12 Aug Response from Council Member Laura Morrison – Local Solar
Response from Council Member Laura Morrison Concerning Austin Energy General Manager’s Memo on Local Solar Advisory Committee Recommendation
It’s of great concern that the General Manager of Austin Energy has publicly stated his opposition to the Local Solar Advisory Committee (LSAC) recommendation on a new goal for solar, before the LSAC recommendations or the Austin Energy staff review has been presented to the City Council.
For many months, if not for years, the City Council had heard conflicting view points on the potential to increase our solar goals. To promote a thoughtful dialogue, the Council created the Local Solar Advisory Committee (LSAC), comprised of 20 experts from varying perspectives to analyze and develop a strategic plan with specific recommendations to ensure the optimum utilization of Austin’s local solar energy resource base. The committee was staffed by Austin Energy with support from Pecan Street Project, and included representatives from the solar industry, large industrials, academia, finance, the Chambers of Commerce, consumer advocacy, non-profits, residential, the City’s Electric Utility Commission and the Resource Management Commission. Their meetings included public comment, outside expertise and collaboration on fact-finding and data analysis as well as several working group reports.
After five months of work, the Local Solar Advisory Committee voted unanimously for their recommendations which are detailed in a 31-page report called “A Strategic Plan for Local Solar in Austin”. The committee recommendations included a 400MW goal for solar and considered costs as well as benefits in their report.
The City Council’s Emerging Technology and Telecommunications Committee (ETT) asked Austin Energy to prepare a response to the LSAC recommendations and AE stated that they would provide one in October, after the FY13/14 budget adoption.
Given that Mr. Weis has now stated his belief the LSAC recommendation of 400MW solar as a goal is not reasonable, I have asked him to provide an AE report that addresses the basis of this position to allow for discussion at the August 21st ETT Committee. This would allow Council to proceed with deliberations in an informed manner on the adoption of a new goal for solar and on an appropriation in our FY13/14 budget that supports a Council adopted future goal for solar.
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