Austin City Council approves 150 MW solar project

The Austin City Council in the US has allowed Texas-based utility Austin Energy to purchase solar energy generated by Intersect Power’s 150 MW power plant for a period of 15 years. This will boost the city’s solar capacity to nearly 800 MW. The agreement with Intersect will cost Austin Power an estimated $10 million-$ 12 million each year. The utility currently produces enough renewable power to meet 40 per cent of its customers’ power requirement, which is expected to rise to 51 per cent in 2020 with the addition of the new solar capacity. Moreover, Austin Power has been allowed to purchase 30 MW of solar power.