Today, the Austin City Council unanimously approved a $250 million solar plant that would be among the largest in the world.  City officials say it would help them get closer to the city’s goal of using more renewable energy.

The council approved a partnership with Gemini Solar Development Co. to build and operate the facility and sell all its power to Austin at $10 million a year. Under the plan, Austin Energy will purchase all of the electricity produced over a 25-year term by a 30 megawatt solar project to be built on city-owned property located about 20 miles from downtown Austin.

Critics complained that the project is too expensive for the amount of power it produces. They also questioned why the city would partner with a company that will get its solar panels manufactured in China. In repsponse, Austin Energy says there isn’t a Texas company capable of filling the order.