Small City in Texas Could be Entirely Solar Powered-

Pflugerville – a small city in central Texas – may soon be 100 percent solar powered. Officials are currently in negotiations with RRE Austin Solar and Travis County to develop a solar power plant that could generate enough renewable energy for every home in the city. The plant will potentially be located about fifteen miles away on a 600 acre farm, and will house roughly $750,000 worth of solar panels. Austin Solar, the company constructing the farm, is currently awaiting the tax incentives they’ll need to be able to begin construction on the facility. Without tax breaks, they say they can’t afford to do the work. If all preliminary provisions are in place, construction will begin at the end of 2010. The city’s mayor, Jeff Coleman said of the proposed development, “Pflugervillians, like most Central Texans, have a high degree of concern about the environment, and therefore I think our citizens will be proud that this opportunity is in Pflugerville.” If plans are approved, Austin Solar would be required to complete construction and become fully operational by 2014. Building the 60 MW plant will offer around 200-300 jobs, however operation and maintenance will only require about five employees.