4. Draft Recommendation in support of Solar on City Facilities and a Revolving Fund — original pdf

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BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Joint Sustainability Committee Recommendation Number 20250625-004: Resolution on Revolving Fund for Solar and Efficiency Investments at City Properties WHEREAS, on August 8, 2019, the Austin City Council adopted a resolution declaring a climate emergency and calling “for an immediate emergency mobilization to restore a safe climate” and directing the city manager to take steps to accelerate local greenhouse gas emissions reductions; and WHEREAS, on September 30, 2021, the Austin City Council adopted the Austin Climate Equity Plan, which established a goal of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions for the Austin Community by 2040; and WHEREAS, on December 12, 2024, the Austin City Council adopted the Austin Energy Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan to 2035, which reaffirmed energy efficiency, local solar, demand response and customer-sited batteries as priority strategies for meeting Austin’s energy needs; and WHEREAS, Austin’s Climate Implementation Plan identifies creating a climate revolving fund to invest in energy upgrades to city facilities, capture savings, and reinvest funds for additional investment as a foundational action and identifies installing solar at city facilities one of the few actions to create cost savings for the city; and WHEREAS, other cities and counties across the country have established revolving funds and successfully implemented them to address challenges; and WHEREAS, the City of San Antonio has invested $42 million into its revolving fund for energy efficiency upgrades and solar installations at city properties and the resulting savings are available for additional investments; and WHEREAS, most City of Austin buildings that could functionally support solar energy installations do not yet have them; and WHEREAS, many City of Austin buildings are in need of energy efficiency improvements, and other upgrades that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and cut costs; and WHEREAS, investing in solar energy that is interconnected on the customer’s side of the meter yields the greatest financial benefit to the customer; and WHEREAS, the climate crisis is worsening and the opportunity to avoid catastrophic impacts of global warming is rapidly diminishing; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Joint Sustainability Committee of the City of Austin recommends that the Austin City Council move swiftly to ensure that the City Manager establishes a revolving Sustainable City Facilities Fund to pay for solar energy installations on city buildings and other city properties and to make energy efficiency and water efficiency upgrades and stop refrigerant leakage at city facilities. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Joint Sustainability Committee recommends that the Office of Climate Action and Resilience be allocated an additional full-time energy manager employee to manage the Sustainable City Facilities Fund. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Joint Sustainability Committee recommends that opportunities for on-site solar and energy efficiency improvements at city buildings that have already been identified be acted upon immediately, while a more complete analysis of all needs is conducted in order to maximize greenhouse gas emissions reductions and cost savings as quickly as possible.