Item 2 - RMC 2024-2025 Annual Internal Review — original pdf

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Resource Management Commission Annual Review and Work Plan 2024-2025 Annual Internal Review This report covers the time period of 7/1/2024 to 6/30/2025 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION The Board/Commission mission statement (per the City Code) is: A. Maintain an overview of all programs, studies and proposals concerning the efficient use of energy, alternate energy technologies, renewable energy resources, including solar and wind, and the conservation of energy, excluding the use of conventional coal, nuclear, natural gas, or petroleum technologies. B. Serve as a liaison with other city commissions, including the Electric Utility Commission. C. Receive citizen input on alternate energy technologies, renewable energy sources, and on energy conservation. D. Review and analyze: 1. energy conservation technologies and renewable energy sources as to their short- term and long-term feasibility in the city; 2. energy conservation policies, alternate energy technologies, and renewable energy projects in other cities and states; 3. water conservation policies, alternate technologies, and water conservation 4. 5. projects in other cities and states; the City Code to identify potential amendments that encourage the use of alternate energy technologies and renewable energy sources, and the conservation of energy; recommendations for the natural gas utility ratemaking, franchise agreement priorities, and operational policies for which the City has regulatory authority (amendment effective February 24, 2025) E. Advise the City Council: 1. in developing and reviewing city plans and programs in the area of alternate energy technologies, renewable energy sources, and energy conservation. 2. as to available funding from private and public sources which are available to the city for alternate energy technologies and renewable energy, and for the conservation of energy; Item 2Resource Management Commission Annual Review and Work Plan 2024-2025 3. on energy conservation, on alternate energy technologies, and on renewable 4. energy sources and report to City Council on the status of its activities at least annually; in developing and reviewing city plans and programs that encourage water conservation as it relates to water consumption from the tap to customer and within structures or building; and, 5. regarding appropriate City Code amendments that encourage the use of alternate energy technologies and renewable energy sources, and the conservation of energy. 6. regarding recommendations for the natural gas utility ratemaking, franchise agreement priorities, and operational policies for which the City has regulatory authority (amendment effective February 24, 2025). F. Encourage: 1. 2. the conservation of energy, the use of alternate energy technologies and renewable energy sources in City-owned facilities; and the private and public sectors to develop and to use alternate energy technologies and renewable energy sources, and to conserve energy 1. Describe the board’s actions supporting their mission during the previous calendar year. Address all elements of the board’s mission statement as provided in the relevant sections of the City Code. The Resource Management Commission (RMC) met 12 times during the reporting period, including two special called meetings in February 2025 and December 2024. The January 2025 meeting was canceled. The RMC’s mission-specific actions included: ● Reviewed and took action supporting the following Recommendations for Council Action (RCAs): o Recommended issuance of capacity-based incentives by Austin Energy for solar systems to Eanes Independent School District, Travis County Healthcare District, and St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church o Recommended issuance of rebates by Austin Energy for multifamily and commercial customer energy efficiency measures during Fiscal 2024-2025 o Recommended issuance of commercial and multifamily solar incentives by Austin Energy during Fiscal Year 2024-2025 o Recommended approval of a resolution authorizing Austin Water to continue the GoPurple pilot program and issue incentives during 2024-2025 o Approved recommendations to authorize an interlocal agreement with Harris County and accept a $31.6M grant from the Environmental Protection Agency in support of the Solar for All Program o Recommended approval of resolutions adopting Austin Water’s updated Drought Contingency Plan and updated Water Conservation Plan o Approved a recommendation to repeal and replace Article 12 of the City Code Chapter 25-12 (Technical Codes) to adopt the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code and local amendments and creating offenses o Recommended conducting a public hearing and approval of Ordinance No. 20240814-006 to enable locally sited solar generation, including local distributed community solar Resource Management Commission Annual Review and Work Plan 2024-2025 o Recommended authorizing a contract to extend and expand the Better Building Energy Efficiency Lending Program for Austin Energy with Velocity Credit Union (May 2025) o Recommended authorization of a contract for Strategic Partnership of Utilities and Retailers Program for Austin Energy with CLEAResult Consulting o Recommended authorizing amendments to Austin Water’s Fiscal 2024-2025 GoPurple pilot program to expand incentives to include development exempt from reuse requirements o Approved Austin Water Capital Improvement Projects located in the Drinking Water Protection Zone for approval to include in the 5-year Capital spending plan ● Approved the following recommendations in accordance with the RMC’s mission statement o Approved a recommendation to postpone the evaluation of a possible sale of Austin Energy’s district cooling to allow for a more robust stakeholder engagement process (20240716-003) o Approved a recommendation for a centralized City landing page for information on income-based assistance and conservation incentive programs (20240716- 005) o Approved a recommendation to support conservation-based rates in the Texas Gas Service rate case (20240820-005) o Approved a recommendation to mandate alternatives to resistance water heating in the Energy Building Code (20240917-009) o Adopted a recommendation for thirteen (13) modifications to the proposed Austin Energy Resource, Generation, and Climate Protection Plan (20241203- 001) o Recommended changes to the Resource Management Commission bylaws to extend its purpose to advising City Council on matters relating to natural gas utilities (20241203-002); changes were approved by Council and adopted effective 2/24/25 o Approved a recommendation against merging the Resource Management Commission and Zero Waste Commission (20250203-002) ● Received briefings and reports on the following items: o Austin Energy Customer Energy Solutions proposed budget and progress updates o Austin Water Conservation and Water Management Strategy quarterly updates o Texas Gas Service Conservation/Energy Efficiency Program quarterly updates o Weatherization Assistance Program presentation by Austin Energy o Solar Standard Offer, Residential Solar Rebate Program, Net Energy Metering & Value of Solar, and Battery Program Launch Update including DERMS and VPP presentations by Austin Energy o 2024 International Energy Conservation Code Update by AE Customer Energy Solutions/ AE Green Building o Briefing and discussions on proposed changes to Residential Rooftop Solar Rebate Program to lower costs and increase participation by Austin Energy o Austin Water Conservation Plan and Drought Contingency Plan & Revisions o GoPurple Pilot Program for Affordable Housing by Austin Water Resource Management Commission Annual Review and Work Plan 2024-2025 o 2024 Texas Gas Service Rate Case and 2025 Atmos Energy Rate Case briefings - City of Austin Financial Services Dept. o Heat Pump Study and HVAC-R Contractor Study presentations by the Office of Sustainability 2. Determine if the board’s actions throughout the year comply with the mission statement. All actions of the RMC during the reporting period were within the scope of and in compliance with its Code-mandated mission statement. 3. List the board’s goals and objectives for the new calendar year. a. Continue to provide: review of programs, studies and proposals; advice to City Council; and encouragement for the conservation of energy and water, use of emerging energy technologies and renewable sources in City facilities and departments, specifically highlighting departments that have accomplished goals toward this end. b. Encourage the use and greater adoption of sustainable building methods, emerging technologies such as energy storage, renewable energy sources, and resource conservation strategies, specifically through the advancement of customer programs, policies, and education. c. Continue to work with the staff of Austin Energy, Austin Water, the Development Services Department, the Office of Climate Action and Resilience (formerly the Office of Sustainability), Atmos Energy, CenterPoint Energy and Texas Gas Service, specifically to assist staff in achieving the City’s goals in regard to greater adoption of resource conservation, the use of alternate technologies and renewable sources, and reduction of CO2 emissions. d. Develop recommendations for priorities for gas utility franchise agreements, rate case negotiations and operational policies for which the City has regulatory authority. e. Continue to invite citizen input on these issues and treat it as equally valuable as other sources. f. Support additional studies to evaluate energy efficiency and distributed generation, and to assist the staff in developing new programs and policies that have achievable, affordable, and aggressive goals. g. Support Austin Water staff in the development of a comprehensive water conservation plan and annual reporting. h. Support Austin Energy staff in the development of new energy conservation programs and policies, and renewable energy projects and policies, including community solar projects and additional programs to expand access to solar, batteries and other energy resilience measures for low-income residents and those in multifamily housing. i. Continue to provide opportunities for City departments to highlight their successes in energy efficiency, water conservation, and sustainable practices. j. Utilize the concepts of triple bottom-line sustainability in the RMC’s decisions, recommendations, and advice to council, i.e., consider the balance between the environmental, economic, and societal equity impacts of our decisions, recommendations, and advice. k. Advocate for and monitor compliance with adopted policies, such as the Energy Code and water restrictions, and review proposed changes. l. Leverage synergies of existing and emerging methods and technologies to enhance resource management such as the water-energy nexus. Resource Management Commission Annual Review and Work Plan 2024-2025 m. Support the goals of the Austin Climate Equity Plan by exploring options and making recommendations on strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions as quickly as possible. n. Review and monitor progress of the Austin Energy Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan to 2030, including studies called for in the plan, and participate in any updates to the plan.