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(Dullnig Ranch Sales)
You’ll have to leave city limits if you’re looking for a proper ranch property like 417 Acres Shipp Lake Ranch, aptly named for its acreage. The property comes built out with three farmhouses, one of which has bedrooms and two bathrooms and two of which have two bedrooms and one bathroom. The nearly untouched property, which surrounds the 100-plus-acre Shipp Lake, has remained in the same family since the early 1900s and gives you picturesque views for the making of a dream home. In fact, the previous owners ran a water ski camp on the property.
Sitting waterside on Lake Austin, this home gives you the unique opportunity to own a piece of the lush Hill Country with views of Mount Bonnell. The 2,750-square foot, three-bedroom, four-bathroom house allows you to integrate indoor and outdoor life with large windows opening to an outdoor living area. The crown jewel is the .76-acre parcel of land that tapers off to your own lakeside resort, featuring an covered outdoor kitchen, fire pit, stone boat house to store your water sports supplies and veranda sitting at the mouth of the water, perfect for an entertainer.
Got dreams of becoming a real Texas rancher? 7814 Brown Cemetery Rd. is the perfect place to start with 40 rolling acres of land and its very own swimming hole. Just east of Austin in Manor, the modest-on-the-outside home clocks at 4,412 square feet with five bedrooms and five-and-a-half bathrooms, but there are an additional two living structures on the property. The horseshoe-shaped pond sits in the heart of the property and comes equipped with a water slide, diving board and a fishing dock.
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(Julia Robinson/REUTERS)
By Sneha Dey and Mitchell Ferman
With a punishing heat wave across Texas driving record high power demand, The Electric Reliability Council of Texas late Sunday sent out a request that Texans cut back on their energy use on Monday.
ERCOT, the state’s power grid operator, asked Texans to turn up their thermostats and postpone running major appliances between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Monday. ERCOT has also called on large electric customers to lower their electricity use.
Total forecasted power demand is expected to surpass 79 gigawatts on Monday, ERCOT said — which would set another record.
An ERCOT spokesperson told the Tribune Monday that the grid operator does not expect rolling blackouts this week.
Low winds are also making it harder for the grid to keep up with demand during hotter-than-usual July temperatures. Current projections show wind generation coming in less than 10% of its capacity on Monday, ERCOT said.
Power grids must keep supply and demand in balance at all times. When Texas’ grid falls below its safety margin of excess supply, the grid operator starts taking additional precautions to avoid blackouts. The first precaution is to ask the public to cut back electricity usage.
ERCOT asked Texans in May to conserve power during a heat wave that coincided with six power plant outages.
Climate change has made Texas heat both hotter and longer lasting. The average daily minimum and maximum temperatures in Texas have both increased by 2.2 degrees Fahrenheit in the last 125 years. The state just saw its hottest December on record since 1889.
(Tesla)
Electric, hybrid and alternative fuel vehicle sales are on the rise nationwide—since 2014, Texans have driven 76.9% more and had the seventh-highest increase of EVs in the U.S.
As you navigate the sea of Teslas on Austin’s roadways, you might be surprised to see Elon Musk’s vehicles only mark the poles of the most popular, with more affordable options filling in the gaps. Take a look at Austin’s most popular EVs.
1. Tesla Model 3
(Tesla)
There’s a reason you see so many Model 3s in Austin—they’re the most popular electric car for the capital city. The lowest price you can grab the five-seater car for is nearly $47,000, before tax credits, but if you want all-wheel drive, you’re looking at an extra $10,000. This Tesla is known for its luxurious interior, sleek body, sizable 15” touchscreen displays, 360-degree cameras, 300+ mile range and ability to accelerate from 1-60 mph in 3.1 seconds.
2. Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
(Toyota)
A bit more affordable than getting a Tesla, you can cop a hybrid RAV4 starting at $29,575 and experience the benefits of electric and gas all in one. With about 30 miles to the gallon, standard creature comforts like a seven-inch touch screen Bluetooth audio system, heated seat options, 203 horsepower and full electric capabilities, you’re bound to see a bunch of these vehicles driving around town.
3. Toyota Prius
(Toyota)
Arguably the original EV, the Toyota Prius has stood the test of time as one of the most reliable hybrids on the market. Starting at $25,075, Priuses are one of the most affordable alternative fuel options available and can be customized to fit nearly any lifestyle. You can reach a cool 58 miles to the gallon with its 121 horsepower engine, find an AWD option if that suits you will you listen to your favorite tunes on a seven-inch touch screen display.
4. Toyota Camry Hybrid
(Toyota)
Similar to its Prius and RAV4 counterparts, the Camry Hybrid has similar options to offer in a classic sedan frame. Starting at $27,980, the Camry can reliably get over 50 mpg, comes standard with a seven-inch touchscreen with the option to upgrade to a nine-inch, has a zippy 208 horsepower engine and ranks as a “Super Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle.”
5. Tesla Model Y
(Tesla)
The more robust cousin to the popular Model 3, the Tesla Model Y makes everything bigger. And they're made at the local Tesla factory.
Carrying over the 300+ range, 15” touchscreen display and the ability to supercharge, the Model Y comes with more diverse options: An add-on third row for up to seven seats, three times more cargo space and a marginally decreased acceleration speed of 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds. You can only get an AWD version of this car at a starting price of $65,990.
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