Save Austin Energy’s Clean Energy and Climate Goals

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I’m very concerned that Austin Energy is trying to back out of existing clean energy and climate goals and wants to build more polluting methane gas power generation in East Austin. That would be in direct contradiction to the goals and commitments of both the Austin Climate Equity Plan and the existing Austin Energy Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan.

A vote for expanding Austin Energy’s fossil fuel generation – especially when the utility and Council have failed to shut down Austin Energy’s part of the Fayette coal plant – would be a vote against the environment and against the health of Austinites.

Austin Energy hasn’t even made a good faith effort to make clean energy work. While the utility does have utility scale wind and solar farms, it has essentially no energy storage. Batteries are being deployed successfully throughout Texas, the United States and the world. Batteries are now capable of replacing methane gas peaker plants, but Austin Energy is sitting on another batch of battery proposals – apparently waiting for them to expire, just like the proposals from last year. Instead of voting on a plan that would undo over a decade and a half of progress on Austin Energy policy, you should tell Austin Energy to bring forward a local battery project for approval.

You just approved a potentially game-changing Solar Standard Offer program in October. Give that program a chance to deliver clean local energy that would pair well with local batteries. There’s no shortage of rooftops to host solar through this program. Instead of approving more polluting methane gas generation, help promote the program to property owners of large buildings, such as grocery stores and warehouses, in your district.

Please support amendments to:

- Maintain existing carbon-free generation goals for Austin Energy

- Establish near-term (2027) clean energy goals that Austin Energy must meet before considering any natural gas peakers.

- Require an all-source RFP to examine all clean energy options to meet energy, capacity, back-up power and other needs before any natural gas peakers are considered.

- Ensure that there are robust goals set for energy efficiency, demand response, local solar and local batteries for both 2030 and 2035 that will induce Austin Energy to innovate and be true leaders on clean energy. Goals should push the utility forward, not just reflect a business-as-usual projection.

Climate action takes more than words – it takes work. I’m asking you to tell Austin Energy to do the work and I’m asking you to help however you can. And I’m going to do everything I can too. We can’t leave the climate crisis problem for someone else to solve. And we can’t keep polluting the air we breathe.

Thank you for leading.

Sincerely,

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Save Austin Energy’s Clean Energy and Climate Goals

Save Austin Energy’s Clean Energy and Climate Goals

Austin Energy’s proposal includes adding more polluting methane gas generation in East Austin

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