The City of Houston is increasing its use of green energy through procurement and long-term contracts to purchase solar energy.
Houston’s green power purchase program is the largest of its kind in the USA, with more than 140 MW of renewable power for municipal use procured from 2013 to 2015, and an additional 70 MW through to 2016. The 210 MW – purchased through renewable energy credits that are Green-e certified – enables Houston to use almost 623,000 MWh of green power annually, which is equivalent to the electricity needed to power more than 55,000 homes. The program offsets more than one million metric tons CO2 over the three-year agreement compared to fossil fuel-based power plants.
To complement these efforts, Houston is also generating green power through a 15-year power purchase agreement (PPA) for a 30-MW solar plant, estimated to provide 77,000 MWh or 6.2% of the City of Houston’s average annual consumption of electricity, offsetting an additional 42,000 metric tons CO2 per year. Houston’s green power purchases make the city the largest municipal buyer of renewable power in the USA, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partnership rankings.
345,000 metric tons of CO2 reduced annually from Houston’s green power purchase program
The challenge
The City of Houston’s purchase of wind power represents a significant investment in the renewable energy market. With such an investment, the city is helping to grow the renewable energy industry, adding more stability to the market.
Co-benefits
Economic Long-term contracts for renewable energy offer price stability, unlike the volatile fossil fuel markets.
Environmental The program avoids 503 metric tons of NOx emissions and 368 metric tons of PM10 emissions through increased use of green energy.
Health Emissions from coal-fired power plants cause negative health effects, including asthma and heart attacks. Renewable wind power is emissions-free.
About Houston
Houston is the most populous city in the state of Texas and the fourth-most populous city in the United States. Houston’s economy has a broad industrial base in energy, manufacturing, aeronautics, and transportation. Leading in health care sectors and building oilfield equipment, outside New York City, Houston has more Fortune 500 headquarters than any other U.S. municipality within its city limits. The Port of Houston ranks first in the United States in international waterborne tonnage handled and second in total cargo tonnage handled. Nicknamed the “Space City”, Houston is a global city, with strengths in business, international trade, entertainment, culture, media, fashion, science, sports, technology, education, medicine, and research.
