The Energy Blues

On Friday, Austin Energy set a new all time peak demand record, 2,628 megawatts (MW), "power sufficient for about 525,000 homes during very hot weather with associated air conditioning," according to Austin Energy's blog. The peak occurred between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m. with the temperature at 104 degrees. The previous all-time record was set last June at 2,602 MW.

Texas also set a new all-time peak record yesterday, the fourth over the last three weeks. Peak demand for ERCOT, the electric grid for most of Texas, was 65,715 MW. The state peak occurred between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m.

AE this week announced a volume purchase of 2 MW of volume solar to be installed on public buildings at $1.85 per watt. These will be track mounted panels, 235-watt rated. AE made a similar purchase last summer for $2.98 per watt. The price has dropped almost 50 percent in one year due to improved manufacturing techniques and silicon, says AE.

Will Elliott's school house rock with solar?

Energy ... You can get it by dammin' up a river
Energy ... A windmill can make the breeze deliver
But even with millin' and dammin'
Our needs are so much more demanding
For energy ... We have to use some kind of fuel.