Granite Shoals hears PEC on solar project
At the March 14 meeting of the Granite Shoals City Council are, from left Cristi Clement, a member of the board of the Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC); Jim Spaulding, director of PEC Project Development Energy Services, and Michael Steenbergen, the citizen promoting a solar initiative in the city.
By Glynis Crawford Smith
The Highlander
Granite Shoals became the first city in the entire Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC) service area to hear a presentation on the current status of the co-op's new solar farm initiative when Jim Spaulding, director of Project Development Energy Services, attended a meeting of the city council Tuesday night, March 14.
“The PEC is partnering with the City of Johnson City to construct two, one-megawatt (MW) solar facilities as part of a cooperative-wide solar power generation project,” said Spaulding. “Solar has become very cost competitive and could to be at or below what you pay now.”
Spaulding was invited to the council meeting by PEC Board Member Cristi Clement who, in turn, had been sought out by Mike Steenbergen. A candidate for mayor in the city, Steenbergen has for some months been proposing that a city solar project become a priority. He researched grants on the federal, state and cooperative levels, making presentations and asking that solar power be given a place on the council agenda.
Spaulding was encouraged that the city was interested in solar but was cautious towards the idea of a installing a single city-owned array because of the high cost and limited access to economy of scale. Because arrangements for 15 sites for 1 MW solar installations are in place, he said Granite Shoals would have to be line for one built by PEC in another phase of development in the future with proper approvals from PEC’s board of directors.. In any case, seven acres of land would be required for construction, he said.
“But, you can get the benefit of solar, without having to own the site,” said Clement. “With Lower Colorado River Authority gas-fired power you have a variable rate. Solar is steady. We adopted a conservative, low risk strategy to bring low cost solar into PEC energy portfolio. We are excited with the outcome and potential lowering of the base rate.”
Mayor Carl Brugger said he was encouraged when Spaulding said the city might be considered as a site participant in future phases of renewable energy development.
“We have an aging water system; if you drove in on the roads, you know we have a problem there and we have a great possibility for a grant to turn another mining building into a recreation center. For a city this size, with just 33 employees, we can't do much.”
Those, he said, looked at the time to be top priority in the coming budget year, but he invited citizens to attend the May 19 council meeting when budget discussion would begin.
PEC solar background
The PEC announced the project for two, one-megawatt (MW) solar facilities with Johnson City on Feb. 27. Located off of US 290 on city-owned property, the 5,700-panel facilities will cover 14 acres at no cost to the city. RES Distributed, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Renewable Energy Systems Americas, Inc. (RES), will oversee development and operation of the facilities.
The Johnson City facilities are two of many planned across PEC’s service territory as part of a cooperative-wide solar power generation project announced about a year ago. When completed, up to 15 MW of solar power will be generated, allowing the cooperative to produce power during the peak time period when market prices can be at their highest.
“The City and PEC joined forces after a Government Leaders Appreciation Dinner in 2015,” Johnson City Mayor Dawn Capra said. “John Hewa (CEO of the PEC) had presented about the cooperative’s plans to launch a solar program on local sites across their service territory, and I asked if they had thought to work with cities because Johnson City had 19 acres available.”
“We felt that a community and a utility could work together to deliver more options for cost-effective, sustainable power,” Ingmar Sterzing, PEC vice president of power supply and energy services, said.
Groundbreaking is scheduled between May and June of this year, and construction will take approximately two to four months. Sustainable power from the facilities will reach PEC distribution lines sometime between August and September.
“We are truly excited about this solar power generation project and about starting it in Johnson City, where PEC was formed almost 80 years ago,” Sterzing said. “It’s truly symbolic of our forward-thinking strategy rooted in our founding principles.”
Groundbreaking is scheduled between May and June of this year, and construction will take approximately two to four months. Sustainable power from the facilities will reach PEC distribution lines sometime between August and September.
Other council action
Two agreements with agricultural land owners were approved by the council; the goal being voluntary annexation in the event the property is developed. Not only had previous agreements expired, but longtime owners of much of the property passed away in 2016.
It was the final approval needed for contracts on two tracts—43.07 acres and 574.4 acres of land south of the city along Lake LBJ—owned jointly by Doug Scarbrough and Lynn Ellen Scarbrough, heirs of Lemuel “Lem” Scarbrough Jr.
City staff is now to resume negotiations with family of the late Robert L. Mezger, who own two other tracts of land east of the city—approximately 2,000 acres of land on the south side of Ranch to Market Road 1431 and 800 acres on the north side. The portion on the south side includes the historic Honeymoon Camp.
The council approved a recommendations from the Street and Water Advisory Group (SWAG), including the committee's advice against sealcoat project this year. Rather than a limited sealcoat project using county paving equipment, city staff will concentrate on repair of potholes and cracks in pavement.
“We are using a new material called Asphalt Patch with a higher oil content and it seems to be holding up well,” said Assistant City Manager Peggy Smith. “We got the recommendation from Jonestown. We brought out big street rollers (to finish it off) because it has to hold up to heavy truck traffic. We still buy old cold mix from Spicewood for less traveled roads.”
A single heavily-traveled street, Moss Downs near Tropical Hideaway, will be paved with hot mix this year.
Lee Weber was confirmed as a new member of the Planning & Zoning Commission. A realtor/lender and developer, Weber has owned property in the city for 10 years, but became a full-time resident just about a year ago.
