The purpose of this program is to increase the amount of installed renewable energy in Texas. Additionally, the purpose is to further develop Texas’ renewable energy potential, assist in meeting the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard target of 10,000 megawatts by 2025 and advance the market for renewable technologies. Such technologies must abide by the SEP definition of renewable energy (non-depletable source of energy) and would include biomass, geothermal, solar, water (hydro) and wind.
Texas Comptroller Susan Combs today 32 renewable energy projects around the state have been selected to receive a first round of federal stimulus grants as part of the Distributed Renewable Energy Technology Program. Approximately $32 million will go to cities, school districts, colleges and universities and other local and state government entities in the first round of grants. More project applications are currently undergoing federal National Environmental Policy Act review.
Entities in the first round of grants will use the funds for solar power installation. Projects that also include other types of renewable energy technologies are currently being reviewed.
The Comptroller’s State Energy Conservation Office will administer the stimulus grants. The grants range from $95,000 to $2 million.
To date, the Comptroller has awarded $31,388,474 in competitive federal stimulus grants to the following governmental entities. Note that remaining applications may still be in review.
Distributed Renewable Energy Technology Program – Awarded Projects to Date
Award Amount           Governmental Entities
$2,000,000      St. Philip’s College – San Antonio
$2,000,000      Carroll Independent School District – Grapevine
$2,000,000      University of Texas – Southwestern Medical Center – Dallas
$1,998,800      City of Bedford – Public Library
$1,832,000      The University of Texas at Arlington
$1,727,226      Grapevine – Colleyville Independent School District Grapevine
$1,713,326      The County of Cameron – Harlingen, San Benito, Brownsville
$1,594,370      Austin Community College (ACC) – Austin
$1,526,475      Texas Southmost College (TSC) – Harlingen
$1,320,326      Texas Parks and Wildlife Department – Region II
$1,301,501      Texas Parks and Wildlife Department – Region I
$1,158,316      The City Irving – Irving Public Library
$1,121,208      The City of Duncanville
$1,080,000      University of Texas – San Antonio
$978,226         Texas State Technical College – Waco
$872,809         City of Grand Prairie
$827,883         Hopkins County – Sulphur Springs
$821,386         Texas Parks and Wildlife Department – Austin Headquarters
$799,939         Adjutant General’s Department of Texas Military Forces at Camp Mabry Austin
$794,121         The University of Texas Health Science Center – San Antonio
$617,927         Hutto Independent School District – Hutto
$476,800         Shallowater Independent School District
$455,203         Texas Parks and Wildlife Department – Region III
$433,000         The City of San Antonio
$431,000         Texas State Technical College – Harlingen
$419,600         The City of Alpine
$311,397         The City of Horseshoe Bay
$260,500         University of North Texas – Dallas
$249,117         Munday Independent School District – Munday
$159,160         City of Henrietta
$143,074         Fort Worth ISD
$95,000           The City of Sunset Valley – Austin area
Details of the projects can be found by visiting: http://www.seco.cpa.state.tx.us/arra/sep/renewable/renew_awards.php