Austin City Council Reverses Policy on Fossil Fuel Expansion, Imperiling Climate Goals and Public Health

December 12, 2024

Austin City Council Reverses Policy on Fossil Fuel Expansion, Imperiling Climate Goals and Public Health

Supporters of a clean energy future vow to fight the construction of fossil-fueled peakers

AUSTIN, Texas - Today's Austin City Council vote to approve a proposal by the city-owned electric utility opens the door to the possible construction of new so-called "peaker" units that will burn methane gas to generate electricity, increasing pollution and threatening the city's climate goals.

The Austin Council approved an amended version of Austin Energy's update to its Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan, which is the utility's roadmap for its future. The methane gas-burning "peaker" units are intended to operate when electricity demand is high.

The adopted plan reverses Austin Energy's previous policy barring fossil fuel expansion. It threatens the city's goals of carbon-free electricity by 2035 and community-wide net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.

Public Citizen detailed the problems with Austin Energy's plan here. Some, but not most, of these problems were addressed with amendments from council members.

Kaiba White, climate policy and outreach specialist with the Texas office of Public Citizen, issued the following statement:

"It's deeply disappointing that the Austin City Council has reversed its previous commitment to end fossil fuel expansion in Austin. While this vote doesn't guarantee Austin Energy will get its methane peakers, it opens that door. The amendments added today by council members are to be applauded. They help Austin Energy move forward with battery storage and solar and direct that clean energy alternatives will be considered before methane gas peakers are implemented. However, it's deeply troubling that Austin Energy has been so adamant about making more fossil fuels part of its roadmap for the future, especially when the utility has clean energy alternatives available. Every Austinite who cares about health and the environment should worry about how serious the utility will be about meeting its clean energy commitments.

"The City Council will have to take another vote before Austin Energy can build new power plants. What is certain is that environmental advocates and everyday Austinites will continue to push Austin Energy and the Austin City Council to stay faithful to Austin's clean energy commitments and abandon the idea of expanding polluting fossil fuel infrastructure."