Dallas, proving once again that it's about much more than rodeo and cowboy hats, is now using more renewable energy than any other city in the nation.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Dallas recently marked an important milestone, reaching 100-percent renewable energy integration, thanks to the purchase of some wind energy credits.

"When the economics are so good, it's a no-brainer to use the energy source that doesn't pollute, doesn't use water and runs out," said Luke Metzger, director of advocacy group Environment Texas. "Most Americans, when you say, `Dallas,' think of cowboys or the old TV show about big oil. ... So I think it's exciting that a city that's known for being home to Exxon and some of the world's leading fossil fuel companies is now breaking away from that and treading a new path towards 100-percent clean energy and doing it not only for the environmental benefits but also for the economic benefits." 

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In June, Dallas city officials approved a contract with local utility TXU to derive half of the energy for municipal operations from renewable sources. The other half comes from a $1.3 million contract with clean energy provider Invenergy, signed last year. The city's energy use is substantial: some 715,000 MWh annually. But Dallas leaders are already thinking of ways to extend this initiative beyond that initial need. 

"The big story is not that the city is going 100-percent for our grid demand energy. It's that we're also generating energy on-site and looking to expand that," Kevin Lefebvre, senior environmental coordinator for the City of Dallas' Office of Environmental Quality, said. "We're producing about 4 percent of our energy on-site, converting waste into energy and even reducing the amount we'd otherwise have to put in a landfill. ... Whether we buy wind or fossil fuels, it's taxpayer dollars and resources that are being used to buy energy. If we can produce it on-site, that's energy that's free."

Lefebvre also noted that the city's willingness to tackle an investment in renewable energy can signal to other businesses in the area that it's safe to follow suit. Furthermore, he believes that an investment in wind energy is an investment in Dallas. 

"Being that Texas is the largest producer of wind energy in the U.S., we're buying our power from a Texas-based business," Lefebvre said. "By the city making this commitment, it's strengthening the Texas economy and keeping tax dollars in Texas to be used by Texans. [Partner utility] TXU also happens to be in Dallas and we're purchasing this energy from them, so it helps one of our local retail energy providers to strengthen their bottom line. So it keeps Dallas dollars in Dallas and Texas dollars in Texas." 

Lefebvre pointed out that the city's investment in wind energy helps renewable energy startups get off the ground. "With the city commitment to [renewable energy], it shows them that they can invest and grow and create more jobs right here in Texas. It all connects together in a giant loop," Lefebvre said.

For Errick Thompson, director of equipment and building services for the city of Dallas, the benefits of committing to renewable energy extend beyond the immediate business implications.

"If we don't get the air quality issue under control, that adds a huge economic impact on the entire region," Thompson said. "It makes it harder to get around and there's a health care impact as well. . And there's research and studies on health care impacts showing that they have a cost associated with them."

Thompson also sees Dallas' leadership in renewables as a way to create healthy competition with other cities both in Texas and nationwide. 

"If we can do it, others can too," Thompson said. "Not only does it help us with our sustainability but also it will likely encourage some other local governments to do more as well." 

Metzger of Environment Texas agrees. 

"Having Dallas raise the bar will definitely help encourage friendly competition to be the greenest city in Texas." 

The 715,000 MWh per year that Dallas city facilities use is the most of 137 municipal governmental entities included in the EPA's voluntary Green Power Partnership, which encourages the use of renewable energy.

Dallas ranked seventh among all U.S. energy users in the EPA's partnership, behind Intel, Microsoft, Kohl's, Apple, Google and Mars Inc.

-- The Dallas Morning News contributed to this report. 

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