The video attached to this story aired on Feb. 23, 2025.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin’s public electric utility said that it added 18.8 megawatts (MW) of solar generation in 2025, an amount that Austin Energy called “unprecedented” in a press release Monday morning.
The solar generation added in Austin over the last year consisted of 690 residential and 59 commercial systems. In total, Austin Energy has 188 MW of solar capacity, making up for a third of the utility’s generation mix as of Monday morning.
Austin Energy’s website notes that it started to buy solar in the 2010s and wind power in the 1990s. Since 2019, the utility added 89.07 MW of solar to its mix, an average of 12.7 MW annually.
“Local solar is a cornerstone of Austin’s clean energy future,” said Austin Energy General Manager Stuart Reilly in the release. “Every system installed in Austin helps electric bills stay affordable and makes our city’s power generation portfolio even cleaner.”
The utility’s wants to have 205 MW of solar capacity by 2027, in order to meet its goal of supplying 65% of its customers’ energy needs. It also still seeks to reach “100% carbon-free electric generation by 2035,” according to its website.
“When electricity is produced close to where it’s used, it strengthens reliability, reduces transmission costs and keeps more energy dollars circulating within Austin’s economy. Every rooftop solar system helps lower demand on the broader ERCOT grid, which can stabilize market prices during periods of high statewide usage,” Austin Energy’s press release says.
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