Here is the city chart:
The city uses this chart to show that on an annual basis they have enough energy from renewable sources to meet city demand. If this is true, why is the city purchasing energy from gas powered plants as shown in the Wilco Sun chart?
The city also asserts they have sufficient renewable energy to meet peak demand through 2021. That assertion is highly questionable. Consider the following data for state wide demand and wind+solar supply:
This chart shows the statewide demand for electricity on July 18,2018 in the blue bars while the orange bars show the supply of electricity generated by wind plus solar.
It is clear that the supply from wind and solar is insufficient to meet the demand from 11am to 10pm.
Assuming the demand curve is similar for Georgetown, and there is no reason to assume it is substantially different, then we have the following chart for July 18, 2018:
The peak demand for Georgetown in July 2018 was reported to be 170MW.
Georgetown signed contracts with both wind and solar energy companies to try and meet the city demand as the wind and sun produce electricity in different parts of the day. Of course the sun shines during the day and the wind tends to blow at night.
Here is the supply chart for the wind on 7/18/2018 based on the statewide profile.
And here is the solar supply chart.
The solar chart is based on the NREL database tailored to the Fort Stockton solar farm characteristics.
Combing the demand chart with the supply chart results in the following for a typical hot day in July.
This type of supply distribution shows why the city has contracted for 2X as much renewable energy as is required on an annual basis. Even then, that would not meet the demand. It would take purchases of 3X or more of renewable energy on an annual basis to meet the peak demand on a hot summer day.
It is time for the city to be completely transparent with the rate payers of Georgetown.
1. Make the energy contracts available to all
2. Publish the hourly supply and demand for energy by supplier
Contact your city council person and demand full transparency!
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