Energy / Denton, Texas: 2010 Smarter City - Energy

DME is committed to obtaining 40 percent of the energy it distributes from renewables and cleaner-energy sources. In addition to its clear advantage in wind power, the City of Denton began its first landfill gas to energy project in December 2008. It produces 1.6 megawatts of energy (or enough to provide electricity for up to 1,600 homes), which DME purchases from the city to distribute at no extra cost to customers.

But just because Denton is getting such a remarkable amount of its energy from renewables doesn’t mean it’s not conserving as well. Energy-efficiency programs run by DME include thermal imaging energy audits, GreenSense Renewable Energy Rate, GreenSense Energy Efficiency Rebate Program, a CFL lightbulb exchange program and Energy Efficiency Educational Tools for Teachers. See more information about these initiatives here.

Clearly, Denton is emerging as a model small city for its successful energy programs, and it has been cited as one of two cities in the “Texas REConnect” study funded by the Department of Environment’s “Million Solar Roofs” project.

With this reputation, Denton is also looking to be an attractive place for environmentally conscious businesses. Through partnerships with local businesses, DME is working to centrally locate distributed generation and combined heat and power plants in industrial areas and load pockets around the city in order to reduce transmission losses and grid congestion. This kind of innovation could make Denton known as a city that puts a high priority on energy efficiency.