• Utility to evaluate bids for onshore wind RFP in 1Q26
• Selects Jupiter Power project out of BESS RFP
• Bids for latest all-source RFP come due on January 23, 2026

Austin Energy is evaluating submissions for its onshore wind RFP launched in mid-October, eyeing contract negotiations in 1Q26.

The Austin-based municipal utility is seeking between 50 and 500 MW of wind capacity. Company spokesperson Matt Mitchell confirmed to NPM that the utility has received all of the proposals and expects to begin contract negotiations with selected bidders in late February.

The utility recently selected a project from an earlier solicitation seeking up 150 MW of battery energy storage (BESS) capacity. The spokesperson confirmed the project was from Jupiter Power, but declined to name the project.

Austin Energy agreed to a large-scale battery storage contract with Jupiter Power to provide up to 100 MW, according to an October 23 press release. The agreement, valued at approximately USD 14.4m per year for up to 20 years, represents a total estimated cost of USD 288m.

NPM Interconnection queue data identified an energy storge complex being developed by Jupiter in Travis County, which houses most of Austin. The first phase, Blackland Prairie 1, is forecasted at 102.1 MW capacity, has a planned service data of December 2027 and whose point-of-interconnection (POI) location is 9328 Austrop 138kV.

The second and third phase, Blackland Prairie 2 and Blackland Prairie 3, have the same planned service date and POI location as phase 1.

Following these earlier RFPs, Austin Energy has now issued a new RFP seeking up to 400 MW of energy capacity and associated environmental attributes from local energy resources. Eligible technologies for this RFP include solar, wind, storage, natural gas, geothermal and hydrogen among other technologies. The deadline for proposals is set for Jan. 23, 2026.

Background

All of these solicitations are part of Austin Energy’s Resource Generation and Climate Protection Plan to 2035, which calls for 100 percent carbon free energy by 2035. The plan specifically called for the issuance of the new all-source RFP to potentially meet energy and risk mitigation needs before investing in resources that produce local air pollution like peaker plants to determine whether carbon-free resources can be used to effectively meet the utility’s needs. In addition to traditional peakers, the plan calls for particular focus on both short and long-duration storage, fuel cell technology, and geothermal.

Austin Energy also seeks to reach at least 205 MW of local solar by the end of 2027 and 405 MW by 2035, as well as 300 MW of battery storage by the end of the decade “if economically feasible.

Finally, Austin Energy says it will continue to look at remote wind and solar to supplement its local portfolio, though it says it will need to continue to monitor the impact of oversupply and transmission congestion an seek solutions “within the bounds of affordability.”