27 Sep Austin City Council passes Energy Efficiency resolution
Congratulations Austin!. We are going to see a stakeholder process with the City of Austin, Austin Energy and the Resource Management Committee to see how we can use Energy Efficiency as the cheapest way to provide us with the energy we need with the least amount of thermal capacity required. We know we can get to 30% reduction of use, and lower bills, by implementing strategies that have worked in other parts of the country and in each one of our homes. The process will most likely start in March of 2013.
Energy efficiency is an essential ingredient combatting climate change while providing clean, abundant, cheap and local energy.
The resolution below passes City Council on unanimous consent today. Here it is:
WHEREAS, energy efficiency programs have been proven to be the cheapest available energy resource — they can be deployed faster and more flexibly than competing traditional generation resources, and with much shorter time commitments; and
WHEREAS, energy efficiency strategies are lower in cost and pose less financial risk compared to investment in traditional generation resources; and
WHEREAS, energy efficiency aids in the conservation of water, which resource is vital to a sustainable future; and
WHEREAS, energy efficiency programs have the potential to create local jobs and stimulate the local economy while reducing bills for all customer classes; and
WHEREAS, Council resolutions dating back to 1994 have identified energy efficiency as the first priority for meeting new load growth; and
WHEREAS, the Council-adopted Resource Generation and ClimateProtection Plan to 2020 (the Generation Plan) in April of 2010, set a goal to reduce peak demand by at least 800 megawatts (MW) between 2007 and 2020 and also recommended analyzing the potential to set a goal to reduce peak demand by at least 1,000 MW; and
WHEREAS, an ambitious energy efficiency strategy could reduce Austin Energy’s reliance on the Fayette Power Plant as well as offset generation needs in the event of its closure; and
WHEREAS, the Austin DSM Market Potential Assessment suggests that funding allocated for AE’s energy efficiency programs must increase to meet the current goal of 800 MW of demand reduction by 2020 and would have to increase substantially to meet a more ambitious goal, and external funding opportunities could mitigate these increases; and
WHEREAS, it is important to recognize the additional benefits of energy reduction for all classes of customers in addition to demand-side management; and
WHEREAS, several components of the Generation Plan have not been fully realized, including establishing “a system for the examination and vetting of new energy efficiency ideas and programs submitted by industry experts”; enhancing “existing, and as appropriate,” establishing “new channels for obtaining and evaluating customer and stakeholder proposals for new or modified energy efficiency programs”; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN:
The City Manager is directed to host a one-day Energy Efficiency Stakeholder Process to provide an opportunity for community members to offer recommendations regarding energy efficiency goals and strategies.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
The City Manager shall place a standing item, for a period of one year, on subsequent Resource Management Committee meetings to allow stakeholders and the Commission to receive updates on the progress as well as receive additional public comment.
No Comments