JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING - HYBRID MEETING FORMAT October 26th at 6pm Austin City Hall – Council Chambers 301 W. 2nd Street, Austin, TX 78701 Some members of the Committee may be participating by videoconference Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, call or email Zach Baumer at (zach.baumer@austintexas.gov or 415-694-3111). CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Kaiba White, Chair (Resource Mgmt. Commission) Haris Qureshi (Environmental Commission) Melissa Rothrock (Zero Waste Advisory Commission) Diana Wheeler (Urban Transportation Commission) Fisayo Fadelu (Community Development Commission) Frances Deviney (Austin Travis County Food Policy Board) Vacant - (Water & Wastewater Commission) Kelsey Hitchingham - (Economic Prosperity Commission) Richard DePalma - (Parks & Recreation Board) David Carroll (Design Commission) Alberta Phillips (City Council) Karen Hadden (Electric Utility Commission) Robert Schneider (Planning Commission) For more information, please visit: www.austintexas.gov/jsc AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 10 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee on June 2. Approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee on August 22nd, 2022. 24th, 2022. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. 2023 meeting schedule 4. Austin Transportation Department Implementation of the Climate Equity Plan – Austin Transportation Department (Discussion and/or possible action) 5. Austin Energy Residential Rates and Value of Solar Tariff (Discussion and/or possible action) a. Resolution on Residential Rates b. Resolution on Value of Solar Tariff 6. Update on Austin Climate Equity Plan Implementation –Zach Baumer, Office of Sustainability (Discussion and/or possible action) 7. Resolution on Texas Gas Service Conservation Programs from Resource Management Commission (No. 20220816-005) (Discussion and/or possible action) 8. Commission members report back on any relevant discussions from their respective boards and commissions – (Discussion and/or possible action) FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with …
JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES Item 1 JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MEETING MINUTES June 22, 2022 The Joint Sustainability Committee convened in a regular hybrid meeting on June 22, 2022 via videoconferencing and at City Hall, Council Chambers, 301 West 2nd Street, Austin, Texas Chair Kaiba White called the Board Meeting to order at 6:10 pm. Board Members in Attendance: Diana Wheeler Vice Chair, Richard DePalma, David Carroll Board Members in Attendance Remotely: Kaiba White Chair, Melissa Rothrock, Karen Hadden, Alexis Taylor, Frances Deviney, Fisayo Fadelu, Haris Qureshi Board Members Absent: Alberta Phillips, Christy Williams, Solveij Rosa Praxis City Staff in Attendance: Phoebe Romero PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL • Carlos Soto – Community Advancement Network o Provided overview of the community work at CAN, and opportunities for collaboration 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a) May 25th, 2022, meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee • Motion to approve (Commissioner DePalma), second (Commissioner Carroll). Record of the vote: 10 approved, 0 opposed, 0 abstained. JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 2. NEW BUSINESS and/or possible action) a) Rain to River Presentation –Andrea Bates, Watershed Protection Department (Discussion • Rain to River is a strategic plan to protect Austin’s creek and communities • Presentation provided insights on goals and metrics, community engagement phases, and projected timeline impacted groups, etc. • Overview of priority stakeholders, including historically underrepresented groups, • To get involved, community members can take the Community Vision Survey, which includes a mapping component b) Zero Waste and Circular Economy Presentation – Ken Snipes, Austin Resource Recovery (Discussion and/or possible action) • Provided presentation on current work that relates back to Food and Product Consumption goals in the Austin Climate Equity Plan • Will be developing a per capita waste diversion rate goal, and working on Circular Cities initiative to work with departments on transforming operations and procurement to a circular economy model; expanding new program offerings and promoting existing programs; trying out on-call bulk pickup program • Discussed difficulty with electrifying fleet to meet route distances needed due to limited waste transfer facilities c) Austin Regional Food Plan Presentation– Amanda Rohlich, Office of Sustainability (Discussion and/or possible action) • Overview of what constitutes a food system and disparities in food insecurity • Collaborating with HSEM to have an emergency operations plan • Food plan can comprehensively develop goals and strategies to address aspects of food system; created in response to a 2021 Council …
Item 1 JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MEETING MINUTES August 24, 2022 The Joint Sustainability Committee convened in a hybrid meeting on August 24, 2022 via videoconferencing and at City Hall, Council Chambers, 301 West 2nd Street, Austin, Texas Vice Chair Diana Wheeler called the Board Meeting to order at 6:32 pm. Board Members in Attendance: Kaiba White, Diana Wheeler, Richard DePalma, David Carroll, Melissa Rothrock, Fisayo Fedulu, Haris Qureshi, Karen Hadden, Alberta Phillips, Solveij Rosa Praxis, Frances Deviney Board Members Absent: none City Staff in Attendance: Zach Baumer, Phillip Duran CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION The speakers who registered in advance for public comment have three minutes each to address items on the agenda at this time. • None 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a) Austin 24th, 2022, meeting of the Joint Sustainability Committee • Postponed due to rules of order. 2. NEW BUSINESS a) Austin Water Implementation of the Climate Equity Plan – Sherri Kuhl, Kevin Critendon, Heather Dalrymple, Kevin Kluge, Marisa Flores Gonzalez Austin Water • A presentation overview of Austin Water’s services and their role in Austin Climate Equity Plan implementation to meet water demand goal (152,000 acre-feet by 2030) • Near-term goals from Water Forward plan are in implementation phase • Updating Water Forward 2024 Equity Initiatives • Increasing access to Water Conservation Program through added language access and focus on underserved areas. Also increasing equitable access to all programs by reducing barriers of use (e.g. instant savings pilot program) • Commissioners questions to be submitted via email in the interest of time b) Resilient Austin – Laura Patiño, Chief Resilience Officer • An overview presentation on resilience in Austin • Resilience is referenced in existing City plans and efforts • Resilience is systems thinking that looks at elements before, during and after major events • Resilience across multiple scales: people, communities, City, Region • Pilot program of six Resilience Hubs to be established by the end of CY 2022. Physical place of refuge (heating/cooling, food, water), services, programming, and information available • Qureshi: Will there be medical services provided at the Resilience Hubs? • Patiño: Main focus for the 6 pilot sites is disaster preparedness. This work must complement HSEM efforts. What services will be provided is under consideration • DePalma: When will the cross departmental plan alignment assessment with resilience efforts be available? Who will be performing that work? • Patiño: Work is underway, …
JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE 2023 PROPOSED MEETING SCHEDULE 1. January 25 2. February 22 3. March 29 4. April 26 5. May 31 6. June 28 7. July 26 8. August 30 9. September 27 10. October 25 11. November 29 12. December 13
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Joint Sustainability Committee Resolution on Austin Energy Residential Rates WHEREAS, it is the purpose of the Joint Sustainability Committee to “advise the council on matters related to conservation and sustainability”; and WHEREAS, the Austin Energy Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan to 2030 and the Austin Climate Equity plan, both adopted by Council, include goals for increasing energy efficiency in buildings in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollution, improve resilience, and keep bills affordable; and WHEREAS, Austin has been a leader in energy efficiency since the 1970s; and WHEREAS, Austin Energy has the lowest average Residential electricity consumption of any large utility in ERCOT, which also allows it to have one of the lowest average Residential bills of any utility in ERCOT; and WHEREAS, proposed changes to Austin Energy’s Residential electric rate structure threaten further progress in energy efficiency by dramatically removing price signals to conserve; and WHEREAS, since low‐income utility customers generally use less energy than average customers, changing Austin’s progressive electric Residential rate structure that discourages consumption will make bills more burdensome to the lower and moderate income residents; and WHEREAS, Austin Energy has made a proposal in its current rate case to completely replace the current progressive rate structure with one that rewards more consumption; and WHEREAS, Austin Energy’s current $10 per month Customer Charge is on par with other Texas municipal utilities and the proposed $25 per month Customer Charge would be an outlier compared to other Texas municipal utilities; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Joint Sustainability Committee of the City of Austin advise City Council to retain Austin Energy’s current progressive rate structure and Customer Charge; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if any rate increases are enacted, they be levied as a proportional increase to the utility’s current monthly base cost and tiers in its current rate structure.
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Joint Sustainability Committee Resolution on Value of Solar Tariff October 26, 2022 WHEREAS, it is the purpose of the Joint Sustainability Committee to “advise the council on matters related to conservation and sustainability”; and WHEREAS, the Austin Energy Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan to 2030 and the Austin Climate Equity plan, both adopted by Council, include goals for increasing the use of local customer‐sited solar energy in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollution, improve resilience, and keep bills affordable; and WHEREAS, the Value of Solar tariff is essential for facilitating the continued use of local customer‐site solar energy; and WHEREAS, it is important for the Value of Solar tariff to accurately compensate customers with on‐site solar energy for the energy they produce, and to provide a rate that isn’t too volatile, in order to attract investment in customer‐sited solar; and WHEREAS, if a portion of the Value of Solar fee is paid for by the Energy Efficiency fee instead of the Power Supply Adjustment fee, then some customers will be exempted from their fair share of the costs since they are exempted from the Energy Efficiency fee; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Joint Sustainability Committee recommends that the Austin City Council do the following when adopting the updated Value of Solar tariff as part of Austin Energy’s base rate package: 1. Continue to collect all Value of Solar tariff costs through the Power Supply Adjustment fee; 2. Base the avoided costs of the Value of Solar rate on a rolling five‐year average; and 3. Direct Austin Energy to hire a qualified third party, with experience in calculating the value of local distributed solar energy, to: A) facilitate a collaborative stakeholder process and analysis to identify and incorporate avoided and incurred costs that may not be currently captured in the proposed methodology; and B) develop a standard offer program for community solar.
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Resource Management Commission Recommendation No. 20220816-005 Resolution on Texas Gas Service Conservation Programs Whereas, the City of Austin has mandated that Texas Gas Service (TGS) conduct energy conservation programs since 1985; and Whereas, the Austin City Council adopted the Austin Climate Equity Plan on September 30, 2021, which strengthens the city’s climate goal to “net zero carbon by 2040” and includes a focus area of Sustainable Buildings with goal that by 2030, “All new buildings are net-zero carbon, emissions from existing buildings are reduced by 25%, and all natural gas-related emissions are reduced by 30%; and Whereas, the TGS energy conservation programs are also expected to help achieve the goals of the Climate Equity Plan; and Whereas, the Resource Management Commission is charged with providing feedback and recommendations regarding gas conservation efforts and to support the goals of the Austin Climate Equity Plan; and Whereas, the Resource Management Commission passed a resolution on June 20, 2017 that put a focus on reducing actual use of natural gas on site, calling for “at least 4.5% site natural gas savings” over 5 years, starting in 2018; and Whereas, incentives to install natural gas appliances in situations where there isn’t already an existing natural gas appliance, such as for new construction or replacing an electric appliance with a natural gas appliance, increase, instead of decrease, actual use of natural gas on site; and Whereas, Texas Gas has continued using a large portion of its energy conservation budget to provide incentives to install natural gas appliance where none previously existed, thus increasing use of on-site natural gas; Whereas, research by the Rocky Mountain Institute and other organizations shows that gas stoves are a large source of toxic air pollution that can make indoor air more polluted than outdoor air and that low- income households are most likely to suffer from this harmful pollution; and Whereas, incentives that increase the use of natural gas appliances are not compatible with the Austin Climate Equity Plan or public health; and Whereas, on January 24, 2022, the Resource Management Commission passed a resolution that recommended against CenterPoint Energy incentives for natural gas appliances in new construction, as well as incentives for central furnaces and water heaters; and Whereas, the TGS conservation program tariff that governs the program was adopted in December 2021 and is on a 3-year cycle, ending December of 2024. However, Austin City Council …
Transportation & the Climate Equity Plan Joint Sustainability Committee October 26, 2022 Cole Kitten, Division Manager, Austin Transportation Department Outline • List of transportation activities in the Climate Equity Plan • ASMP & the Climate Equity Plan • Status update on transportation activities Transportation & the Climate Equity Plan Transportation & Land Use Goal 1: 80% of new non-residential development is located within the city’s activity centers by 2030. • Strategy 2: Work with employers on location and amenities • Strategy 3: Create mobility hubs Goal 3: By 2030, 50% of trips in Austin are made using public transit, biking, walking, carpooling, or avoided altogether by working from home. • Strategy 1: Expand and improve public transportation • Strategy 2: Promote free transportation options • Strategy 3: Enhance transit stations and stops • Strategy 4: Prioritize bicycle networks • Strategy 5: Enhance bicycle education and training • Strategy 6: Improve sidewalks, urban trails, and crossings 3 Transportation & the Climate Equity Plan Transportation Electrification Goal 1: By 2030, 40% of total vehicle miles traveled in Austin are electrified, and EV ownership is culturally, geographically, and economically diverse. • Strategy 4: Launch an e-bike and electric car-sharing program 4 Austin Strategic Mobility Plan (ASMP) & the Climate Equity Plan • Two plans with common goals: • Mode Shift • Equity 5 Austin Strategic Mobility Plan (ASMP) & the Climate Equity Plan • The strategies across the two plans are circularly referenced and supportive of each plan’s goals. 6 Transportation & Land Use Goal 1: 80% of new non-residential development is located within the city’s activity centers by 2030. • Strategy 2: Work with employers on location and amenities • Work with medium and large employers to locate their places of business in growth centers and along corridors. What's been done so far? ATD partners with Movability, Central Texas’ transportation management association, to expand commute resources and educational programming regionally. Movability collects regional transportation demand management data, creates regional partnerships, and supports ATD in expanding transportation demand management initiatives. The current budget for this is $550,000. Movability works with employers, both established and those who are relocating, to help them build, implement, and boost engagement in commute programs that reduce drive-alone commutes among employees. They also work with public leaders and mobility service providers to communicate and collaborate across groups about hurdles, policies, and opportunities that can be addressed to help more …
Austin Climate Equity Plan | JSC Update September 28, 2022 1 Plan Implementation Updates ● Net Zero Section in the FY23 Budget proposal (pages 138-143) https://assets.austintexas.gov/budget/22-23/downloads/FY23_Proposed_Budge t.pdf ● 2nd quarterly briefing of the year just occurred yesterday ○ June - Overview of OOS approach and general implementation ○ September - Transportation Electrification ○ January - Sustainable Buildings ● Implementation Dashboard is live ● The 2nd Community Climate Ambassadors Cohort launched in August ● Starting this Fall, a new Climate Equity Plan Community Task Force, focused on measuring equity in implementation 2 3 Implementation Dashboard What’s in the dashboard now? Progress toward the Net-Zero by 2040 target ● ● Summary of efforts around the Overarching Strategies ● Work status snapshots for the 74 Strategies ● Coming next: metrics on the 17 quantitative goals 4 Implementation Dashboard ● Over 100 updates from internal and external partners on their work to implement the Plan ● About 70% of strategies are already Underway or Starting Soon ● ● This work will serve as a launchpad to focus next steps with partners The public can read all of this info and more live on the Dashboard now Climate Ambassadors! 6 Ambassador Highlights ● We have 9 ambassadors signed on ● They’ve gone through an Equity training and a Civic engagement workshop ● They’ve identified strategies from the Climate Equity Plan and have started working on Community Action Projects that relate to those strategies ● October’s ambassador meeting will include City staff and community partners to find areas to collaborate or provide guidance 7 Community Action Projects (by Section) Sustainable Buildings Transportation & Land Use Natural Systems Working with community orgs to conduct more accessible outreach around preparing for changing climate Conducting outreach in order to create recommendations for how to improve existing and planned transit stops Enhancing community engagement around affordable housing by surveying renters, first-time homebuyers, and folks living in co-ops Holding an event to offer youth a guided experience in nature that delves into their perceptions of green spaces and gentrification 8 Community Task Force - Project Concept 9 Where we’ve been Steering Committee for the plan, 2 years of work, Community Ownership Model Adoption of the plan supported by Staff, Community, Council in alignment Added 5 new members to the JSC for content / equity coverage Interest in creating a “working group” of the JSC, lack of focus, no dedicated support from …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Joint Sustainability Commission Recommendation No 20221026-7 Resolution on Texas Gas Service Conservation Programs Whereas, the City of Austin has mandated that Texas Gas Service (TGS) conduct energy conservation programs since 1985; and Whereas, the Austin City Council adopted the Austin Climate Equity Plan on September 30, 2021, which strengthens the city’s climate goal to “net zero carbon by 2040” and includes a focus area of Sustainable Buildings with goal that by 2030, “All new buildings are net-zero carbon, emissions from existing buildings are reduced by 25%, and all natural gas-related emissions are reduced by 30%; and Whereas, the TGS energy conservation programs are also expected to help achieve the goals of the Climate Equity Plan; and Whereas, the Joint Sustainability Commission is charged with providing feedback and recommendations regarding gas conservation efforts and to support the goals of the Austin Climate Equity Plan; and Whereas, the Resource Management Commission passed a resolution on June 20, 2017 that put a focus on reducing actual use of natural gas on site, calling for “at least 4.5% site natural gas savings” over 5 years, starting in 2018; and Whereas, incentives to install natural gas appliances in situations where there isn’t already an existing natural gas appliance, such as for new construction or replacing an electric appliance with a natural gas appliance, increase, instead of decrease, actual use of natural gas on site; and Whereas, Texas Gas has continued using a large portion of its energy conservation budget to provide incentives to install natural gas appliance where none previously existed, thus increasing use of on-site natural gas; Whereas, research by the Rocky Mountain Institute and other organizations shows that gas stoves are a large source of toxic air pollution that can make indoor air more polluted than outdoor air and that lowincome households are most likely to suffer from this harmful pollution; and Whereas, incentives that increase the use of natural gas appliances are not compatible with the Austin Climate Equity Plan or public health; and Whereas, on January 24, 2022, the Resource Management Commission passed a resolution that recommended against CenterPoint Energy incentives for natural gas appliances in new construction, as well as incentives for central furnaces and water heaters; and Whereas, the TGS conservation program tariff that governs the program was adopted in December 2021 and is on a 3-year cycle, ending December of 2024. However, Austin City Council may …
Independent Consumer Advocate (ICA)- John B. Coffman The City of Austin utility rate-making procedure for Austin Energy rate cases provides for an ICA to represent residential and small business interests. ICA Technical Team: Clarence Johnson, David Effron Utility Rate-making Steps The ICA Examined the following Rate Case Issues: 1. Revenue Requirement (Overall Increase) 2. Allocation of Cost to Customer Classes 3. Spreading Increase to Customer Classes 4. Residential Rate Design 1. Overall Rate Increase • Independent Hearing Examiner (IHE) Proposal • AE Revised Revenue Increase Proposal is currently $35.7 Million Overall • $43 Million to Residential Class $31 Million $6.5 Million • ICA Recommended Revenue Increase 2 & 3: Allocation of Costs and Distribution of Cost to Various Customer Classes • AE and the IHE recommend a rate design that puts more cost onto residential and small business consumers • ICA Proposed Class Allocation More Favorable to Residential Customers • Large Commercial Customers proposes a much worse allocation for Residential Customers 4. Residential Rate Design Current: $10 fixed customer charge with 5 Tier inclining usage Rates AE Proposed: $25 fixed customer charge (150% increase) with 3 Tiers and stated intent to flatten inclining usage rates. ICA Proposed: Keep charge at $10, or increase it no more than the overall increase percentage, with 4 tiers. Fixed Customer Charge • ICA Opposes AE’s 150% increase in customer charge as excessive and regressive. AE’s current $10.00 customer charge is not unreasonable compared to Texas PUC average allowed customer charge of $7.44. • AE’s current $10.00 customer charge is approximately the same as the other two large municipal electric utilities in Texas (San Antonio and Lubbock). • High customer charges are detrimental to low usage customers and reduce the ability of customers to control their bills. • High customer charges inhibit energy efficiency because charges are incurred without regard to usage. Comparison of AE v. ICA rate design impacts for Residential customers at varying usage levels kWh Increase Percent Increase Percent ICA-Proposed Rate Design 375 $ 0.59 625 $ 1.24 875 $ 2.30 1,625 $ 0.88 3,250 $ 4.34 Average Usage AE Rate Design IHE Rev 1.56% 17.71 2.07% 16.73 2.67% $ 11.95 0.49% (14.4) 1.04% (105.1) 46.9% 27.9% 18.9% -8.1% -25.3%
