12 Jun Austin’s Energy Plan: Taskforce Nears Conclusions

Austin's Task Force on the electrical generation plan has been working non-stop since April – wading through reams of information and reports on every aspect of Austin Energy operations. Their goal: offer sound and actionable recommendations to City Council on Austin Energy's new electric generation plan for the next decade.

As they began their work, Council adopted an updated Climate Protection Plan 2050 that takes Austin – community wide – to carbon neutrality by 2050. It provides a contemporary update to the 2007 Climate Protection Plan and establishes Austin as a leader in reducing greenhouse gas driven global warming.

Yesterday's meeting included a detailed review of greenhouse gas emissions, re-licensing of the South Texas Nuclear Project, quarterly financial data for Austin Energy and an energetic conversation on Austin Energy's revised Green Choice Program. With two meetings left to go, Chairman Michael Osborne and the task force began to formulate their visions of the final recommendations to Council.

Michael Osborne makes a strong point about more accurate ways to model real time moves in the ERCOT wholesale electric market and how that could be applied to Austin Energy's forecasting. A great deal of discussion followed about how best to achieve accurate market models for the Generation Plan.

The Task Force has two more regularly scheduled meetings – June 18 and June 23 – at City Hall before concluding their hearings. You are welcome to attend and may ask to speak at the Citizen Communication that begins each meeting. Keep up to date on the Task Force web site.

In addition, there is a wealth of information on Austin's electric planning both from Austin Energy and many outside experts in the meetings agendas and supporting documents under the Meeting Documents link on that page.

Keep involved and up to date with the Task Force. They are putting in an amazing amount of thoughtful work to help shape Austin's energy future. Be part of the effort to make Austin a model city for sustainable living.