AUSTIN - Austin Energy ranks first in the nation among municipally owned utilities for per capita solar installed, according to the seventh edition of an annual report by Environment Texas Research & Policy Center. Shining Cities 2020: The Top U.S. Cities for Solar Energy found that by supplying more than 1,500 watts per person of solar energy to its customers, Austin Energy edged out the municipally owned utilities of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Antonio.
HOUSTON - Solar capacity in Houston more than doubled last year, from 20.6 megawatts (MW) in 2018 to 42.53 MW in 2019. In a sign of a surging solar market, the increase marked the second year in a row of triple digit growth. The results come from the seventh edition of Shining Cities 2020: The Top U.S. Cities for Solar Energy, a new report released today by Environment Texas Research & Policy Center. It is the most comprehensive survey available of installed solar capacity in major U.S. cities.
SAN ANTONIO - San Antonio moved up to 5th place nationally for solar energy capacity, according to the seventh edition of an annual report by Environment Texas Research & Policy Center. Shining Cities 2020: The Top U.S. Cities for Solar Energy found that solar capacity in the Alamo City increased 36% last year to a total of 254.47 megawatts (MW) within city limits. San Antonio also maintains its 1st place spot in Texas for solar within city limits and 1st in the South Central region the report has defined. The report also found that CPS Energy ranked 2nd nationally among municipally owned utilities for total solar, owned or contracted. It is the most comprehensive survey available of installed solar capacity in major U.S. cities.
AUSTIN - Fort Worth has slightly more total solar energy, and 50% more solar per capita, than Dallas, according to a new report released today by Environment Texas Research & Policy Center. The results come from the seventh edition of Shining Cities 2020: The Top U.S. Cities for Solar Energy, ahead of the expected approval by the Dallas City Council of a new climate plan which includes new goals for solar energy.
Austin Community College (ACC) announced a plan yesterday to power two campuses, ACC Round Rock and ACC Elgin, with 100 percent renewable electricity beginning in June 2020. With this announcement, ACC joins other higher education leaders in Texas such as Southwestern University and the University of North Texas in shifting to clean, renewable electricity. ACC is the first community college district in Texas to switch over some of its campuses entirely to wind and solar power. The announcement comes after Environment Texas Research and Policy Center was joined by 100 faculty in a letter in March encouraging ACC to continue its leadership by committing to transition off of fossil fuel energy.
Environment Texas Research and Policy Center is part of The Public Interest Network, which operates and supports organizations committed to a shared vision of a better world and a strategic approach to social change.
