015, 09:39 PM
Jun 2015

who is very pro-solar. In fact, he just added 16 more cells to his roof. It is all about money.

 

Hoppy

(3,595 posts)
5. --- town council must be a bunch of goddam commies. Oil and gas are 'merican. Wind ain't.
Fri Jun 12, 2015, 07:09 AM
Jun 2015

Wind comes from old fart Demmies.

 

jtuck004

(15,882 posts)
9. "Wind comes from old fart Demmies." < This should proabably be its own OP, given how many are
Fri Jun 12, 2015, 09:29 AM
Jun 2015

aging. Could be a big wind coming.

liberal N proud

(60,346 posts)
6. It's not conservatives pushing oil and coal while blocking renewable affordable energy
Fri Jun 12, 2015, 07:13 AM
Jun 2015

It is the corporations who own the politicians that are pushing to block renewable energy sources.

Conservative politicians are just the biggest supporters of those corporations because the conservative politicians support the rich over everyone else.

Corporations are rich!

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