Farmers Branch is set to become the first city in Texas whose operations are powered entirely by solar energy produced within its borders. That is something to be proud of, and a land use other cities should explore.
In February, the city entered an agreement with BQ Energy Development to design, build, and operate a 23-acre solar farm on a piece of land owned by the city. It will be the only such solar farm in Texas, owned by a city within its borders. Construction is scheduled to finish in the Fall of 2024.
This is a clever move not just because it promotes renewable energy, but because it puts land to good use. The site is a former landfill, which limits its available uses. Typically, closed landfills get turned into parks, golf courses, or wildlife refuges. Farmers Branch Sustainability Manager Alex Pharmakis explained that most development projects on closed landfills require lots of remediation measures, which come with permitting and fees from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. This project will not.
More importantly for residents, this could actually bring taxpayer savings. Pharmakis said the agreement with BQ Energy locks in the city’s cost for 20 years at a rate comparable to recent averages. If energy prices continue to rise, Farmers Branch stands to save.
The farm is expected to generate 13.6 million kWh per year, which is much more than needed to power all city-owned facilities, city spokesperson Jeff Brady told us. It will connect to the Texas power grid and be distributed by a power retailer to be named later.
The site is in an industrial area near the intersection of the President George Bush Turnpike and Valley View Lane.
“Our (city) council is committed to fully and quickly enacting the policy changes necessary to produce a more sustainable future for Farmers Branch,” Mayor Robert C. Dye said. “This solar farm represents a major step in that direction.”
Dallas Morning News
