The Austin Chamber recognizes that Texas must invest in clean and cost-effective energy technologies and practices to lower costs, minimize air pollution, reduce water consumption, enhance the health and comfort of its citizens, and maintain a vibrant industrial economy.
The Austin Chamber supports initiatives that provide for improved information dissemination on energy efficiency opportunities, and the alignment of policies to incentivize implementation of energy efficiency projects and innovative energy technologies. The Austin Chamber also supports programs that encourage the creation and expansion of markets for renewable energy technologies with significant job creation potential.
The Austin Chamber recognizes the promotion and expansion of the oil and natural gas industry is critical for statewide economic and employment growth as well as national security.
Specifically, The Chamber:
Support fully funding the expansion of the national energy hub program to create new energy hubs as outlined in the President's Strategy for American Innovation in the areas of smart grid & energy storage.
Continue supporting Austin’s innovative Smart Grid pilot program, the Pecan St. Project.
Support sensible policies and incentives that encourage the research, development, production, and deployment of energy storage devices, recognizing their benefits both to green energy technologies and to the energy grid at-large, and ensure that energy storage is included as an eligible technology in national clean energy policies, goals, standards, and incentives.
» UPDATE: Congressman Lamar Smith accepted the Chamber’s request for his support of PACE on our behalf and officially became a cosponsor of the bill on July 28, 2011.
The Austin Chamber thanks Congressman Smith for his continued leadership and support. Support The Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Assessment Protection Act of 2011 (HR 2599) and the Federal Housing Finance Agency's (FHFA) adoption of underwriting standards that are consistent with the ARRA PACE guidelines issued by DOE in May 2010. These guidelines will provide more stringent regulation of the program to improve the viability and safety of the program for both participants and lenders.
On April 22, 2010, Austin City Council approved an updated resource, generation, and climate protection plan. Also, Austin City Council directed Austin Energy staff to develop and adopt an affordability goal for rates and services for all classes of customers.
The Austin Chamber of Commerce advocated for the following priorities as part of the consideration of the updated generation plan: