January 15th, 2009
By John DeFore
The city of Austin is no stranger to renewable energy. But it may be on the verge of upping the ante in terms of the power it gets from wind, eliminating some middlemen to keep its future energy as green as possible.
Last month the City Council approved a plan to lease about 17,500 acres of West Texas land that is perfectly situated for a wind farm. Under the 30-year lease, Austin Energy will pay a base annual amount of up to $150,000 for the option to erect wind turbines, with further money due based on (among other things) the size and eventual cost of any wind farm built there.
Barbara Kessler
Andrew Winston
Danielle Nierenberg
Anthony Swift
