WINDS OF CHANGE IN SMALL TEXAS TOWNS

It is just plain foolish to harbor clichéd illusions about regional America in a time of electronic tethering. A general’s testimony about Mesopotamia and images of Britney’s clumsiness are instantaneously with all of us, everywhere. Now this: Rural Texas leading the charge for energy change. Well, why not? Didn’t rural Texas play a big hand in the changeover to oil energy a century ago? Texas KNOWS energy.

One caveat: See the last quote, below. Somebody has to pay for this transition from fossil fuels to renewables and, ultimately, that somebody is going to be the consumer. The good news? Instead of making consumers pay for emissions in pollution, health and climate change costs, consumers can pay for clean energy through taxes and utility bills.

N. Texas cities buy credits to support renewable energy; Addison, Carrollton, HP support production to offset pollution
Elizabeth Langton, September 10, 2007 (Dallas Morning News)

WHO
Three North Texas cities: Addison (Randy Moravec, finance director), Carrollton and Highland Park (George Patterson, Town Administrator); Bill Peacock, director, Center for Economic Freedom/Texas Public Policy Foundation;

One of the smartest things about this program is that, because Texas is developing its wind resources, the communities are using their renewable energy credits to reinvest in themselves. (click to enlarge)

WHAT
The three cities will add fees to municipal electricity bills for the purchase renewable energy credits to offset greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, thereby funding renewable energy infrastructure. No impact on consumer electric rates. Entirely funded from city tax revenues.

WHEN
The cities are taking action now, as Texas -- already number one in U.S. wind energy -- continues to increase its capacity in wind and solar.

WHERE
- Austin, El Paso and Brownsville have purchased credits. Cities Aggregation Power Project (CAPP), a nonprofit bulk power negotiating group now has a program for smaller cities.
- Eastland, between Fort Worth and Abilene, is also buying credits through CAPP.



WHY
- The cities’ programs grow out of a state legislative intiative that requires utilities to purchase credits.
- Cities Aggregation Power Project employs energy market experts to make the best buys on credits in bond markets.
- Addison will spend $5,295 on credits, 10% of energy use on municipal buildings, streetlights, water and sewage pumping; Highland Park: $492, 5%; Carrollton: $7,265, 5%.
- Opponents claim the credits fund renewable energy but don’t produce energy. (NewEnergyNews: Huh? If they fund energy, they fund energy, don’t they? Sounds like one of those people who think if it isn’t fossil fuels, it isn’t energy. )
Similar projects are expected.

Does anybody honestly think T. Boone Pickens is betting heavy on Texas wind just because it's a good cause?

QUOTES
- Moravec, Addison: "It's not a direct purchase of electricity from wind energy farms…But it allows us to say we're doing our part to encourage this type of power generation."
- Peacock, Center for Economic Freedom/Texas Public Policy Foundation: "I've never seen a case yet where renewable energy credits have brought a whole lot of benefit to the consumer or the environment…" (NewEnergyNews: There are folks who would be happy to show him benefits to both. Try the American Wind Energy Association or Solar Energy Industries Association. Or how about the European Union?)
- Patterson, Highland Park: "The amount of money is not significant…It's the commitment and the willingness to do it that's important."
- Terry Hadley, spokesman, Public Utility Commission: "These cities are not alone in showing a willingness to pay a premium for cleaner energy…There are thousands of customers across the state who willingly pay a little more for energy from a renewable source."