Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

Page 1 of 3 The Austin Generation Resource Planning Task Force (‘the Task Force’) convened in a meeting at Austin City Hall in Council Chambers, 301 West Second Street, Austin, Texas. The purpose of this meeting was to receive public input regarding Council Resolution No. 20140306-024, which formed the Task Force and set its mission to examine and make recommendations regarding an update to the Generation Plan (to 2024), consistent with meeting or exceeding the goals established in the Generation Plan 2020. CALL TO ORDER – Michael Osborne called the meeting to order at 5:12 p.m. Task Force members in attendance: Carol Biedrzycki, Barry Dreyling, Michael Osborne, Cyrus Reed, Mike Sloan and Michele Van Hyfte. Clay Butler, Grace Hsieh and Tom “Smitty” Smith were absent. CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS - Speakers were each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address the Task Force on matters relating to the Generation Plan update 1. Bob Murray – climate change needs to be the centerpiece of your recommendation; you need a diverse array of storage, demand, and customer-owned facilities that can be directed to grid when needed; there are many opportunities with new technology and new financing mechanisms. 2. Jeff Crunk – wants a generation plan to accelerate the climate protection plan; existing GreenChoice program should not be pegged at one cent above the fuel charge; we must get out of Fayette. 3. Rusty Osborne – show Austin Energy the pathway to leadership; aim for the most aggressive renewables potential that Austin can achieve. 4. Kunda Wicce – more local solar and more energy efficiency; connect the dots to the local economy; this will create more jobs; urged requirements for multi-family properties to meet energy standards; Austin Energy continues punitive taxing of clean energy. 5. Jim Casey – climate change is the worst problem our society faces; shale gas is depleting our water supply; hydraulic fracked gas is worse than coal plants; we are poisoning our water supply. 6. Ruby Roa – increase funding for weatherization for low-income people. 7. Shirley Johnson – help the poor and low-income people with weatherization efforts. 8. Matt Weldon – we should invest in renewables, especially solar; our good economy is in large degree because of our clean energy work; there is risk in not setting big goals; we need policies that stimulate and recognize externalities by costing out bad stuff; even Exxon Mobile had internal carbon pricing. Austin Generation Resource Planning Task Force Meeting Minutes May 29, 2014  Page 2 of 3 9. Tom Mitsch – Austin is 16th in solar generation; encourage inner city rooftop solar; be aggressive in setting goals and PACE programs. 10. David Durbin - against investing in a new gas plant. 11. Josie Valdez – increase the weatherization program; have Austin Energy work with groups like Meals on Wheels. 12. Kaiba White – keep the solar goal recommended by the LSAC; expand local solar development because it benefits the local economy; it could have a $300 million impact on the local economy. 13. Susan Meredith – as one of the weatherization program contractors, we are creating jobs but we are also creating an industry providing whole-house energy efficiency services; it is very cost-effective in early stages; data, marketing and peer pressure will improve participation in the program; micro-loans could be provided for low-income residents. 14. Monica Guzman – in District 4 many have problems paying bills; there is a great need for the low-income weatherization program. 15. Cassandra Coriolan – earth will thank us if we can progressively invest in clean energy sources to help all. 16. Pliny Fisk – made a presentation on creating a Community Integrated District Utility System. 17. Dalia Garza – in District 2 the medium income is $40,000; keep low-income residents in mind; increase the weatherization budget; take the coal plant off line as soon as possible. 18. Lanetta Cooper –set specific goals: 20% of the energy efficiency budget should be directed to low-income customers; establish a 5% administrative cost cap on the weatherization program; require the utility to make quarterly goals and annual goals and report on that; we need to look at economies of scale. 19. Scott Burton – Austin Energy has access to five-cent solar energy and three-cent wind energy; they are selling five-cent solar for a dime; concerned that Task Force recommendations might not be considered in next Council; investing in long term assets can have a lot of price risk for fossil fuels; weigh on in GreenChoice; we shouldn’t pay one cent above the traditional fuel cost; I’m paying more but really just taking one for the team. 20. Raven Pena – continuing to invest in coal and gas negatively impacts the most vulnerable people. 21. Carey Ibrahimbegovic – supports LSAC solar goals long-term; need commitment going forward so low-income and others can benefit, as well as local job creators. 22. Clayton Mathew – solar incentives are very helpful. 23. David Cortez – urgent need to look at the Fayette plant; take a harder look to navigate the debt on the units; supports LSAC goals and not building a new fracked gas plant; surrounded  Page 3 of 3 by poverty in Southeast Austin; we need to look at climate change and equity and look at low-income weatherization as opportunity. 24. Susan Pantell - supports biggest energy efficiency and renewable goals as possible; the issue of governance is very important; maximizing revenues doesn’t always coincide with best decisions; citizens need to continue to have a voice after Task Force is over; more renewables, more storage and more demand response. 25. Al Armendariz – next week the EPA will announce proposed new carbon rules, a serious step to control greenhouse gases from power plants; when it comes to climate change, it’s our problem; Texas emits more carbon dioxide than any other state; Fayette is the sixth largest emitter in state; 8th in NOX emissions and 4th largest source of lead; be visionary; how we move beyond fossil fuels is a practical matter but don't be bound by that; there are benefits of keeping money in Texas and locally through solar and wind energy. 26. Rachel Aitkens – the cost of living here has increased; housing and electricity costs are up; consider water and health in the cost of energy—dirty energy; we are trading low electricity rates for high water or health costs; don’t lock ourselves into new gas plant or the Fayette coal plant. 27. Beki Halpin – require landlords to provide energy efficiency data of units to potential renters; think of way to get that data in the hands of renters. (Mr. Osborne and Ms. Biedrzycki talked about the ECAD ordinance and program.) 28. Richard Halpin – say glimpses and peaks of brilliance in the Task Force members’ presentations yesterday; turn up the game; think big; we can have affordable bills with better quality generation; what if our city, county and employers purchased EV? Ubiquitous charging stations and jobs; that model could be a vision that you could come up with; STNP is dysfunctional; aim for 700 MW of solar; beat San Antonio; we could transform that Fayette plant for clean energy uses; aim to be the world class leader. 29. Kristian Caballero – clean energy needs to be inclusive, not only for people with the means, but for low-income people too; protect the quality of life for everyone. 30. Susan Lippman – very concerned with climate change and the new carbon reality; cited the new report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 31. Ben Kessler - concerned about Austin Energy’s willingness and ability to implement the Task Force’s ideas; write the goals so that Austin Energy cannot bypass them. Task Force members thanked everyone for participating and voicing their opinions and offering ideas. ADJOURNMENT – Mr. Osborne adjourned the meeting at 7:34 p.m. without objection.