Stop the Austin Gas Peaker Boondoggle Before You Have to Pay for It

Mayor Watson and Council Member Vela are pushing Austin Energy to put a deposit on overpriced gas-burning peakers (power plants) without examining all options — including clean energy. This is in direct contradiction to the commitments made in the Austin Energy Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan.

Email Mayor Watson and the Austin City Council today:

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First Name

Last Name

Email Address

Address, line 1

City

State

ZIP Code

Mayor

Kirk

Watson

Austin City Council

Councilmember

Natasha

Harper-Madison

Austin City Council

Councilmember

Vanessa

Fuentes

Austin City Council

Councilmember

Jose

Velasquez

Austin City Council

Councilmember

Jose

Vela

Austin City Council

Councilmember

Paige

Ellis

Austin City Council

Councilmember

Qadri

Austin City Council

Council Member

Krista

Laine

Austin City Council

Council Member

Marc

Duchen

Austin City Council

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I’m very concerned that Austin might rush into pouring money into more fossil fuel power generation without evaluating the alternatives or fully engaging the community, as was promised in the Austin Energy Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan.

That plan, which was adopted by the City Council in 2024 includes a goal of reaching zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2035. It also states the following in relation to the possibility of Austin Energy adding gas peaker units: “This process has four phases — feasibility, pre-development, development and construction. These phases will incorporate regular updates to City Council, with a report to the City Council following the feasibility phase prior to moving forward to the pre-development phase, and subsequently gathering Council feedback, and incorporating community input, prior to bringing a project forward for approval. Further, should Austin Energy seek Council approval for any peaker units, we will show any analysis performed demonstrating why a carbon-free alternative was not available and how the requested action will impact the utility’s ability to reach the goal of 100% carbon-free by 2035.”

Austin Energy has not yet presented any information on feasibility, including potential locations for new peakers.

No community input has been solicited.

Clean energy alternatives haven't been examined because the all-source, technology neutral request for proposals hasn’t even been issued yet.

Austin Energy shared with you that gas peakers are currently in high demand across the country, which has driven up prices by as much as 50% and made it impossible to get a new unit until at least 2029, which means it wouldn’t even be operational until 2030. Building a carbon-emitting facility that is expected to last at least 30 years when the carbon-free goal is just 5 years away makes no sense. Local solar and batteries are clean and can be deployed much quicker and with more benefit — including jobs — for our local economy.

This sort of rushed decision-making that commits Austin residents to paying for costly projects that don't best serve the community is a fundamental problem.

A thorough analysis of both the economics and environmental and community impacts should come before any decision to build more fossil fuel infrastructure.

I’m calling on you to follow the adopted plan and build community trust.

Thank you,

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