Tag: Energy Efficiency

Residential Solar in Austin

Creative Solar Program is What We Need to Transition from Fossil Fuels

On By Kalpana SutariaIn Solar EnergyLeave a comment

Re: Oct. 13, article, ‘A new Austin solar program could unlock a clean energy future’

Generation of solar power is a no-brainer for anyone who is worried about the warming world, extended summer seasons, rising electric bills for cooling and harmful pollution from burning fossil fuels. Yes, we can’t meet all of needs from solar and other renewables, but it is allowing many countries in the world to reach clean energy goals.

Austin Energy‘s proposed Solar Standard Offer Program would add to the Community Solar program which allows residents to invest in solar-generated electricity without installing a solar system. It will allow more participants, including renters. Use of roof tops for solar has a benefit of reducing heat gain and reducing cooling loads .

Finding creative solutions to help us transition away from fossil fuels is what we want our lawmakers to pursue. Solar Standard Offer Program will create jobs and enhance quality of life. Let us support it.

Kalpana Sutaria

Project Manager, City of Austin and Member, Austin Metro Chapter, Citizen’s Climate Lobby

Published by the Austin American-Statesman

October 20, 2024

See also, “A new Austin solar program could unlock a clean energy future” by Kaiba White (October 12, 2024).

Action Requested Today and How to Join the Texas State Lobby Team

On By CCLATXIn CCLATX, Texas LegislatureLeave a comment

We had an outstanding lobby day at the Texas State Capitol two weeks ago. Please help us leverage that momentum to pass good bills and stop bad bills (or at least make them less bad), and for the next month and a half.

We ask you to:

  • Sign up to receive weekly Action Alerts, the week’s most important action to the Texas Legislature selected by our Citizens’ Climate Lobby Texas State Lobby Team (click on the link to reach the team webpage on the national website).
  • Take action this week (today) on HB 2502 on building energy efficiency.

Once you join the Texas State Lobby Team, you will receive an alert to take the most important action each week. The action alert will require little time and allows you to be fully effective. It will include a link to an Action Alert we write or one written by a partner organization. It will have instructions with a sample email for you to slightly customize.

Submit Written Online Comments to Support HB 2502 [Now Complete]

HB 2502 would establish a program to issue or guarantee loans for energy audits, upgrades, or retrofits to increase the energy efficiency of commercial buildings and residences. It would include requirements for emissions reduction cost-effectiveness criteria and utilize funds available from the U.S. Department of Energy and private capital or state resources. The comments should be sent by midnight today, April 12. Apologies for the late notice and for an extra email if you’ve already taken this action. To easily take this action, follow this link.

In addition, please ask other CCL volunteers across Texas to join the Texas State Lobby Team public group on the national community website, so that they can receive future Action Alerts for outreach to state legislators.

Thank you to Larry Howe and team for leading this effort.

Bob Hendricks
Texas State Lobby Team Co-Coordinator

Click on the photograph to reach LegisScan for the text of HB2502.

LTE Under Consideration: Fix the Grid

On By CCLATXIn GridLeave a comment

We in Central Texas got another gut punch from wintry weather. Although the grid provided enough gas and electricity, many of us jacked up our bills. Some have trouble paying those bills. There is a simple, cost-effective way to lower bills and to make the grid more resilient: make buildings more energy efficient such as with more insulation.

Better insulation helps the most when the weather is hottest or coldest. During those extreme periods, electricity demand is highest. Increasing insulation will lower demand for energy. That will save people money. It also means in a really extreme even, less energy will be needed. Also, strong insulation will keep people warmer during extreme winter storm and cooler during a summer heat wave. A colleague’s well-insulated home only dropped 10 degrees during winter storm Uri while in my house, it dropped 30 degrees.

Texas isn’t ready for another Uri. We haven’t fully winterized the grid. We need to fix the grid, and we can by insulating our homes better, taking advantage of tax credits and rebates, and urging the Texas legislature to pass several of the bills already introduced to improve energy efficiency all over the state. For our good.

Bob Hendricks

Member, Citizens’ Climate Lobby Austin Chapter

Submitted to the Waco Tribune-Herald

February 2023