26 Feb Front Page Statesman News – “Activists: Austin Energy should be even greener”

My hat's off to Marty Toohey of the Statesman for digging deep into the key issues of Austin's Energy future. His story was prompted by a rally on the steps of Austin Energy's headquarters to protest the process and content of Austin Energy's approach to the new Generation Plan – a document that will guide Austin's energy future. Rally organizers included Public Citizen, Sierra Club, Austin Beyond Coal and the Austin Climate Action Network.They spoke of the need to increase Austin's climate goals, retire the coal plant and avoid reliance on fracking.

Austin's 2007 Climate Protection Plan and 2010 Generation Plan were groundbreaking models for responding to Climate Change. They are well worth a read. They have guided Austin Energy's planning and programs, leading to many of the energy achievements of which Austin Energy and Austin itself is justifiably proud:  35% renewable energy 4 years early by 2016, a Green Choice that was a national model in spurring wind contracts, the completion of one and a half "negawatt" power plants that didn't have to be built and fueled, innovative cold water storage for load shifting of air conditioning demand in the down town area, the completion of a pioneering solar farm at Webberville and distributed solar throughout Austin.

Now is the time to be proud of those accomplishments and use them as motivation to reach higher.

Reach for 50% – 75% -100% renewable energy.

Reach for real carbon reduction – retire the toxic coal plant that burns a mile-long trainload of coal every day.

Turn away from today's cheap lure of naturalfrackinggas and embrace competitive wind and solar contracts.

Crate a new Green Choice – Green Solar that can drive local solar initiatives across Austin.

Write a new Climate Protection Plan that incorporates these ever improving energy sources and leads us to a safer – lo carb – future. The Climate Protection Plan from City Council provides the policy direction to Austin Energy. It drove us in 2007 and needs to be brought up to current renewable realities to move us forward. Austin Energy has a building full of bright people – let City Council give them new climate positive goals to reach.

As this planning process begins, Austin Energy scheduled three open house public – citizen shareholder – meetings at their headquarters building. All are RSVP events, two during the work day. The video below shows the first presentation on Tuesday February 25th at 10am. One more meeting remains on Thursday, February 27th from 1 to 3 pm. Plan to go if you can. RSVP on the Austin Energy website.

There is no opportunity for public testimony at the meetings, though Austin Energy staff is available for discussion. To make your comments to Austin Energy, use their email link: 

genplan2014@austinenergy.com

Just as importantly – even more importantly – make your views on the Generation Plan and updating the Climate Protection Plan known to Austin City Council. Here is a handy link that will reach each of them with a single email.

http://austintexas.gov/mail/all-council-members

Here is a video of the Tuesday 10am presentation by five VP's of Austin Energy on their areas of responsibility. You can see for yourself were we've come, where we are and where we need to get to.

Following the meeting, wide-ranging discussions covered all phases of Austin Energy's operations. Lots of informative conversation but no public testimony. So please follow through and use the communication links to Austin Energy and City Council.

Let's all be activists so this plan reflects Austin's values, a plan that is not only Austin Energy's plan by truly Austin's Energy Plan.