Texas Electricity & Texas Energy from Dynowatt
Fort Worth is the fifth-largest city in Texas and is "where the West begins." With an area of approximately 300 square miles in Tarrant, Parker, Denton and Wise counties and a population over 700,000, Fort Worth is a modern city that also has the future in mind. That forward-facing outlook is particularly apparent when it comes to Texas energy issues. While all Lone Star Staters feel the benefits and challenges of today's energy market, there are a lot of exciting developments in Fort Worth and the surrounding areas.
Venture capital is a big part of improving the energy infrastructure and supporting the business environment that creates jobs and improves technology. A person might have a great idea for a business in the energy sector, but without money, he or she can never get the project off the ground. According to the Dallas News, 2009 was a standout year for Texas electricity companies in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. In fact, 85 percent of the venture capital in the region went to companies such as Kosmos Energy, a firm that locates new oil and gas supplies.
Although other sectors of the economy were not so lucky when it comes to investment, Fort Worth can be proud of the fact that firms with money to lend believe the region has a lot to offer. In fact, the Dallas News reports that total investments in Texas decreased substantially around 2009, to 644.6 million dollars. While the figure for the Dallas-Fort Worth area suffered a slight decrease, it remained a significant part of the state's total: 350 million dollars.
Even though the Dallas-Fort Worth area has been developed and the land has been enhanced with modern infrastructure, the natural world still has a big effect on the amount of energy you use. All of the concrete and asphalt in a city combines with all of the sources of heat generation to create what is known as a "heat island." Just like many metropolitan areas, Dallas-Fort Worth is usually just a few degrees warmer than the surrounding municipalities. Those few degrees can add up, increasing the amount of money you spend on air conditioning during the summer and heating during the winter. Of course, the D-FW authorities are exploring ways to alleviate this effect. And what are those average temperatures, anyway? The National Weather Service has charted the average monthly temperature for over one hundred years. The Fort Worth area temperature decreased to a low of 42.7 degrees in December 2009, requiring the average consumer to take a few steps to keep their house warm. On the other side, the year's high came in July, when the mercury was bursting out of the thermometer at 86.6 degrees. Again, that's the average temperature, and it's the weather that will keep your refrigerator running overtime and your air conditioner humming.
Another way that the government of Fort Worth is trying to empower citizens to reduce their energy consumption is through the use of the Fort Worth Energy Code. By establishing this kind of code, residential, industrial and commercial energy consumers have an easier time of providing themselves with a home, factory or store in which energy is used efficiently. This proactive approach is a good idea, because it is much easier to build an insulated structure heated and cooled and powered by efficient appliances from the ground up. It's much harder to try to change things after the fact.
The City of Fort Worth can also crow about the 8 million dollars in funds received from the federal government to administer Tarrant County's Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP). According to the City, these funds are dedicated to helping residents "achieve energy self-sufficiency and avoid utility disruptions." Depending on your household income level, Fort Worth also offers programs that offer assistance in paying water bills and easing the stress experienced by families disrupted by a move.
What does all of this add up to? Something you probably knew all along: that Fort Worth is one of the country's "most livable" communities. The Partners for Livable Communities, a non-profit organization that works to improve the American way of life, singles out Fort Worth's energy consumption efforts as one reason the city is so great. When an active local government pairs with motivated citizens to achieve a goal, anything can happen. The safe bet is that the energy consumption in Fort Worth will continue to be more affordable and environmentally friendly.