20220215-006:Recommendation on Electric Ready and EV-Ready — original pdf

Recommendation

Resource Management Commission Recommendation No. 20220215-006 Resolution on Electric Readiness and EV-Ready Whereas, the Austin City Council approved the Austin Climate Equity Plan on September 30, 2021, which commits the city to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 75% by 2030; and Whereas, the Austin Climate Equity Plan calls for code amendments, incentives, and education to enable electrification of buildings; and Whereas, the Austin Climate Equity Plan calls for codes that address future EV charging needs; and Whereas, the majority of the public comments submitted during the 2021 Austin Energy Conservation Code adoption process were supporting adoption of Electric Readiness and EV-Ready code amendments; and Whereas, Austin Energy committed to initiating a public process to consider adoption of Electric Readiness and EV-Ready code amendments, as well as other solutions to encourage electrification, before the end of 2021; and Whereas, it is more affordable to do electric wiring and install appropriately sized electric panel at the time of construction than to retrofit buildings later; and Whereas, Electric Readiness and EV-Ready code provisions have already been drafted by the International Code Council and came very close to being included in the Energy Conservation Code; and Whereas, the Resource Management Commission has previously recommended changes to Austin’s Energy Conservation Code and utility programs that will allow and encourage electrification of buildings. NOW, THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED that the Resource Management Commission supports adoption of Electric Readiness and EV-Ready amendments to the Austin Energy Conservation Code and recommends that the Austin City Council direct that the City Manager initiate a formal process to make these code updates immediately. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT: The Commission supports staff plans to conduct stakeholder meetings on electrification and recommends that the Austin City Council request regular updates on this work to ensure that it is completed on a timeline that will allow for implementation of the Electric Readiness and EV-Ready code amendments by September 1, 2022. Vote: 7-0 For: Commissioner Kaiba White, Vice Chair; Commissioner Charlotte Davis; Commissioner Sam Angoori; Commissioner Shane Johnson; Commissioner Louis Stone; Commissioner Rebecca Brenneman; Commissioner Lisa Chavarria None Against: Abstentions: Commissioner Jonathon Blackburn, Chair; Commissioner Tom “Smitty” Smith Off Dais: None Absences: Commissioner Dana Harmon Vacancies: District 7 Natasha Goodwin, Staff Liaison