HomeMy WebLinkAboutUBI 2009 JANWind Watts Energy Now Available
CITY OF COLLEGE STATION
security and environment. The U.S.
Department of Energy (DOE) is work-
ing with wind industry partners to de-
velop clean, domestic, innovative wind
energy technologies that can compete
with conventional fuel sources. DOE’s
Wind Energy Program efforts have cul-
minated in some of industry’s leading
products today and have contributed
to record-breaking industry growth.
How It Works
Wind is a form of solar energy and is
caused by the uneven heating of the
atmosphere by the sun, the irregulari-
ties of the earth’s surface, and rotation
of the earth. Wind flow patterns are
modified by the earth’s terrain, bodies
of water, and vegetation. Humans use
this wind flow, or motion energy, for
many purposes: sailing, flying a kite,
and even generating electricity.
The terms wind energy or wind power
describes the process by which the
wind is used to generate mechanical
Inside College Station
From the City of College Station, Home of Texas A&M University • College Station, Texas
College Station will begin implement-
ing its “Wind Watts” program this
January. Utility customers who have
chosen to become leaders in the sus-
tainability movement will begin re-
ceiving all or part of their electrical
energy as wind-generated electricity.
Customers may choose to have 10%,
50% or 100% of their energy gener-
ated from wind. Customers signing up
for 10% wind can expect to pay an esti-
mated additional $3.50 for every 1000
kwh’s used. Wind Watts is a major
component in the City’s Green College
Station initiative, which includes pro-
grams that support renewable energy
and energy conservation.
20% by 2030
An effort is underway nationally to
use wind energy to produce 20% of
our nation’s energy needs by the year
2030. This is an effort to help meet
America’s increasing energy needs
while protecting our nation’s energy
power or electricity. Wind turbines
convert the kinetic energy in the wind
into mechanical power. This mechani-
cal power can be used for specific
tasks (such as grinding grain or pump-
ing water) or a generator can convert
this mechanical power into electricity.
So how do wind turbines make elec-
tricity? Simply stated, a wind turbine
works opposite of a fan. Instead of
using electricity to make wind, like a
fan, wind turbines use wind to make
electricity. The wind turns the blades,
which spin a shaft, which connects
to a generator and makes electricity.
Take a look at this diagram to see the
various parts.
The City would like to encourage those
who want to become a part of the
sustainable movement or get more
information about the program to call
the College Station Utilities Customer
Service Center at 979-764-3535 and
indicate your desire to participate.
For more about Wind Watts
and green energy, go to:
www.cstx.gov/ucs
January 2009
Commission also asked staff to consid-
er annexing additional property located
between FM 2154 and I&GN Road.
In December, city staff made a presen-
tation to the City Council and solicited
their direction concerning annexation.
Specifically, staff presented a recom-
mendation on the three annexation ar-
eas identified by staff as well as the ad-
ditional area identified by the Planning
& Zoning Commission.
For more information on annexation,
call Planning & Development Services
at 979.764.3570 or visit the website at
www.cstx.gov/annexation.
Sign Up for BIG Event ––––
The BIG Event is the largest one-day,
student-run service project in the na-
tion. The BIG Event is currently ac-
cepting jobs for March 28, 2009! Due
to limited resources, only the first
1,300 jobs will be accepted.
Job Request Forms are available on-
line at bigevent.tamu.edu or in The
Eagle on Wednesdays and Sundays
starting January 21. All forms must be
submitted by February 20, 2009.
For questions, call (979)845-9618 or
e-mail bigevent@stuact.tamu.edu.
Sign Up for ACCESS eNews
Receive weekly updates, news and
information on City services, events
and activities in College Station!
Sign up at www.cstx.gov/access.
w w w . c s t x . g o v
Energy Conservation/Rebates
979 764-3724
Wind Watts/Wind Power
979 764-3535 cstx.gov/ucs
e-Bill Signup
979-764-3535 cstx.gov/ucs
e-Payments
979 764-EPAY (3729) epay.cstx.gov
Credit Card Payments
979 764-3535
24/7 Utility Dispatch
979 764-3638
are all a part of the Texas Transportation
Code or City Ordinances and all the
State Law violations are included in The
Texas Driver’s Handbook used to study
for a driver’s license.
PARKING, STOPPING, OR •
STANDING WITHIN 15 FEET OF A
FIRE HYDRANT 545.302(b) (2)
PARKING IN A FIRE LANE •
CITY ORDINANCE NO.
2532, CHAPTER 10
PARKING WITHIN 30 FEET •
OF A TRAFFIC CONTROL
DEVICE 545.302(b) (4)
PARKING WITHIN 20 FEET OF A •
CROSSWALK 545.302(b) (3)
PARKING FACING •
TRAFFIC 545.303(b)
PARKING MORE THAN 18 INCHES •
FROM THE CURB OR EDGE OF
ROADWAY 545.303(a), (b)
HANDICAP PLACARD NOT •
DISPLAYED(681.011)
For questions or concerns regarding
parking violations and traffic laws in
College Station, contact John LeBlanc,
Parking Supervisor, at 979-764-3769 or
email jleblanc@cstx.gov.
City Considers Annexation
In June of this year, the City Council in-
structed staff to continue the annexa-
tion planning process by identifying
areas that could be annexed using a
three-year process or an exempt pro-
cess. Since that time, City staff met on
several occasions to discuss areas that
could potentially be annexed under
both scenarios.
On November 20, 2008, The Planning
& Zoning Commission received a report
from City staff concerning areas target-
ed for annexation and recommended
moving forward with the annexation
of three areas identified by staff. The
CITY OF COLLEGE ST A TION
INSIDE COLLEGE STATION JANUARY 2009 • PAGE 2
Parking Reminders for
College Station Residents
In College Station as in many other
college communities across the nation,
parking has become a serious concern
to the community. Neighborhoods have
become inhabited by multiple people
sharing a single family residence with
parking space intended for a single
family residence.
The additional vehicles on the street
often line both sides of rather narrow
streets, limiting the travel space for most
motor vehicles, including emergency
vehicles, to drive safely. Residents
often consider parking issues rather
unimportant and fail to pay attention to
the State and City laws.
The City of College Station operates a
Parking Enforcement Division. Their
purpose is to prevent parking violations,
by issuing citations and warnings to
violators, in order to preserve safety
and integrity in the community.
To help you avoid parking violations, here
is a reminder list of some of the parking
violations that the City enforces. They