Many recent conversations during discussions in Denton about the Renewable Denton Plan involved the contrast between Denton Municipal Electric’s plan and that of Georgetown Utility Systems.  Georgetown is also a Texas city, located just north of Austin.

This month’s North Texas Renewable Energy Group meeting will offer a chance to see presentations from representatives from both municipal electric utilities.

Meetings are free & open to the public, & take place in the Fellowship Hall of Midway Hills Christian Church, located at 11001 Midway Rd, Dallas, Texas 75229, from 10 am – 12 pm.

Georgetown announced a plan last year to get 100% of its electricity from renewable sources, including around 150 megawatts from west Texas solar farms, starting in 2016 or 2017.

Denton recently got City Council approval for its plan to get 70% of its electricity from renewable sources, including around 17% from solar farms outside of the DFW area, by 2019. However, Denton’s plan also includes building & operating “quick start” natural gas powered RICE (reciprocating internal combustion engine, not turbine) generators in Denton to provide 13% of its electricity demand, as well as selling into the Texas wholesale electricity market when it is economical to do so. The natural gas powered generator plans are controversial because of concerns about adding to local air quality problems (even though acceptable under TCEQ rules) and concerns about building new natural gas powered infrastructure

For more information about the meeting & presenters, as well as more information on the plans, see:

http://www.ntreg.org/events.shtml

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/mar/28/georgetown-texas-renewable-green-energy

http://www.renewabledenton.com/#intro