Solar Energy Generation Increases As Texas Adds Mega Solar Farm
Solar energy usage has been increasing exponentially in the Southwest with 4,300 megawatts connected to energy grids from California to Texas. A new solar farm outside of San Antonio is being touted as the largest in the state.
The Alamo I solar farm is now up and in operation providing electricity to south central Texas.
A few miles outside of San Antonio are rows and rows of solar panels, 167,000 solar panels to be exact, an area equal to 300 football fields.
Built by OCI Solar Power for $110 million, the 40 megawatt farm can supply enough electricity for 6,600 homes. San Antonio’s municipally owned utility CPS Energy is purchasing every watt.
CPS Energy Vice President Cris Eugster says the cost of solar is decreasing.
“It is still a little bit more expensive than traditional fuels but again, if you look at 20-25 year horizon and rising fossil fuel costs, there’s no rising fuel costs with a farm like this, over the long term this will provide more affordable power to our community,” Eugster said.
Alamo I is only a portion of planned solar farms by OCI. A second farm, Alamo II, will provide an additional 4.4 megawatts. Other farms are planned in Texas but locations have not yet been revealed.
