Grassroots Momentum Building to Move Austin Beyond Coal

Minor Mishap Marching Band rolls beyond coal (0.00 / 0)

We had a great time at the Thrive Festival this weekend. Thanks to the Minor Mishap Marching Band for joining our group volunteer photo. Austin is known for its music and environmental leadership, so it's great to put these issues together as we "roll beyond coal!"

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by: Ian @ Sun Nov 13, 2011 at 18:24:23 PM UTC

Ditch coal for clean energy (3.00 / 1)

Pilot studies at the Mueller development are providing conclusive evidence that rooftop solar can bridge the transition from a coal based energy model to a sustainable one.  

Our current model is generally affordable at non-peak (discounting externalized costs such as air pollution and damage caused by coal extraction) but our utility takes a financial beating when temperatures rise and at peak. Rooftop solar generates close to 100% of a homes' electricity on days when the cost of power rises exponentially due to heat and a significant amount at normal peak usage times.  These spikes in generation costs create an incredible financial burden on the city.  If we were to put solar on as many roofs as possible as quickly as possible, this vicious cycle could be broken and our city could break our addiction to the coal centered power generation scheme we are trapped in now. 

There are serious questions about how to pay for this and how this will impact Austin Energy's business model, but there are viable solutions that make this direction not only feasible but financially sustainable in the long run. 

Now all we need is a buy in from the people of Austin and our city government on following this bold new direction. 

Austin Adams
ps please excuse any typos or grammatical errors.  Typed and edited on my tiny iPhone screen. 

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by: austintx @ Sun Nov 13, 2011 at 18:42:54 PM UTC

Austin will be Clean Energy Capitol when we get beyond coal (0.00 / 0)

The Austin Chamber of Commerce is marketing Austin as the Clean Energy Capitol of the World but have we really earned that title? We will earn it if we get off of coal.  I believe the people of Austin will support efforts to get beyond coal if our leaders step up.

Lets get beyond coal.

Ken

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by: KenF @ Sun Nov 13, 2011 at 22:58:10 PM UTC

Go Ian, Go Sierra! (0.00 / 0)

Glad to see momentum building. I've been working on getting something going in the community (as a solo act) for more than two years. Great to see more people getting involved and looking to the coming house parties and Sierra Club efforts.

With smart planning, Austin could benefit enormously from quitting coal.

In 2008 & 2009, Austin Energy ran 14 different scenarios to compare electricity generation plan options. Their "Replace Coal by 2020" scenario showed a total levelized value* of 56.96, yet the scenario our City chose had a total value* of 57.18.

Translation: the "Replace Coal by 2020" scenario costs less on an annual basis, according to Austin Energy's own research, and would reduce CO2 61% below our current 2010-2020 gen plan.

There are smarter options than the current plan. Identifying them should be a top priority. Our own health depends on it. http://burntorangereport.com/d...

"*" Refers to Levelized Net Present Values shown in the Pace Consultancy Reports from the Fall of 2009.

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by: Chris Searles @ Mon Nov 14, 2011 at 00:31:45 AM UTC

Moving beyond coal makes sense on a range of levels (0.00 / 0)

I was pleased and privileged to host a Beyond Coal house gathering at my home this weekend and urge BOR readers to consider formally participating in this campaign.  It is long past time for local utilities, public or private, and citizens to get serious about breaking our coal and oil addiction.

As Austin Adams notes, rooftop solar is an important component of the path forward.  I'm happy to see that Mueller is generating data that supports solar's efficacy, but the truth remains that what continues to be in short supply is political will, not information.

Since passing its renewables law in the late 1990's, Germany has made tremendous strides in solar and is usually held up as a model.  The likelihood of Texas adopting a feed-in tariff is low (although in a state as crazy as this stranger things have happened), but given the property rights fundamentalism that characterizes policy in Texas, what prevents a public or private energy provider, such as a municipal utility, say, from doing it at a local level?  

Austin Energy would be smart to get ahead of the curve on this and related matters.  The agency fancies itself a "leader" but places in Europe are doing far more interesting things.  The old centralized model of energy production is dying.  Germany has entire apartment and shopping complexes that are way beyond net zero and actually generate income for their property owners; this in a solar energy environment that is inferior to ours.  What do you think the Austin private sector's response would be to a feed-in tariff?  I think we can harbor a decent educated guess.

Such a system would of course impact Austin Energy's bottom line, but German utilities put forward doom and gloom scenarios as well and were proven to be false in almost every case.

Perhaps the Pecan Street Project can generate data about how people would respond to the implementation of a feed-in tariff.  The good folks living at Mueller already enjoy numerous subsidies other Austinites don't qualify for, much less receive, so they may not be the best guinea pigs, but it could be a start.

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by: badmcghee @ Mon Nov 14, 2011 at 11:58:42 AM UTC

Let's get Austin beyond coal (0.00 / 0)

The leadership of Austin likes to claim that Austin is a true leader of green energy in the US.  Since we are one of the most progressive communities in this country, it is time for us to do the most to maximize green energy here in Austin.  Clearly, coal is nowhere near green energy.  It is a well known fact that the mining of coal has many destructive and environmentally negative aspects.  Plus, coal is a big polluter of our air and user of our very precious and limited water supply.  Let's get our of the coal business and practice what we preach.

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by: algiles @ Mon Nov 14, 2011 at 21:54:52 PM UTC