REGULAR MEETING OF THE JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE WEDNESDAY, July 22th, 2026, AT 6 PM CITY HALL, COUNCIL CHAMBERS 301 W 2ND ST AUSTIN, TEXAS 78701 Some members of the Joint Sustainability Committee may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live 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 remotely, contact Amanda Mortl (amanda.mortl@austintexas.gov or 512-974-2651). telephone. To to speak register CURRENT JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE MEMBERS Home Commission Member Alternate Electric Utility Commission Kaiba White (Chair) Al Braden Resource Management Commission Charlotte Davis (Vice-Chair) GeNell Gary Urban Transportation Commission Varun Prasad Justin Jacobson Environmental Commission Haris Qureshi Zero Waste Advisory Commission Iris Suddaby Community Development Commission Vacant Vacant Vacant Vacant Austin Travis County Food Policy Board Andrew Smith Marissa Bell Economic Prosperity Commission Aaron Gonzales Zain Pleuthner Water & Wastewater Commission Chris Maxwell-Gaines Amanda Marzullo Parks & Recreation Board Luai Abou-Emara Shelby Orme Jon Salinas Josh Hiller Evgenia Murkes Peter Breton Chris Crookham Vacant Design Commission Planning Commission Austin/Travis County Public Health Commission City Council Mayor’s Representative Mayor’s Representative Vacant Rodrigo Leal Anna Scott Mayor’s Representative Mridula Madipakkam Mayor’s Representative Christopher Campbell Mayor’s Representative Diana Wheeler CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL AGENDA Vacant N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 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 Joint Sustainability Committee Special Called Meeting on June 25th, 2026. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing regarding Rain to River. Presentation by Erin Wood, Environmental Conservation Program Manager, Austin Watershed Protection DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. 4. Presentation by Bobby Levinski, Senior Staff Attorney for Save Our Springs Alliance regarding impacts of data centers. Discussion of policies regarding data centers. STAFF BRIEFINGS 5. Staff briefing regarding proposed Austin Climate Action and Resilience budget for fiscal year 2027. Presentation by Braden Latham-Jones, Climate Program Manager, Austin Climate Action and Resilience DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 6. 7. 8. Approve a recommendation to Council regarding Austin Climate Action and Resilience budget for fiscal year 2027. Approve a …
Rain to River: Austin Watershed Protection Strategic Plan Joint Sustainability Committee Austin Watershed Protection | July 22, 2026 What is Rain to River? Austin Watershed Protection’s Strategic Plan to Protect Austin’s Creeks and Communities Guiding Blueprint for Department Communication Resource – Establishes our mission, – Helps explain our vision, and values – Sets strategies and direction for the next 10 years work and priorities to staff, policymakers, and the community Note: Rain to River will update and replace the current Watershed Protection Strategic Plan 2 Guiding Principles for the Plan • • • • • • Center the needs of vulnerable populations Engage the community through clear and open communication Align our aspirations with community priorities Strengthen partnerships for greater impact Empower our leaders to advocate for our mission Create a dynamic and inclusive framework 3 Plan Highlights • Our mission remains unchanged to reduce the impacts of flooding, erosion, and water pollution • Reflects how we will strengthen and adapt our work to center community and build resilience • Expands our focus to include community voices, lived experience, and shared stewardship as essential components of our infrastructure • Holistic and proactive approach that balances immediate needs with our long-term vision • Equity not as a one-time initiative, but as an ongoing practice rooted in accountability and trust 4 Our Challenges • Climate change is driving more extreme weather, including more intense storms and prolonged drought • Historic inequities have left some neighborhoods more exposed to flooding and degraded waterways • Urbanization and development add pressure to our natural environment and infrastructure • Housing costs are driving displacement of residents and an increase in people experiencing homelessness 5 Community Engagement • Robust and inclusive process that spanned multiple years • We identified stakeholder groups that have been historically underrepresented in our past planning efforts and worked to engage with them more directly • We partnered with local organizations, community ambassadors, and advocacy groups to reach residents in every district • Engagement took many forms—surveys, interviews, focus groups, neighborhood meetings, and community events 6 Community Activation Group The Community Activation Group (CAG) helped shape the content of the plan and ensured that the diverse voices of our community are integral to the Rain to River planning process and Austin Watershed Protection’s work. • Diverse community leaders with expertise in the environment, community health, and disaster preparedness and recovery • Helped shape …
Joint Sustainability Committee Recommendation on Austin Climate Action and Resilience Budget 20260722-006 Date: July 22, 2026 Subject: 2027 Budget Recommendation on Austin Climate Action and Resilience FY Motioned By: Seconded By: Recommendation Recommendation to retain $75,000 Food and Climate Equity (FACE) Grants as part of the Austin Climate Action and Resilience budget for FY 2027 Description of Recommendation to Council The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends that the City Council keep $75,000 Food and Climate Equity Grants as part of the Austin Climate Action and Resilience budget for FY 2027. Rationale: “The Food and Climate Equity (FACE) Grant program supports a more just and resilient Austin by providing direct funding for community-led solutions that enable transformative change in the areas of food, climate, and resilience. The program aims to uplift the experience of those most impacted by systemic and structural inequities, eliminate disparities in health outcomes, and improve quality of life for all.” FACE grants are up to $3,000 to support community organizations that represent and/or serve racially and economically diverse Austinites and have unique insight into their communities' needs. In 2024, $150,000 was allocated to FACE grants, providing funding for 50 different community projects. Projects included food delivery services to a variety of vulnerable populations, support for community gardens, nutrition education programs and more. The program leverages significant community capital in the form of volunteer hours. The program has since been cut to $75,000, but is still making a meaningful impact and should be maintained at that level for FY 2027. Vote For: Against: Abstain: Absent: Attest: [Staff or board member can sign]
Joint Sustainability Committee Recommendation on Austin Energy Rates 20260722-007 Date: July 22, 2026 Subject: Recommendation on Austin Energy Rates Motioned By: Seconded By: Recommendation Recommendation to delay any Austin Energy rate increase until after a rate case process that includes a consumer advocate and full opportunity for customers to formally engage in the process. Description of Recommendation to Council The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends that the City Council refrain from increasing Austin Energy rates until after a rate case process, similar to the process implemented in 2016 and 2022. The Austin City Council should begin the public portion of Austin Energy’s rate case process in 2027 to better keep Austin Energy budgets aligned with costs, while ensuring that rates are justified for all customer classes and that rate design aligns with established policy priorities. In preparation, the Austin City Council should ensure that Austin Energy conducts an assessment of its costs and revenues. The City Council should direct the City Manager to initiate the process of hiring a consumer advocate to represent residential customers in the rate case and should initiate the hiring of an independent hearing examiner to preside over the rate case in 2027, with the goal of approving new rates in 2027 that are fair for all customers. Rationale: Following a challenge of Austin Energy rates to the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) in 2012, the City Council established a process for evaluating proposed rate changes that is similar in many ways to the process used by the PUCT. The purpose of utilizing this rate case process is to ensure that rate increases are justified, demonstrate that Austin Energy is operating with sufficient oversight and in the best interests of customers, and better ensure that rates will hold up to scrutiny by the PUCT and state lawmakers. Austin Energy has requested and received base rate increases outside of the established rate case process, has now requested another 5% increase and has stated that it plans to request 5% increases for the coming four years. These significant rate increases each year are a threat to affordability. It is also possible that any rate increase that is needed is being caused more by one customer class than another, which would make the 5% increase applied to all customer classes unfair. The appropriate amount for the monthly Customer Charge for residential customers, the break points for the residential rate …
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Joint Sustainability Committee Recommendation 20260722-006: Recommendation on Austin Climate Action and Resilience FY 2027 Budget Date: July 22, 2026 Recommendation Recommendation to retain $75,000 Food and Climate Equity (FACE) Grants as part of the Austin Climate Action and Resilience budget for FY 2027 Description of Recommendation to Council The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends that the City Council keep $75,000 Food and Climate Equity Grants as part of the Austin Climate Action and Resilience budget for FY 2027. Rationale: “The Food and Climate Equity (FACE) Grant program supports a more just and resilient Austin by providing direct funding for community-led solutions that enable transformative change in the areas of food, climate, and resilience. The program aims to uplift the experience of those most impacted by systemic and structural inequities, eliminate disparities in health outcomes, and improve quality of life for all.” FACE grants are up to $3,000 to support community organizations that represent and/or serve racially and economically diverse Austinites and have unique insight into their communities' needs. In 2024, $150,000 was allocated to FACE grants, providing funding for 50 different community projects. Projects included food delivery services to a variety of vulnerable populations, support for community gardens, nutrition education programs and more. The program leverages significant community capital in the form of volunteer hours. The program has since been cut to $75,000, but is still making a meaningful impact and should be maintained at that level for FY 2027. Date of approval: July 22, 2026 Motioned By: Kaiba White Vote: 10-0 Seconded By: Haris Qureshi For: Diana Wheeler, Charlotte Davis, Aaron Gonzales, Rodrigo Leal, Mridula Madipakkam, Haris Qureshi, Jon Salinas, Anna Scott, Iris Suddaby, Kaiba White Against: None Abstain: None Recuse: None Off the Dais: None Absent: Josh Hiller, Varun Prasad, Lane Becker, Chris Campbell, Chris Crookham, Chris Maxwell- Gaines, Melody McClary, Luai Abou-Emara Attest: Amanda Mortl, Staff Liaison
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Joint Sustainability Committee Recommendation 20260722-007: Recommendation on Austin Energy Rates Recommendation Recommendation to delay any Austin Energy rate increase until after a rate case process that includes a consumer advocate and full opportunity for customers to formally engage in the process. Description of Recommendation to Council The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends that the City Council refrain from increasing Austin Energy rates until after a rate case process, similar to the process implemented in 2016 and 2022. The Austin City Council should begin the public portion of Austin Energy’s rate case process in 2027 to better keep Austin Energy budgets aligned with costs, while ensuring that rates are justified for all customer classes and that rate design aligns with established policy priorities. In preparation, the Austin City Council should ensure that Austin Energy conducts an assessment of its costs and revenues. The City Council should direct the City Manager to initiate the process of hiring a consumer advocate to represent residential customers in the rate case and should initiate the hiring of an independent hearing examiner to preside over the rate case in 2027, with the goal of approving new rates in 2027 that are fair for all customers. Rationale: Following a challenge of Austin Energy rates to the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) in 2012, the City Council established a process for evaluating proposed rate changes that is similar in many ways to the process used by the PUCT. The purpose of utilizing this rate case process is to ensure that rate increases are justified, demonstrate that Austin Energy is operating with sufficient oversight and in the best interests of customers, and better ensure that rates will hold up to scrutiny by the PUCT and state lawmakers. Austin Energy has requested and received base rate increases outside of the established rate case process, has now requested another 5% increase and has stated that it plans to request 5% increases for the coming four years. These significant rate increases each year are a threat to affordability. It is also possible that any rate increase that is needed is being caused more by one customer class than another, which would make the 5% increase applied to all customer classes unfair. The appropriate amount for the monthly Customer Charge for residential customers, the break points for the residential rate tiers, and the price differentiation between the residential rate tires …
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Joint Sustainability Committee Recommendation 20260722-008: Recommendation on Dog’s Head Development Date: July 22, 2026 Recommendation: WHEREAS, the Joint Sustainability Committee (JSC) has been commissioned to advise City Council on matters related to conservation and sustainability; and WHEREAS, energy use, water consumption, water quality, and potential pollutants are pillars of concern for the Committee, and public trust and transparency are of the utmost importance; and WHEREAS, the proposed tenant of the Dog's Head site, Amazon Robotics, presents several risks to the surrounding environment through massive lithium-ion battery arrays that power the robots, creating fire, explosion, and toxic runoff hazards, and lithium-ion batteries can emit toxic chemicals such as hydrogen cyanide and carbon monoxide; and energy consumption at similar Amazon Robotics sites has required 9.5 megawatts of power to operate the facility; and WHEREAS, the JSC recognizes and seeks to call attention to, and to reduce, the harms that could be inflicted upon this property, the surrounding environmental area, and the East Austin community where it resides, and is emphatic that historical harms must not be continued through this project; and WHEREAS, the JSC acknowledges that adjacent landowners and neighborhood associations were not made aware of the annexation until after the fact, breaking with the healthy, expected, and necessary processes valued and codified by the City; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin has not conducted an Environmental Assessment Study, an Environmental Resource Inventory, or a Tree Survey, nor worked with the State to assess existing pollutants on the property; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin is recommending expanded access to the Dog's Head site via at least three bridges across the Colorado River as part of the infrastructure package, yet has not conducted an Environmental Assessment or Impact Study; and WHEREAS, the JSC recognizes that this project falls within the Blackland Prairie ecoregion, and that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department states that less than 1% of this ecoregion remains in Texas; and WHEREAS, the JSC acknowledges that the project site is habitat for hundreds of species of migratory and resident birds, drawing birders from around the world each year who contribute millions of dollars to the regional economy; and WHEREAS, the JSC understands that the project encompasses alluvial aquifers that store and filter water along the river, providing drinking water for Austin's Colony, Manor, Travis County, downstream counties such as Bastrop, as well as for livestock and wildlife; …
Unsustainable Demands of Data Centers PRESENTATION TO JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE JULY 22, 2026 Bobby Levinski, Senior Staff Attorney Source: National Renewable Energy Laboratory ERCOT Queue. 480 Projects Competing for Power by 2032. Local Impacts to Energy Rates Data Centers Strain on Austin Energy • Austin Energy: “An AI data center could be built in as little as 18 months for the same amount of load as a high density mixed use development covering thousands of acres that may take 20-25 years to fully build out.” • Transmission and Distribution Costs • Ratepayers responsible for covering the costs of building and maintaining substations, transmission lines, and distribution networks • Costs are passed on to ratepayers as delivery charges; esp. if substantial upgrades required. • New power generation? See eg. Peaker Plant Discussion. • Market competition for power purchase agreements. • Stranded costs - what happens if AE ramps up then data center vacates? State Impacts Data Centers Strain on Texas Rates • At state level, Texas will need more transmission infrastructure to serve the new large energy loads.~ $33 billion • Austin Energy will pay a larger share of statewide transmission costs as its total load grows. • Power costs will rise if demand grows faster than transmission, batteries, and generation. • Need for rate class protection to prevent the transfer of these costs onto residential and small businesses Water Demands Data Centers Are NOT in State Water Planning • 2030 Forecast: State already at a 1.6 Trillion Gallon deficit to meet water demands (Source: 2022 TWDB State Water Plan) • False Comparison • Data Centers do NOT replace residential water demands • Water demands are largely based on anticipated population growth • Data Centers represent unmet demands in state / regional plans • Water is a finite resource Direct vs. Indirect Water Demands Water-Energy Nexus. • Basic truth: every unit of electrical energy flowing to a data is coverted to heat; which must be removed • Reducing direct water usage generally increases energy demand • Air cooling = low direct water, more energy (indirect water demand) • Water cooling = high direct water, less energy • Non-water cooling technologies available = higher operational and capital costs • Other than wind and solar, most power generation is water intensive Climate Reality in Texas. Wrong location for Data Center Epicenter? • Non-curtailable uses • Require Constant Cooling • Claim to be “Critical …
