Jul. 6--SAN BENITO -- The Texas General Land Office recently selected the city to test a solar powered-water treatment system. If it works, the plant could serve as a model for other border communities.

"This project just makes sense," said GLO Commissioner Jerry Patterson, in a statement. "

If it works out well, I see a day when many other cities will seek to replicate this idea."

The solar-power system could provide up to 20 percent of the power at the plant and would cost $300,000 to $350,000. The GLO's Sustainable Energy Project secured a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to expand the state's clean energy programs and to showcase the solar energy potential of the region, according to the statement.

"When they found out that the city was building the plant they wanted to see if we were interested in the solar-power component," said City Manager Victor Trevino.

The city plans to build a micro-filtration water treatment plant on 27 acres of land adjacent to the Industrial Park south of Expressway 77/83 on Turner Street in 2006, he said.

The plant is part of the city's $32.5 million water and wastewater improvement plan including a new water tower -- already completed -- construction of a wastewater treatment plant -- already underway -- and the water treatment plant.

Trevino said that the EPA has already approved the site for the plant. Bids for construction will go out in November or December, he said.

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