Recommendation No. 20240521-005: Repurpose GreenChoice Revenues and Increase Dispatchable Renewable Energy — original pdf

Recommendation

BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Resource Management Commission Recommendation No. 20240521-005 Resolution to Repurpose GreenChoice Revenues and Increase Dispatchable Renewable Energy WHEREAS, the City of Austin aspires to run its municipal electric utility, Austin Energy, completely with carbon-free electricity by 2035; and WHEREAS, a grid based largely on carbon-free energy cannot be realistically accomplished in Texas without energy storage or dispatchable renewable energy sources; and WHEREAS, Austin Energy has done very little to date to adopt energy storage or dispatchable energy into its future plans; and WHEREAS, GreenChoice, a program originally designed to enhance adoption of renewable energy by charging customers a different rate, is no longer necessary to increase Austin’s use of renewable energy; and WHEREAS, GreenChoice, when properly operating, collects about $7 million in increased revenues that can be repurposed to help transition Austin Energy to a completely carbon-free utility; and WHEREAS, GreenChoice funds can be leveraged with other funding in the public and private sector to magnify its spending power; THEN BE IT RESOLVED that the Resource Management Commission advises Council to direct Austin Energy to explore other strategies and funding sources as well as GreenChoice revenues in furtherance of the goal of adding more renewable dispatchability to its system; and THEN BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Resource Management Commission recommends that Council direct Austin Energy to secure future contracts from wind and solar projects that have associated storage projects which help make renewables more dispatchable. Vote: 7-1 For: Commissioner Paul Robbins, Vice Chair; Commissioner Charlotte Davis; Commissioner Trey Farmer; Commissioner Shane Johnson; Commissioner Chelsey Scaffidi; Commissioner Alison Silverstein Against: Commissioner Louis Stone, Chair Abstentions: None Off Dais: None Absences: Commissioner GeNell Gary Vacancies: District 2 and Mayor’s Office Attest: Natasha Goodwin, Staff Liaison