Item 5- Draft Resolution Supporting Electric Ready and EV Ready Code Amendments, Incentives, and Next Steps — original pdf

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RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION Resolution Supporting Electric-Ready and EV-Ready Amendments to the Energy Conservation Code WHEREAS, it is the purpose of the Resource Management Commission to “review and analyze the City Code to identify potential amendments that encourage the use of alternate energy technologies and renewable energy sources, and the conservation of energy” and to“[a]dvise the city council regarding appropriate City Code amendments that encourage the use of alternate energy technologies and renewable energy sources, and the conservation of energy.” and WHEREAS, the Austin Climate Equity Plan, adopted by city Council on September 30, 2021, sets a goal for the entire Austin community to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 and states that carbon “offsets should constitute no more than 10% of the baseline. This 10% should be reserved for sectors where emission reductions are cost-prohibitive or impossible to reduce with existing technology.” and WHEREAS, the Austin Climate Equity Plan sets the goal to “achieve net-zero carbon for all new buildings” by 2030, states that “A net-zero operational carbon building is highly efficient and entirely powered by on- or off-site renewable energy.” and establishes a strategy to “Achieve goal milestones for net-zero carbon buildings through new building energy codes, amendments, and other methods.” and WHEREAS, the Austin Climate Equity Plan includes the strategy to “Adopt new energy and building codes that address future EV charging needs and enable a more equitable approach by simplifying the charging network and lowering barriers to entry for installing EV charging.” and WHEREAS, electrification of buildings and transportation, paired with renewable electricity production are highly effective strategies for addressing the climate crisis and outdoor and indoor air pollution, and WHEREAS, including proper wiring and electric service to accommodate future use of electric appliances in homes and electric vehicle charging at homes and businesses is more affordable than retrofitting buildings after they are built; and WHEREAS, studies show homes and buildings that are built electric ready provide the necessary electrical infrastructure at significantly reduced costs to the building owner; and WHEREAS, electric-ready provisions ensure that homes and apartments built with gas or propane can easily accommodate future electric appliances and such capabilities provide homeowners with greater flexibilities in appliance selections and protect homeowners from future costs, should they wish to utilize electric appliances; and WHEREAS, both the public comments during the process to adopt the 2021 Energy Conservation Code and during the recent public input process on Electric Ready and EV Ready indicate strong support for adopting these amendments to the Energy Conservation Code; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Resource Management Commission recommends that Austin Energy and the Austin City Council immediately initiate the required stakeholder meetings and boards and commissions recommendation process to update Austin’s Energy Conservation Code to include an Electric Ready amendment to the residential code and an EV Ready amendment to the residential and commercial codes on a timeline to be effective on September 1, 2023. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Resource Management Commission recommends that the Electric Ready and EV Ready code amendments be modeled on those drafted as part of the 2021 International Code Council process.