Construction on the 150-megawatt solar farm in West Texas is expected to begin later this year.[/caption]
What we reported
In November, Georgetown City Council approved a new agreement that authorized NRG Energy Inc. to purchase and take over a 150-megawatt solar-generated power project. The city had expected the solar farm, located in Pecos County, to be operational by the end of 2016 and begin providing power in early 2017; however, the company working on the project—SunEdison—filed for bankruptcy last April. The farm is now expected to be online in July 2018 and will allow the city to become 100 percent renewable, according to Mayor Dale Ross.
The latest
If the population continues to grow like it currently is in the area, Georgetown General Manager of Utilities Jim Briggs said the city would have to find a way to bring in additional energy sources, including looking into battery storage as an option.
What’s next
NRG spokesperson Erik Linden said the agreement will be the company’s first utility-scale solar project in Texas. In early January, Linden said construction was not yet underway for the solar farm in West Texas, but that it is expected to begin later this year.
This story is one update from the January Issue. View the full list of 10 things to look for in 2017 here.
