4. Comprehensive Climate Implementation Plan - Draft Project List — original pdf

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Comprehensive Climate Implementation Plan Draft Project List GHG Emission Reduction (MT CO2e) JSC - Feb 26, 2025 Two-Year Cost Estimate (NOT FINAL ) SECTION Action Title Action Narrative Type Departments and Partners Co-Benefits Sustainable Buildings Conduct a City facility condition assessment Conduct facility condition assessment to identify aging building systems and assets that need replacement. While Austin Energy and Building Services have been able to complete these assessments, additional staff and funding are required for the remaining departments. Sustainable Buildings Conduct City facility lighting retrofits Replace existing indoor and outdoor lighting with high-efficiency, long-life induction, or LED lighting across all City-owned facilities. This will increase energy efficiency and financial savings. Additional staff and funding are required. Sustainable Buildings Conduct City facility chiller and pump upgrades Sustainable Buildings Expand pay-for-performance demand response programs Sustainable Buildings Implement refrigerant management and leak prevention Sustainable Buildings Develop dashboards and utility monitoring software Install variable-frequency drives on chillers and air handling units on pumps that are currently at a constant speed. This results in energy efficiency and financial savings. Additional staff and funding are required. Expand and automate pay-for-performance demand response programs in residential, commercial, industrial, and transportation sectors. This would incentivize more smart energy technologies (thermostats, electric vehicle smart chargers, home energy management systems, etc.) and encourage consumers to reduce or shift their energy usage during peak demand periods, balancing supply and demand to improve grid reliability. Reduce refrigerant emissions through tracking, leak detection, and equipment upgrades. Track and recover refrigerants to ensure proper disposal. Implement leak detection programs to identify and mitigate emissions. Replace outdated appliances with energy-efficient models that use low-global warming potential refrigerants, and repair equipment where advisable. Develop dashboards powered by energy and water utility monitoring software. This would help identify outliers in energy and water waste, enhance understanding of usage, and make data actionable and visible to decision- makers or those most impacted by the costs. Sustainable Buildings Expand home repair fund for low- moderate income (LMI) households Secure ongoing funding for a City investment fund for critical home repairs, increasing eligibility for LMI households to participate in weatherization, renewable energy upgrades, or electrification programs. Repairs to faulty roofs, ceilings, and walls require funding that is unavailable to most LMI households. Sustainable Buildings Expand weatherization assistance program for low-moderate income households Sustainable Buildings Install utility-scale solar on FM 812 landfill Sustainable Buildings Pilot a "Virtual Power Plant" project Sustainable Buildings Expand incentives and rebates for electrical upgrades Sustainable Buildings Conduct energy audits for commercial buildings Expand Austin Energy's Weatherization Assistance Program for LMI customers for a cost-effective way to reduce electricity demand and improve the affordability of electricity service. Weatherization includes energy efficiency improvements to a home, such as weather stripping, attic insulation, solar screens, duct repair/replacement, smart thermostats, etc. Create a climate "revolving fund" to invest in energy upgrades to City facilities, capture savings, and reinvest funds for additional investment. This structure secures ongoing funding for improvements that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and result in monetary savings. Build a new solar photovoltaic system at the closed FM 812 landfill to produce up to 8 MW of utility-scale solar production. A "Virtual Power Plant" pilot is underway to deploy over 70 distributed energy resources controlled as a single entity by Austin Energy, resulting in 1 MWh of battery energy storage systems across the city. These batteries will be charged during off-peak hours and discharged during on-peak hours, reducing the total electricity load on the grid. Additional funding would expand this program. Expand incentives and rebates for heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, induction stoves, heat pump clothes dryers, and related electrical upgrades. Increase education and outreach efforts to businesses and consumers to boost program participation. Fund energy audits and technical assessments, administered by Austin Energy, for local commercial and multi-family properties to identify improvement opportunities and offer 50% rebates for eligible facilities up to $100,000. Austin Energy will administer these audits every 10 years. Foundational Action Foundational Action Foundational Action $875,000.00 Project Medium $15,000,000 Project Building Services Medium $3,030,000.00 Program Austin Energy Very High $17,134,828.00 Program Medium $249,000.00 Foundational Action Foundational Action Foundational Action $190,000.00 Program Housing Department [lead], Austin Energy Medium $20,000,000.00 Program Austin Energy [lead], Housing Medium $16,000,000.00 Departments that manage facilities: Building Services [lead], APL, PARD, APH, AE, AW, Aviation, Convention Center, etc. Departments that manage facilities: Building Services [lead], APL, PARD, APH, Aviation, AE, AW, Convention Center, etc. Departments that manage facilities: Building Services [lead], APL, PARD, APH, AE, AW, Aviation, Convention Center, etc. Departments that manage facilities: Austin Energy [lead], BSD, APL, PARD, APH, AW, Aviation, Convention Center, etc. Office of Climate Action & Resilience [lead], departments that manage facilities Project Austin Energy [lead], ARR High $24,000,000.00 Project Austin Energy [lead], BSD Low $1,095,000.00 Program Austin Energy [lead], BSD Medium 16 $3,000,000.00 Foundational Action Austin Energy Foundational Action Foundational Action $5,695,000.00 2 3 7 4 23 21 5 3 Sustainable Buildings Create a climate "revolving fund" Foundational Action Foundational Action Foundational Action $2,136,000.00 Comprehensive Climate Implementation Plan Draft Project List JSC - Feb 26, 2025 Sustainable Buildings Implement water leak detection and reduction efforts Program Austin Water Low $62,580,500.00 Sustainable Buildings Create Passive House incentives Program Austin Energy [lead], Housing Medium $2,400,000.00 Sustainable Buildings Install rooftop solar on City facilities Project Building Services [lead], Austin Energy, DSD Sustainable Buildings Revise the Green Building Policy Transportation & Land Use Build new bikeways Transportation & Land Use Construct new urban trails Transportation & Land Use Build new and fix existing sidewalks Transportation & Land Use Expand CapMetro Bikeshare Transportation & Land Use Expand transportation demand management programming Transportation & Land Use Establish mobility hubs Transportation & Land Use Increase pedestrian safety Transportation & Land Use Design and construct enhancements to local transit Implement the recommendations from the "Austin Water: Water Loss Program Review, Analysis, and Optimization" report to address the 8.678 billion gallons lost by Austin Water in 2023, equal to 21.68 gallons per capita per day. Create a program that provides monetary incentives to Austin affordable housing projects certified as "Passive House" buildings. This initiative will reduce energy costs for providers while fostering a market shift, helping local design and construction teams build more energy-efficient buildings. Install rooftop solar on City facilities owned by the General Fund, using up to 75% of roof space on 113 buildings (approximately 1 million sq ft). The project will generate about 10 MW and produce 12,000 MWh annually and could scale to include non-General Fund facilities, ground surfaces, parking canopies, etc. Update the Green Building Policy for capital improvement and third-party financed and/or delivered projects to align City facilities with Austin's Climate Equity Plan and broader climate goals. This will help reduce energy consumption, lower carbon emissions, and promote equitable access to sustainable infrastructure across the city. Provide funding to design and install bicycle facilities supporting a citywide All Ages and Abilities network, aiming for 11 miles per year. This includes four miles of neighborhood bikeways, seven miles of protected bicycle lanes, and meeting annual goals for protected intersections and enhanced bus stops. Fund the engineering and construction of approximately 22.3 miles of urban trails and connections to existing transportation infrastructure, enhancing mobility and access throughout Austin. Build new sidewalks and rehabilitate existing ones at high-priority locations across the city, totaling about 100 miles. This includes approximately 40 miles of new sidewalks and 60 miles of rehabilitated sidewalks, improving accessibility and safety throughout Austin. Assist CapMetro in expanding Bikeshare by adding 36 stations and 428 bikes by 2027. Prioritize new stations in low-income areas with high mobility needs and connections to CapMetro's high-frequency bus and MetroRail network. Deliver on the objectives outlined by the $47.9M Climate Pollution Reduction Grant between 2025 and 2029. Strategies include reducing regional vehicle miles traveled, promoting diverse transportation options, relaunching employee and new mover programs, enhancing transportation control management compliance, and advancing citywide transportation demand management coordination and policies. Establish family-friendly multimodal mobility hubs by 2027, including park-and- ride facilities near transit stops, offering diverse first- and last-mile options. By the end of 2027, 32 hubs will be identified, with 24 neighborhood hubs featuring bikeshare, transit, and micromobility, and eight secondary hubs connecting regional transit. Design and build 27 to 40 pedestrian crossings at high-priority, non-signalized locations across the city. Partner with CapMetro to design and build transit infrastructure at high-priority locations, including two new rapid bus routes with park-and-rides, bus stops, and an all-electric fleet with charging infrastructure by 2026. Work with Austin Transit Partnership to secure Federal Transit Administration approval for Light Rail Phase 1 by 2025. Build 20 new bus stops, 10 pedestrian crossings, and two operational improvements for safer, more efficient transit access. Develop policies and incentives to retain existing buildings. Compare partial demolition and renovation permit processes with full demolition permits to identify opportunities for reducing emissions, time, and costs. Create case studies highlighting opportunities identified, and integrate findings into the City’s Facility Management Plan. Partner with Austin Energy and other City departments to map existing electric vehicle charging stations and identify expansion needs for the City of Austin fleet, employees, and public use. Prioritize locations based on fleet adoption and community needs, ensuring scalable, reliable infrastructure. This planning will support future installations and address equity priorities. 1 23 9 16 16 12 12 High N/A Medium Medium Low Medium $45,000,000.00 N/A $10,800,000.00 (Currently Under Review) $13,000,000.00 (Currently Under Review) $41,400,000.00 (Currently Under Review) 1,227,312 Very High $12,475,000.00 Capital Delivery Services [lead], BSD Transportation & Public Works [lead], CapMetro Transportation & Public Works [lead], PARD Transportation & Public Works Transportation & Public Works [lead], CapMetro Transportation & Public Works [lead], CapMetro, CAMPO, CAPCOG, CARTS, TxDOT, Office of Climate Action & Resilience Transportation & Public Works [lead], CapMetro Medium $3,682,382.00 Transportation & Public Works (Currently Under Review) (Currently Under Review) $4,300,000.00 Transportation & Public Works Medium (Currently Under Review) $6,000,000.00 Policy Project Project Project Project Project Project Project Project Transportation & Land Use Preserve existing buildings Foundational Action Planning [lead], BSD, DSD, PARD, Austin Energy Foundational Action (Currently Under Review) (Currently Under Review) Transportation Electrification Conduct an Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Network Study Foundational Action Austin Energy Foundational Action Foundational Action 150,000 Comprehensive Climate Implementation Plan Draft Project List JSC - Feb 26, 2025 Transportation Electrification Conduct an EV Community Needs Assessment Foundational Action Austin Energy [lead], Office of Climate Action & Resilience Foundational Action Foundational Action $200,000 Transportation Electrification Expand charging infrastructure at City Facilities Project Austin Energy [lead], Fleet Mobility Services Very High (Currently Under Review) (Currently Under Review) Transportation Electrification Replace City fleet vehicles with EVs Transportation Electrification Increase alternative fuel adoption Transportation Electrification Expand EV charging infrastructure for low-moderate income customers Expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure at City facilities to support fleet electrification, City employees, and the public. Prioritize station locations that balance fleet needs, community demand, and operational priorities. Ensure scalable, reliable, and interoperable solutions, especially in underserved communities. Funding this action will secure installing and maintaining critical EV charging infrastructure to meet growing demand. Replace City-owned gas and diesel-powered fleet vehicles with electric vehicles. Prioritize higher-emitting vehicles for early replacement. This transition will lower the City’s carbon footprint, improve air quality, and set a proactive example. Replace existing petroleum diesel fuel use with R99 Renewable Diesel fuel for City-owned fleet vehicles. Currently, the City purchases approximately 208,000 gallons per month of petroleum diesel. This action would secure the purchase of 7,500 gallons per month of R99. Collaborate with City and community partners to conduct an Electric Vehicle Community Needs Assessment. This project will identify mobility challenges, electrification opportunities, and equity issues, leveraging public-private partnerships and federal funding. It will build on existing outreach efforts to ensure equitable access and meet future EV infrastructure demands. As EV adoption accelerates, Austin must expand its EV charging infrastructure, focusing on disadvantaged communities. This project aims to address charging gaps, ensuring an equitable, accessible, and affordable system. By replacing gas- powered vehicles with electric alternatives, it will reduce emissions and enhance quality of life, particularly for low- to moderate-income and rural areas. Food & Product Consumption Secure property for a furniture collection and reuse facility Purchase property to serve as a public furniture reuse and collection location, lowering landfill waste and reducing cost of living for Austinites. A pilot has been implemented, but the program requires a facility and additional funding to scale. Food & Product Consumption Establish a building materials reuse facility Food & Product Consumption Expand "Fix-It" Clinics Food & Product Consumption Create a citywide wood reuse program Food & Product Consumption Food & Product Consumption Divert organics at Parks and Recreation facilities Launch an internal City reuse program Food & Product Consumption Expand Sustainable Procurement Program Natural Systems Acquire land and protect open space Establish a new warehouse for architectural material salvage, focused on reusing building materials like doors, window frames, and other deconstructed items. This site would be accessible to third-party haulers and is dependent upon the creation of a Furniture Collection and Reuse Facility, where this would be located. Expand Fix-it Clinics by hosting more events in the Eastern Crescent, following VISTA recommendations. Increase event frequency to reduce procurement emissions, support workforce development, and reduce cost of living for Austinites. Create a citywide wood reuse program for nature play, outdoor learning projects, and public use. Currently, Parks and Recreation is upcycling wood waste into playscapes for the Cities Connecting Children to Nature initiative, providing wood to artists and makers. However, additional staff, equipment, and materials are needed to scale the program. Add commercial organics recycling pick-up at Parks and Recreation facilities through a two-year pilot, with the potential to expand across Austin. Launch a sharing platform for City staff to exchange furniture, office supplies, and construction materials. This will enhance circularity, reduce waste, and lower costs by facilitating the reuse of resources across departments. Add four full-time staff positions to focus on developing and updating sustainable procurement strategies across multiple categories. These staff will create policies, procedures, and guidelines, assist departments with sustainable specifications, and prioritize lower-carbon concrete and transportation materials. They will also track purchase data, environmental benefits and monitor the lifecycle management purchasing program. Acquire land to protect open space in underserved areas, particularly in the Eastern Crescent's Blackland Prairie and Post Oak Savannah ecoregions. This initiative will address environmental justice, protect sensitive watersheds, and improve water quality, community health, and resilience. Immediate action is needed due to rising land costs and rapid development. Project Fleet Mobility Services [lead], Austin Energy High (Currently Under Review) (Currently Under Review) Project Fleet Mobility Services High 3 $540,000 Project High $18,750,000 Departments that manage facilities: Austin Energy [lead], BSD, APL, PARD, APH, AW, Aviation, Convention Center, etc. Project Austin Resource Recovery Low $327,000 Project Austin Resource Recovery High $400,000 Program Austin Resource Recovery Low $14,000 Program Program Program Parks & Recreation [lead], ARR, DSD - Urban Forestry, AFD - Wildfire Division, BSD Parks & Recreation [lead], ARR Austin Resource Recovery [lead], Office of Climate Action & Resilience Financial Services [lead], Office of Climate Action & Resilience Medium $1,206,000.00 Low Low $89,680 $100,000.00 Foundational Action Foundational Action Foundational Action $1,120,000.00 Project Office of Climate Action & Resilience [lead], Austin Water, Watershed Protection, PARD, Real Estate (Currently Under Review) 12 $100,000,000.00 16 7 12 13 4 4 3 Comprehensive Climate Implementation Plan Draft Project List JSC - Feb 26, 2025 Natural Systems Conduct a Public Tree Inventory Foundational Action Parks & Recreation Foundational Action Foundational Action $10,000,000.00 Natural Systems Reforest floodplains Project High 13 $360,000.00 Reforest floodplains in eastern watersheds by planting trees along creeks, focusing on green job development and tree sourcing, likely through external partnerships. Identify interdepartmental funds for a coordinated solicitation to support this effort, complementing existing programs. This will restore riparian forests, improve water quality, enhance wildlife habitat, and address environmental justice priorities, particularly in areas lacking shade. Fully fund a comprehensive public tree inventory across all City-owned properties. This data will enable coordinated urban forest management, guide the Urban Forest Plan, and support tree planting and replacement efforts. Methods should follow national best practices and involve collaboration with relevant partners. Data should be stored for easy access and sharing across departments. Develop a citywide Green Infrastructure Plan to create a unified vision and strategy for Austin's conservation and open space network. Building on the Green Infrastructure Strengths and Gaps Assessment, the plan will target underrepresented eastern watersheds, focusing on the Blackland Prairie and Post Oak Savannah ecoregions. Relevant departments should collaborate to define "Green Infrastructure," set conservation goals, and ensure a cohesive, citywide approach. Expand green workforce programs like the Austin Civilian Conservation Corps to create more green jobs and diversify candidates across land management departments. Crews will focus on invasive plant removal, green infrastructure development, wildfire mitigation, and enhancing the City’s trail network to boost public appreciation. Fund and support the Parks and Recreation Land Management Program and related efforts across departments. Invest in restoring natural areas and improving management for climate resilience and community benefits. Expand efforts to address tree mortality, wildfire risk, biodiversity loss, and hazardous fuel conditions to reduce potential carbon loss by 2040. Watershed Protection [lead], DSD, Austin Fire, PARD, EDD, Austin Water, TPW Austin Water, PARD, DSD, Fire, Forestry, TPW, Watershed, EDD, APH Economic Development, PARD, DSD, Watershed, Austin Water, HRD, Office of Climate Action & Resilience Foundational Action Foundational Action Foundational Action $500,000.00 Program N/A $5,600,000.00 Project Parks & Recreation High $5,150,000.00 21 12 Natural Systems Develop a citywide Green Infrastructure Plan Natural Systems Expand green workforce development programs Natural Systems Restore currently-owned natural areas