[00:00:03]
I'LL CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.
[CALL MEETING TO ORDER]
UH, AND ATTENDANCE, UH, COMMISSIONER BLACKBURN, COMMISSIONER WHITE COMMISSIONER.ANN GORRIE, COMMISSIONER SMITH AND COMMISSIONER DAVIS HERE IN PERSON.
ALL RIGHT, SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND JUMP RIGHT IN FIRST ITEM.
SO WE HAVE NO CITIZEN COMMUNICATION AND THAT'S, IS THAT CORRECT, NATASHA? YES, THAT'S CORRECT.
ALL RIGHT, SO WE'LL JUMP INTO, HE, HE IS NOT SIGNED UP FOR CITIZEN COMMUNICATION, BUT DOES HAVE AN AGENDA ITEM AND HE'S HERE IN THE ROOM.
SO LET'S JUMP INTO, UH, I REMEMBER ONE
[1. Approve minutes of the January 24, 2022 Special Called Meeting of the Resource Management Commission.]
PROVED MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 24TH, UH, 2020 SECONDS, UH, SPECIAL CALLED MEETING OF THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION.UH, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY CORRECTIONS TO THAT ITEM UH, HEARING NOTHING ELSE? UH, THAT ITEM IS APPROVED, UH, JUST AS A RECAP IN CASE, UH, YOU GUYS DIDN'T IN CASE ANYONE DIDN'T SEE THE OUTCOME OF THAT.
UH, SO THE, THE COUNCIL DID TAKE UP THE CENTER POINT, UM, EFFICIENCY PROGRAM, UH, AT THAT MEETING LATER THAT WEEK, UH, THEY ADOPTED, UH, THAT THE PILOT PROGRAM, UH, WITH OUR RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, IN, IN PLACE, ALONG WITH IT.
UH, SO, UH, WE DID HAVE AN IMPACT ON, ON THE PROGRAM THERE.
SO, UH, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE THAT ATTENDED AND HAD SOME INPUT ON, ON THAT RESOLUTION.
[2. Presentation from citizen Paul Robbins regarding toxic materials in buildings.]
PRESENTATION FROM CITIZEN PAUL ROBBINS REGARDING TOXIC MATERIALS AND BUILDINGS.YEAH, YOU'LL BE AT THE PODIUM.
UH, THIS IS MY PROMPT AND PRESS THE ARROW FORWARD.
WE READY? CAN YOU GUYS HEAR PAUL SOMEBODY ONLINE? GIVE ME A THUMBS UP.
I AM PAUL ROBBINS, AN ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST AND CONSUMER ADVOCATE.
I'M SPEAKING TONIGHT TO YOUR COMMISSION, ASKING YOU TO BECOME INVOLVED IN AN IMPORTANT ISSUE RELATED TO AUSTIN ENERGY SCREEN BUILDING PROGRAM, BUT ONE RELATIVELY NEW TO SOME MEMBERS HERE, TOXIC BUILDING MATERIALS.
OUR SOCIETY SPENDS UPWARDS OF 90% OF OUR TIME INSIDE BUILDINGS, MANY BUILDING PRODUCTS THAT SURROUND US ARE DIRECTLY MANUFACTURED USING TOXIC CHEMICALS, UH, OR THESE CHEMICALS COAT AND SATURATE THEM.
MOST OF MY PRESENTATION WE'LL DISCUSS THE PATHWAYS THAT EXPOSE PEOPLE IN THE ENVIRONMENT TO THESE TOXINS AND SPECIFIC EXAMPLES IN MATERIALS AND PRODUCTS.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT AUSTIN HAS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THESE PROBLEMS, WHICH IS TO REVISE STANDARDS FOR ITS GREEN BUILDING PROGRAMS. AND I WILL DISCUSS THIS TOWARDS THE END OF MY SPEECH.
THERE ARE GENERALLY SEVEN PATHWAYS THAT EXPOSE THESE TOXINS TO BUILDING OCCUPANTS OR THE GENERAL ENVIRONMENT.
THE FIRST IS THAT SOME OF THESE CHEMICALS EVAPORATE DIRECTLY INTO THE AIR AS A VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS, UH, SOME TOXIC CHEMICALS THAT HAVE SOLIDIFIED EVENTUALLY FRAGMENT AND TURN INTO DUST, WHICH IS EITHER INHALED OR INGESTED.
THESE CHEMICALS ARE ALSO RELEASED INTO THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH EMERGENCY FIRE AND FLOOD EVENTS.
WHILE THIS OFTEN EFFECTS BUILDING UP GIBBONS NEAR THE SCENE.
SOME OF THE PEOPLE MOST DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY TOXINS IN BUILDING MATERIALS ARE FIRST RESPONDERS WHO OFTEN HAVE AN INCREASED CHANCE OF ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS FROM EXPOSURE.
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FOURTH PATHWAY IS FROM DIRECT EXPOSURE.AS A RULE, PEOPLE DO NOT EAT OR CHEW ON BUILDING MATERIALS, BUT SOME PEOPLE WILL COME IN, CONTACT THEM WITH THEM DIRECTLY, EITHER ORALLY OR BY TOUCHING THEM WITH THEIR HANDS AND PLACING THEIR HANDS IN THEIR MOUTH.
THIS IS PARTICULARLY TRUE WITH SMALL CHILDREN WHO SPEND THEIR TIME CLOSE TO THE GROUND FREQUENTLY, PUT THEIR HANDS IN THEIR MOUSE AND ARE MORE PRONE TO ACCIDENTAL INGESTION OF POISONOUS BUILDING PRODUCTS, SUCH AS PAINTS.
ANOTHER PATH FOR EXPOSURE IS WATER.
SOMETIMES TOXICS ARE WASHED FROM TOXIC MATERIALS, SUCH AS PAINT INTO THE GENERAL ENVIRONMENT.
SOMETIMES TOXICS IN MATERIALS ARE MADE SIZEABLE WHEN THE MATERIAL IS WASHED AND THERE ARE STUDIES THAT HAVE DETECTED TOXINS IN POTABLE WATER PIPE REACHING THE TAB.
ANOTHER PATHWAY TO EXPOSURE IS LANDFILL FIRES.
THERE ARE ABOUT 8,000 OF THEM A YEAR IN THE UNITED STATES AND DO NOT OVERLOOK THE ULTIMATE PATHWAY FOR TOXIC RELEASES.
I DOUBT ANY OF YOU WOULD WANT TO LIVE IN A FENCE LINE COMMUNITY CLOSE TO A FACTORY OR PETROLEUM DRILLING SITE THAT PROVIDE MANY OF THE RAW MATERIALS.
EVIDENCE OF TOXINS IN BILLING MATERIALS.
HASN'T BEEN DETECTED AT THE FAR ENDS OF THE GLOBE.
THESE CAN BE FOUND IN THE BLOOD OF ESKIMOS AND POLAR BEARS.
THEY SURELY CAN BE FOUND IN OUR OWN SYSTEMS. NOW I'M GOING TO DISCUSS, I'M GOING TO DISCUSS THREE GENERAL CLASSES OF BILLING MATERIALS TO SHOW THEIR PERVASIVE ILLNESS AND DANGERS.
THE FIRST IS POLYVINYL CHLORIDE.
IT IS AN ORGANO CORRINE PART OF THE SAME CHEMICAL FAMILY AS DDT BY ITSELF.
THE CHEMICAL IS A DEVELOPMENTAL AND RESPIRATORY TOXIN AND CAN ADVERSELY AFFECT INTERNAL ORGANS.
IF IT BURNS, IT CAN CREATE CANCER CAUSING DIOXINS AND ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING CHEMICALS.
IT APPEARS IN ALL MANNER OF PRODUCTS, INCLUDING CARPET, SHEET, FLOORING, WALLPAPER, AND WINDOWS, DOORS, AND WATER PIPE BY ITSELF.
SO IT IS ALMOST ALWAYS USED WITH VALET PLASTICIZERS AND OR METAL STABILIZERS, WHICH ARE THEMSELVES OFTEN TOXIC.
THE PLASTICIZERS ARE GENERALLY NOT EMBEDDED OVER TIME.
THAT CAN DISLODGE FROM THE PRODUCT AND CAUSE HARM TO PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY FROM SOFTWARE PROJECT PRODUCTS, SUCH AS SHEEP FLOORING AND SHOWER CURTAINS, HOUSEHOLD PVC PIPE CAN ALSO LEACH HARMFUL CHEMICALS INTO POTABLE WATER VINYL WINDOWS WITHOUT SOFTENERS, EXCUSE ME, ARE ACTUALLY ENCOURAGED BY AUSTIN'S ENERGY CODE.
CHLORINE IS AMONG THE MOST POLLUTING INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES IN THE WORLD INVOLVING THE FIENDISHLY TOXIC SUBSTANCES, MERCURY ASBESTOSIS, AND THOSE IN THE PERTH FLUORO CARBON FAMILY, ALSO LESS FORMALLY KNOWN AS TEFLON PRODIGIOUS AMOUNTS OF ELECTRICITY AND COAL ARE ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH CHLORINE PRODUCTION.
A WIDE RANGE OF POLLUTANTS, INCLUDING DIOXINS, PCBS, AND CARBON TETRACHLORIDE ARE ALSO A SHOW STATED WITH PVC PRODUCTION.
PERFLUOROCARBONS ALSO CAN CAUSE HEALTH PROBLEMS. THIS CHEMICAL CLASS, ALONG WITH PBC ARE CALLED FOREVER CHEMICALS BECAUSE IT CAN TAKE HUNDREDS OF YEARS FOR THEM TO BIODEGRADE HEALTH EFFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH EXPOSURE TO CERTAIN OF THESE CHEMICALS INCLUDE HIGH CHOLESTEROL, INCREASED LIVER, ENZYMES, DECREASED VACCINATION RESPONSE, THYROID DISORDERS, PREGNANCY INDUCED, HYPERTENSION, AND TESTICULAR AND KIDNEY CANCER.
YOU SEE THE FRYING PAN HERE AND WONDER IF THE CHEMICALS WILL WEAR OFF AND HARM PEOPLE.
THE MANSION, THE MANUFACTURER CLAIMS IT IS A INERT YET THESE PANS CAN CAUSE ACUTE FLU LIKE SYMPTOMS FROM FUMES THAT THEY EMIT.
IF THEY OVERHEAT USE FOR THESE PRODUCTS INCLUDE STAIN RESISTORS
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FOR CARPETS AND STONE COUNTERTOPS.UH, EXCUSE ME, STAIN RESISTORS FOR CARPETS AND STONE COUNTERTOP SEALANTS IN BOTH CASES, WASH WATER CAN CAUSE THESE CHEMICALS TO FLOW INTO THE SEWER SYSTEM.
AND EVENTUALLY THE GENERAL ENVIRONMENT TEFLON IS EVEN USED IN COATINGS FOR SOME SOLAR MODULES USES FOR THESE PCB, EXCUSE ME, ANTI-MICROBIALS THE THIRD, UH, CHEMICAL CLASS ARE DISINFECTANTS EMBEDDED IN ALL MANNER OF INDOOR BUILDING MATERIAL, SUCH AS CARPET COUNTERTOPS, LIGHT SWITCH PLATES, AND EVEN TOILETS.
THE CHEMICALS THEMSELVES ALSO HAVE ADVERSE EFFECTS ON PEOPLE.
AND EVEN THOUGH A PREMIUM IS PAID FOR THESE PRODUCTS, THERE IS NO PROOF THAT THEY ARE EFFECTIVE.
HOWEVER, THE BUILDING MATERIALS ARE REPEATEDLY WASHED AND THE CHEMICALS CAN GET INTO THE SEWER SYSTEM THROUGH THE WASH WATER.
AND THIS ADVERSELY AFFECTS THE AQUATIC LIFE EXPOSED TO THE CHEMICALS FROM THE TREE TO WASTEWATER REPEATEDLY EXPOSING BACTERIA TO THESE ANTIMICROBIALS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE PHENOMENON OF ANTIBIOTIC OTIC RESISTANT VARIETIES.
THEY HAVE GENETICALLY LEARNED HOW TO SURVIVE THESE CHEMICALS AND PROVIDING THEM WITH MORE CHEMICALS WILL PROVIDE THEM WITH MORE CHANCES TO LEARN HOW TO SURVIVE THEM.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, ARE YOU HAVING FUN YET? UM, NOW I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU THREE PRODUCT CLASSES WHERE YOU WILL FIND THESE DANGEROUS CHEMICALS.
WALLBOARD IS OFTEN MADE OF SYNTHETIC GYPSON, WHICH IS A EUPHEMISM FOR COAL ASH RECYCLED FROM COAL PLANT SCRUBBERS.
IT'S IRONIC THAT HAS SCRUBBERS HAVE GOTTEN MORE EFFICIENT AT SCREENING HEAVY METALS, SUCH AS MERCURY.
THEY END UP IN HOMES MORE THAN 70% OF FLOORING IS CARPET AND SHEET VINYL.
WITH THE USUAL LIST OF CHEMICAL SUSPECTS, ANTI-MICROBIALS PVC OR STYRENE BACKING COAL ASH FILLERS WITH HEAVY METALS, FLAME RETARDANTS, VALET, PLASTICIZERS ORGANO TIN STABILIZERS, POC EMISSIONS, AND TEFLON, STAIN RESISTORS, EVEN IMPORTED GLAZED TILE MIGHT HAVE LED PIGMENTS CAULKING AMONG ALL CAULKING ON THE MARKET TODAY.
THERE'S ALMOST NONE WITHOUT PETROCHEMICALS.
VARIOUS PRODUCTS CONTAIN TOXIC SOLVENTS, BIOCIDES, DILATE PLASTICIZERS, ORGANIC TIN CATALYST, ISO SIGN H AND A FREEZE AND FLAME RETARDANTS.
SOME EVEN INCLUDE PVC FOR 40 YEARS.
AUSTIN'S WEATHERIZATION PROGRAMS HAVE SPECKED CAULKING TO STOP AREA INFILTRATION, BUT THEY'VE NEVER REQUIRED SPECS TO LIMIT TOXICS AND EMISSIONS FROM THE MATERIAL AUSTIN CREATED.
WHAT MANY BELIEVE IS THE FIRST GREEN BUILDING PROGRAM IN THE WORLD, BUT I BELIEVE WE'VE LOST OUR LEADERSHIP ROLE.
IN ONE REASON IS IGNORING TECH, CHEMICAL DANGERS TO GIVE YOU ONE EXAMPLE OF HOW FAR AUSTIN HAS LAGGED BEHIND LOOK NO FURTHER THAN YOUR LOCAL CHAIN HARDWARE STORES, HOME DEPOT, AND LOWE'S HAVE BANNED TEFLON, STAIN RESISTORS FROM CARPET AND TOXIC PLASTIC SOFTENERS IN VINYL FLOORING.
AUSTIN ENERGY IS SO FAR BEHIND THAT.
IT CANNOT EVEN ADAPT TO STANDARDS THAT 3,700 STORES IN AMERICA HAVE ALREADY ADOPTED TO A GREAT DEGREE.
GREEN BUILDING STAFF HAVE BEEN RESISTANT TO SEC SUGGESTIONS TO LIMIT CHEMICALS.
AND I HAVE BEEN GIVEN TWO REASONS.
THE FIRST WAS THAT A NEW STATE LAW PRECLUDED CITIES FROM MANDATING BUILDING MATERIALS IN THEIR BUILDING CODE.
THIS IS AN INVALID EXCUSE BECAUSE GREEN BUILDING IS A PROGRAM IN ALMOST ALL CASES.
THERE ARE CERTAIN PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENTS WHERE GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS ARE MANDATED, BUT EVEN
[00:15:01]
THEN THE DEVELOPERS CHOSE TO PARTICIPATE.THE MORE VIABLE EXPLANATION THAT ONE STAFF MEMBER GAVE ME IS THAT THEY ASSUMED THE BUILDERS WOULD NOT LIKE IT.
AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE BUILDERS WERE THEIR CLIENTS.
THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN ARE THEIR CLIENTS AND AUSTIN NEEDS TO DO WHAT IT CAN TO LIMIT THE TOXIC EXPOSURE TO ITS CITIZENS EVERY WAY THAT IT CAN.
I MIGHT ADD THAT THERE'S AN EQUITY COMPONENT OF THIS STRATEGY, APARTMENT BUILDERS AND TRACK HOME BUILDERS GENERALLY LOSE, GENERALLY USE CHEAPER, MORE TOXIC BUILDING MATERIALS THAN WEALTHIER HOMEOWNERS AND APARTMENT DWELLERS IN TRAVIS COUNTY HAVE HALF THE INCOME OF HOMEOWNERS.
NOW I HAVE DISTRIBUTED A COUPLE OF DRAFT RESOLUTIONS TO RMC, UM, WHICH I'M HOPING YOU ALL CAN USE AS A SPRINGBOARD.
I'M REQUESTING THAT RMC ADVISED THE CITY COUNCIL TO DIRECT AUSTIN ENERGY GREEN BUILDING TO REVISE ITS STANDARDS, TO BAN TOXIC BUILDING MATERIALS.
WHEN COST-EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVES EXIST.
THIS COULD BE DONE IN TWO WAYS.
MY PREFERRED WAY IS TO MANDATE THAT CERTAIN CHEMICALS IN BILLING MATERIALS BE BANNED AS A PREREQUISITE TO GREEN BUILDING PARTICIPATION.
THE OTHER APPROACH IS TO CREATE A NEW CATEGORY IN THE GREEN BUILDING POINT SYSTEM FOR CHEMICALS FOR EACH HIGHER STAR, A PROGRESSIVE LEE HIGHER NUMBER OF POINTS WOULD BE AWARDED FOR EVER HIGHER LEVELS OF CHEMICAL AVOIDANCE.
AND I HAVE, UH, TODAY, UH, DISTRIBUTED, UH, VIA EMAIL SOME, UH, FIRST DRAFT SUGGESTION OF WHAT THIS MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
IT WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH A LOT OF, UH, CONSIDERATION, UM, IN SOME, IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION, THE 2021 EDITION OF THE AUSTIN ENVIRONMENTAL DIRECTORY HAS A DETAILED ARTICLE ABOUT THE SAFETY OF BUILDING PRODUCTS, INCLUDING DANGERS OF CONVENTIONAL PRODUCTS, AS WELL AS MANY SPECIFIC ENGINEERING ALTERNATIVE PRODUCTS THAT ARE SAFER.
YOU CAN FIND THIS ARTICLE ON THE DIRECTORY WEBSITE, ENVIRONMENTAL DIRECTORY.INFO, THAT'S ENVIRONMENTAL DIRECTORY.INFO.
AND WITH THAT, I CONCLUDE MY PREPARED REMARKS.
UH, MY CONTACT INFORMATION IS HERE.
I HOPE I HAVEN'T STUTTERED TOO MUCH.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION, PAUL.
THANKS FOR THE, UM, VERY WELL-WRITTEN AND DELIVERED PRESENTATION, UH, COMMISSIONERS, UH, QUESTIONS FOR PAUL DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? UM, THANK YOU, PAUL.
THIS IS A GREAT PRESENTATION AND THIS IS A TOPIC I DEFINITELY CARE A LOT ABOUT.
UM, I'M LOOKING AT YOUR, YOUR LIST THAT YOU SENT AROUND.
THANKS FOR PUTTING THOSE TOGETHER.
UM, I'M WONDERING IF YOU CAN SPEAK TO, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, I GUESS ARE FURTHER DOWN THE LIST KIND OF HIGHER NUMBERS, BUT REALLY ALL OF THESE, LIKE, ARE THERE, ARE THERE, I MEAN, SOME OF THESE ARE OBVIOUS THAT THEY CAN BE AVOIDED, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T EVEN NEED CARPET, LET ALONE GET A CERTAIN TYPE OF CARPET, BUT FOR THINGS LIKE PLUMBING TAPE, AND YOU MENTIONED COCK, I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S ON THIS LIST.
UM, CAN YOU JUST SPEAK TO HOW MANY OF THESE LIKE ARE POSSIBLE NOW, BUT, UM, AT VERSUS HOW MANY, YOU KNOW, ARE FUTURE LOOKING AND ARE THEY ORDERED ACCORDING TO IT IS MY OPINION THAT THE 50, UH, IDEAS ON THAT LIST THAT I CIRCULATED COULD ALL BE DONE.
NOW, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEM IN MY OPINION, COULD BE MANDATED WITH A LITTLE, UH, LITTLE EXPENSE, POSSIBLY NO EXPENSE.
UM, THERE ARE, AND I'M GOING FROM MEMORY HERE.
UH, THERE ARE MAYBE 10 OF THEM, UH, THEY'RE IN GREEN
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AND THEY'RE LISTED AS POINTS RATHER THAN, UM, THAN A MANDATE.UH, I JUST FELT THAT IT WOULD BE TOO MUCH TO ACTUALLY, UM, UH, MANDATE SOME OF THESE THINGS, UH, AT LEAST RIGHT NOW, BUT THAT THEY COULD PROBABLY ALL BE DONE VOLUNTARILY.
WAS I SPECIFIC ENOUGH CAVA? YEAH.
SO IT SOUNDS LIKE ALL THE ONES IN BLACK ARE, OR THERE'S SOMETHING ON THE MARKET TODAY THAT WOULD THE REQUIREMENT USUALLY YOU'RE SUGGESTING.
UH, THAT'S, THAT'S MY, UH, EDUCATED OPINION.
UM, UH, THERE W THERE WERE SOME THINGS, OKAY.
ONE THING THAT I THINK WOULD BE FUTURISTIC WOULD BE, UH, ELECTRIC WIRE WITHOUT PVC.
UM, I DON'T THINK THAT'S MADE FOR THE RESIDENTIAL SECTOR.
YOU CAN BUY IT FOR COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS, BUT NOT FOR RESIDENCES.
AND I THINK IT WOULD BE EASY FOR THEM TO MAKE, AND IT COULD BE DONE WITH ONLY A SLIGHT COST PREMIUM, BUT I DON'T THINK IT EXISTS IN THE MARKET TODAY THAT EVEN ON YOUR LIST, I'M NOT, NO, IT'S NOT IN MY LIST.
AND I'M TRYING TO SAY, THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT ISN'T, UH, ON THAT 50 POINT LIST.
AND PAUL, COULD YOU RUN US THROUGH THE, UM, THE SAMPLE RESOLUTIONS AND IN PARTICULAR, THE ONE THAT, UM, WOULD REQUIRE ESSENTIALLY THIS TO BECOME A MANDATORY PART OF OUR PROCUREMENT? WELL, UM, I HAVE THEM BEFORE ME AND I WON'T BORE YOU BY READING IT ALL, BUT, UM, THERE'S A LOT THERE'S WAREHOUSES AND SO FORTH.
UM, ONE WOULD BASICALLY, UH, THE MANDATE WOULD BASICALLY HAVE PREREQUISITES FOR EACH STAR LEVEL AND YOU WOULD START OUT MODEST.
AND I CAN'T SAY EXACTLY HOW IT WOULD READ, BUT SAY T A STAR LEVEL ONE, AND YOU WOULD HAVE TO BAN, UM, UH, ANTI-MICROBIALS, WHICH IS ACTUALLY A MONEY SAVER AND A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS LIKE, UH, UH, SHEET ROCK WITH LOW AMOUNTS OF, UH, FLUE GAS, UH, DIS SULFUR EYES, UM, UM, GYPSUM AND MAYBE A SHEET FLOORING DOING AWAY WITH THAT.
AND THEN THE SECOND LEVEL YOU WOULD SAY, WELL, NOT ONLY DO YOU HAVE TO DO WHAT'S IN TIER ONE, BUT YOU CAN'T HAVE VINYL WINDOWS, AND YOU CAN'T HAVE SOLAR COLLECTORS IF THEY'RE COATED WITH TEFLON.
AND IT GOES UP TO THE POINT WHERE BY STAR LEVEL FIVE, ALMOST NOTHING COULD BE DONE.
UH, THE OTHER WAY WOULD BE TO DO THAT IN THE FORM OF POINTS, UH, WHERE IT COULD BE ACHIEVED.
UH, VERY SIMILAR RESULTS WOULD BE ACHIEVED.
I PERSONALLY PREFER THE PREREQUISITE MANDATE BECAUSE IT WOULD BE MORE THOROUGH, BUT EITHER WAY WOULD GET YOU FARTHER THAN WE ARE NOW.
UH, HAVE I DEALT WITH YOUR, YOUR, UM, QUESTION AND SMITTY? YEAH.
UM, AND MR. CHAIRMAN, I'D LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT WE, UH, POST THIS FOR ACTION AT OUR NEXT MEETING.
UM, IF SOMEBODY WOULD LIKE TO SECOND IT, AND THEN WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHICH WAY WE WOULD WANT TO GO ON THIS.
SO WHAT I WOULD ASK IS IF THE, IF, IF FOLKS WANT A RESOLUTION REQUIRES TWO COMMISSIONERS TO REQUEST IT, UM, I WOULD ASK THAT IF THERE ARE TWO OF YOU THAT WANT TO DO THAT, ALIGN YOURSELVES AND SEND MYSELF AND NATASHA AN EMAIL, UH, PRIOR TO OUR NEXT MEETING, UH, THAT WOULD BE THE PROCEDURE.
SO FOR PURPOSES OF GIVING FAIR NOTE TO, UM, OUR, MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS, THIS IS A TOPIC
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THAT I FEEL VERY DEEPLY ABOUT, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BRINGING TO THE ATTENTION OF THIS COMMISSION IN MY BACKGROUND, THE FIRST PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT I WORKED ON IN 1983, HAD TO DO WITH, UH, QUIRING INFORMATION ABOUT THE TOXICITY, UH, UH, MATERIALS IN WORKPLACES AND FACTORIES, BECAUSE THE NUMBER OF FIREMEN IN THE HOUSTON AREA HAD RUSHED IN TO SAVE A BURNING BUILDING AND ONLY TO BE, UH, KILLED OR BADLY INJURED BY TOXINS THAT, UM, THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF.AND IN OTHER PARTS OF MY LIFE, THE EXPOSURE TO CHILDREN, UH, THROUGH TOXINS AND SCHOOL, AND, UM, DAYCARES AND SCHOOLS BECAME SOMETHING WE STUDIED AND WORKED ON AN ISSUE REPORTS AND LED TO THE PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION IN ABOUT 89.
UM, SO A LOT OF THAT STUFF IS NO HAS BEEN SUPERSEDED OR HAS BEEN ERODED, UH, IN THE ROUGHLY, UH, 30 ODD YEARS SINCE THE MID EIGHTIES.
UM, BUT IT'S THE SCIENCE BEHIND IT HAS BECOME EVER STRONGER.
AND THE DATA ABOUT THE DAMAGE DONE BY THE TOXIC MATERIALS WE USE EVERY DAY, UH, EITHER IN OUR HOMES OR IN OUR, UH, CHEMICAL PRODUCTS, UM, IS BECOMING CLEARER AND CLEARER AS THE DATA SETS OF, UM, BECOME MORE REFINED IN THE SCIENCE.
SO I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE OUGHT TO TAKE UP ON, UM, PRESS THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES THAT HAVE COME TO THIS CONCLUSION AND IT BEGUN TO TAKE ACTION.
SO LET'S BRING IT UP NEXT TIME.
I ALSO AM VERY STRONGLY BEHIND THIS CAUSE WHEN YOU CREATE THAT REQUIREMENTS AND THEN THAT PUSHES NEW PRODUCTS BE TOXIC NON-TOXIC AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY, BUT IF THERE'S NOT A DEMAND, THEN THEY REALLY DON'T HAVE AN INCENTIVE TO CREATE PRODUCTS.
AND I THINK THAT'S KIND OF THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THIS PROGRAM, NOT TO SET THIS STANDARD WHERE BUILDERS ARE COMFORTABLE WITH IT TODAY, BECAUSE THEY'RE ALREADY DOING THESE THINGS IT'S TO, YOU KNOW, PUSH THE MARKET FORWARD.
AND THIS SEEMS LIKE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.
AND I THINK ESPECIALLY SINCE A LOT OF THESE PRODUCTS, YOU KNOW, NOT ALL OF THEM, BUT SOME OF THEM ARE BEING DEPLOYED IN THE NAME OF EFFICIENCY.
UH, I THINK IT'S ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ACT ALL RIGHT.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR PAUL WHILE, WHILE HE'S HERE, PAUL, I'M JUST WONDERING, HAVE YOU, UH, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE GONNA OR HAVE PRESENTED TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION? UH, YEAH.
UH, I DID IT JUST BEFORE COVID AND IT, UM, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION SUPPORTED IT UNANIMOUSLY, UH, AT LEAST A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF A CONCEPT.
THEY, THEY DID NOT SUPPORT SOMETHING IN EITHER OF THE DRAFTS THAT I'VE GIVEN TO RMC.
UM, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, GO AHEAD.
OH, UM, UH, PAUL, UH, FIRST THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
I, UH, I'M JUST WONDERING IF YOU HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO, UH, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT, UM, SINCE THEY'RE IN CHARGE OF PERMITS AND ALL KINDS OF CONSTRUCTION, UH, PERMITS AND SO ON.
SO, UM, TO SEE IF THEY HAVE HAD A CHANCE OR IF THEY HAVE DONE ANYTHING IN THEIR, IN THEIR DEVELOPMENT, UH, UM, YOU KNOW, RULES OR IF THEY HAD, HAVE HAD CHANCE TALK TO AUSTIN ENERGY, THE SHORT ANSWER IS NO, I HAVE NOT A ONE REASON.
THERE ARE SEVERAL REASONS I HAVEN'T, BUT ONE OF THEM IS THAT THIS DOESN'T DIRECTLY AFFECT THEM.
GREEN BUILDING IS A VOLUNTARY PROGRAM AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ADMINISTERS BUILDING CODES.
[00:30:02]
UH, I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO SEE SOME OF THIS IN THE BUILDING CODE, BUT STATE, UM, LAWS RECENTLY PASSED STATE LAWS NOW PREEMPT THAT HOPEFULLY THAT WILL CHANGE, BUT THAT IS THE WAY IT IS NOW.UM, ULTIMATELY IF THERE ARE THINGS RELEVANT TO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, UH, THEY WILL SURELY BE CONSULTED IN THE PROCESS OF REVISING, UH, THE GREEN BUILDING PROGRAM STANDARDS.
UM, I'M HONORED TO HAVE BEEN HERE AND, UM, HOPE TO SEE YOU AT THE NEXT MEETING.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PAUL.
UH, MOVING ON TO OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM, A ITEM NUMBER THREE,
[3. Quarterly update from Texas Gas Service.]
QUARTERLY UPDATE FROM TEXAS GAS SERVICE.UH, I THINK JASMINE IS, IS THIS YOU TONIGHT? YES.
AND I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT BEING THERE IN PERSON, UH, GOT ON MOPAC AND IT WAS A PARKING LOT.
UM, EXCUSE ME, I'LL BE, UH, PROVIDING THE QUARTER FOURTH QUARTER, UM, PROGRAM UPDATE AND THEN, UH, LARRY GRAHAM, UH, ALSO WILL HAVE, UM, A BRIEF PRESENTATION AS WELL FOLLOWING MINE.
UM, CAN WE ADVANCE THE SLIDE PLEASE? THE, UH, THE SLIDE I CAN SHARE MY SCREEN IF THAT'S BETTER.
CAN YOU, CAN YOU DO THAT ACTUALLY? SURE.
UH, I THINK YOU CAN CONTROL IT, RIGHT.
SO, UM, WE CAME BEFORE YOU TO SHARE, UH, THE BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR THE PROGRAM YEARS, 20 22, 23 AND 24.
UM, AND, UM, CARRYING BACK SOME OF THE, UM, REQUESTS AND QUESTIONS WITH REGARDS TO, UM, INCREASING, UH, THE, UH, EFFICIENCY OF THE PROGRAM.
AND, UM, ALSO LOOKING AT WHAT'S GOING ON, UM, IN THE, IN THE ENERGY AREA, AS FAR AS ADVANCEMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY, WE MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS, UM, AND WE SHARED THOSE WITH YOU, BUT I DID WANT TO CIRCLE BACK AND LET YOU KNOW THAT THE NATURAL GAS TANKLESS WATER HEATER REBATE HAS AN A BACK IN EFFECT BEEN TIERED.
SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE GOING TO BE PHASING OUT THE LOWER, UH, ENERGY FACTOR, RATED A NATURAL GAS, TANKLESS WATER HEATERS, UM, AND IN DOING SO WE'LL DO THAT OVER THREE YEARS.
UM, RIGHT NOW WE'VE REDUCED THE REBATE ON THAT TO $400 FOR THE RESIDENTIAL, UH, RETROFIT PROGRAM.
AND THEN WE'RE OFFERING, UM, A REBATE, UH, FOR, AT THE HIGHER, THE HIGHER, UH, UNIFORM EFFICIENCY FACTOR RATED PROGRAM, UH, RATED, UH, APPLIANCE.
WE DID THE SAME THING WITH THE, UH, HOME BUILDER PROGRAM AS WELL.
THE RESIDENTIAL NEW CONSTRUCTION, A TANKLESS WATER HEATER REBATE IS ALSO TIERED.
WE ARE SUNSETTING THE LOWER, UH, UH, UH, ENERGY FACTOR RATED APPLIANCE AND INCENTIVIZING, UM, BUILDERS TO PUSH FOR THE PURCHASE OF MORE EFFICIENT APPLIANCES.
AS FAR AS THE, UH, NATURAL GAS WATER HEATER IS CONCERNED.
UM, WE HAVE, UH, INCREASED THE REBATE AVAILABLE FOR THE SMART THERMOSTAT.
SO PREVIOUSLY IT WAS A $25 REBATE.
THE CUSTOMERS, UH, WOULD APPLY FOR THAT REBATE THROUGH THE HOME PERFORMANCE WITH ENERGY STAR PROGRAM, WHICH IS A JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN TEXAS GAS SERVICE AND, UH, AUSTIN ENERGY.
UH, AUSTIN ENERGY IS STILL WORKING THROUGH A FINAL APPROVALS AND PREPARATIONS TO, TO INCREASE THE RATE A REBATE ON THEIR END, BUT WE WILL BE LAUNCHING THE NEW REBATE ON OUR END EFFECTIVE MARCH 1ST.
WE'RE JUST FINALIZING PUTTING IT THROUGH OUR SYSTEMS AND CHANGING CODING AND EVERYTHING BEHIND THE SCENES.
UM, BUT THE APPROVALS HAVE BEEN FINALIZED ON THAT.
UM, THE GOAL FOR THIS, UM, AS I BELIEVE IT WAS COMMISSIONER STONE, UM, ASKED, IS THERE A WAY TO, UH, GET THE COST OF THE SMART THERMOSTAT, THE PROCUREMENT OF A SMART THERMOSTAT AS CLOSE TO ZERO AS POSSIBLE.
AND SO LOOKING AT THE ENERGY DISRUPTOR, UH, THE MARKET DISRUPTOR THAT AMAZON
[00:35:01]
INTRODUCED THE SMART THERMOSTAT IS, UM, 59 99.SO WITH, UH, THE CONTRIBUTIONS FOR BOTH, UM, UM, UTILITY COMPANIES BEING $30 REBATES, WE'RE HOPING THAT, UM, CUSTOMERS THAT CHOOSE TO USE THAT WE'LL GET AS CLOSE TO ZERO AS POSSIBLE.
AND, UH, AND KEEPING WITH THE GOALS FOR EFFICIENCY, UH, THAT ARE SET, BEEN SET FORTH BY THE PROGRAM.
WE DID SUNSET THE ANNUAL FURNACE TUNE-UP, UH, WE WILL NOT BE MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT.
AND THAT WAS, UM, TERMINATED AS A F UH, DECEMBER 31ST, 2021.
WE HAVE A SMALL, UM, WINDOW THAT, UH, CUSTOMERS WHO HAD NOT RECEIVED WORD OF THE, UM, TERMINATION OF THAT, UM, PIECE OF THE PROGRAM, UH, THEY WERE ABLE TO, TO GO AHEAD AND, UM, PARTICIPATE, BUT THAT HAS BEEN SENSITIVE AS WELL, MOVING FORWARD TO OUR COMMERCIAL PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS.
UH, WE ARE HOPING TO, UM, AND WHEN I SAY WE, I MEAN, MYSELF AND A MEMBER OF THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY TEAM IS HOPING TO, UH, PERFORM A RIDE ALONG WITH THE CLEAR RESULT STAFF, TO HEAR THE CONVERSATIONS THAT THEY'RE HAVING WITH THE COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS, LOOKING AT WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE.
UH, AND THIS IS, UM, AN EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING WHAT OUR COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS AND COMMERCIAL TRANSPORT CUSTOMERS ARE LOOKING FOR.
UH, BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE EDUCATION WHERE THEY'RE HAVING QUESTIONS, JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE MEETING THE NEEDS OF THOSE CUSTOMERS.
UM, WE ALSO UPDATED OUR, UH, OUTREACH MATERIALS THAT WE'VE PROVIDED TO CLEARESULT, UH, TO, UH, SHARE ON OUR BEHALF, MAKING SURE THAT THEY CALL OUT THE BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM.
AND CLEARESULT HAS ALSO DEDICATED, UH, UM, AN EMAIL ENTITY, BUT PREVIOUSLY THEY DID NOT HAVE ONE.
SO THEY'VE DEDICATED EMAIL ENTITY ACCOUNT FOR THIS PURPOSE, UH, IN THE HOPES THAT WE CAN, UM, MAKE SURE THAT WE GIVE, UM, QUALITY SERVICE AND A QUALITY EXPERIENCE TO THE CUSTOMERS THAT PARTICIPATE, UM, IN THE RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM.
ONE OF THE THINGS I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT, UH, THAT WE'VE, WE, UH, WORKED ON LAST YEAR, UH, IN THE LAST QUARTER IS A MASSIVE UPDATE OF ALL OF THE LEARN MORE FORMS THAT CUSTOMERS HAVE ACCESS TO THAT WORK IS STILL UNDERWAY.
UM, IT WAS TAKING THE TAKE DOWN OF ALL OF THE FORMS THAT ARE CURRENTLY FACING OUR CUSTOMERS AND, UM, SIMPLIFYING THEM WHERE NEED BE, UM, MAKING SURE THAT WE HIGHLIGHT WHERE PERMITS ARE NEEDED AND, AND, UM, THE LOCAL AND STATE GUIDELINES THAT NEED TO BE ADHERED TO, TO REDUCE CONFUSION AND, UM, JUST GIVING THEM, UM, A LOOK AND FEEL THAT, UM, UM, IS MORE PLEASANT, UM, AND, UM, EASIER TO UNDERSTAND.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE INTRODUCED THE WELCOME HOME POSTCARDS.
UH, SO, UH, WHEN WE HAVE CUSTOMERS THAT ESTABLISHED SERVICE WITH US, WE SEND A WELCOME HOME, UM, POSTCARD TO THEM, LETTING THEM KNOW ABOUT THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM AND DIRECTING THEM TO THE WEBSITE SO THEY CAN FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND HOW TO PARTICIPATE.
LAST YEAR, WE MET OUR, UH, DISTRIBUTION GOAL FOR OUR WATER SAVINGS KIDS OF 3000.
UH, AND WE'RE CURRENTLY LOOKING AT, UH, OTHER WATER KIT VENDORS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE USING THE MOST EFFICIENT, UM, KIT COMPONENTS POSSIBLE.
AND ALSO, UH, LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN EXPAND THE KIT, UM, OR, UH, UPDATE THE KIT, UH, TO FURTHER INCREASE, UM, THE REALIZATION OF SAVINGS.
AND HOPEFULLY YOU GUYS, AREN'T SICK OF THIS FORMAT.
I KNOW IT'S BEEN USED FOR A WHILE, UH, BUT I WANTED TO SHARE, UH, JUST A YEAR OVER YEAR COMPARISON, UH, FOR THE THREE, THE PREVIOUS THREE-YEAR CYCLE, UH, FOR THE PROGRAM ACROSS THE NEW CONSTRUCTION PARTICIPATION AND THE RESIDENTIAL RETROFIT, UM, PARTICIPATION, YOU WILL SEE THAT THE HOME IMPROVEMENT BAR, UH, KIND OF STRETCHES OUT PRETTY FAR IN ALL THREE YEARS.
AND THAT IS BECAUSE THAT INCLUDES THE RESIDENTIAL RETROFIT HOME IMPROVEMENTS, AS WELL AS, UM, THE WATER KIT DISTRIBUTION.
AND SO YOU WILL SEE, UM, THAT, UH, STRETCH OUT, UH, BEYOND, UH, THE OTHER BARS LAST YEAR, THIS, UM, THE, UH, RESIDENTIAL, UM, PROGRAM SAW A BOOST IN PARTICIPATION, UM, IN THE WATER HEATING OF COURSE, BECAUSE OF THE TANKLESS WATER HEATERS THAT SUSTAINED DAMAGE DURING URI, AND THEN ALSO, UM, AN INCREASE IN HOME PERFORMANCE WITH ENERGY STAR PARTICIPATION AS WELL.
UM, SO, UM, WE WERE HAPPY THAT, UM, WE WERE ABLE TO ASSIST CUSTOMERS THAT WERE IMPACTED BY THAT STORM.
UM, WE CLOSED OUT THE YEAR, UH, IN THE LOW INCOME AND FREE EQUIPMENT PROGRAM BY ASSISTING 109 FAMILIES, UM, THAT INCLUDED 178 APPLIANCES REPLACED, UH,
[00:40:01]
IN THE FALL.UH, WE INITIATED A PROGRAM TO, UH, REACH OUT, UH, BEYOND OUR NORMAL REFERRAL SOURCES.
RIGHT NOW WE RECEIVE REFERRALS FROM, UH, MEALS ON WHEELS AND AUSTIN ENERGY'S WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM.
AND THOSE ARE OUR LARGEST REFERRAL SOURCES, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING THE PROGRAM AWARENESS INTO THE HANDS OF THOSE THAT REALLY NEEDED IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO WE, UH, REACHED OUT TO A NUMBER OF OTHER AGENCIES THAT WE BELIEVE COULD PARTNER WITH US TO HELP US GET THE WORD OUT AND, AND REACH THOSE FAMILIES AND HOUSEHOLDS.
UM, AND WE SAW SOME RESPONSE AND WE'RE CONTINUING THAT EFFORT THROUGH THIS SPRING.
SO WE'RE HOPING TO, UH, ESTABLISH SOME NEW RELATIONSHIPS THAT MAYBE REKINDLE SOME OLD RELATIONSHIPS AS WELL.
UH, ANOTHER THING WE DID IS, UH, REVIEWED THE, UM, REIMBURSEMENT RATES THAT WE OFFER TO THE CONTRACTORS THAT PARTICIPATE IN OUR PROGRAM.
UM, WE DO NOT WANT TO, UM, UH, IGNORE THE FACT THAT THEY'RE, UH, INFLATION IS, IS HAPPENING.
AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROTECT THE RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR CONTRACTORS AS WELL.
UM, THEY DO PROVIDE A SERVICE TO A CERTAIN DEGREE THAT THEY DO NOT INVOICE US FOR, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN THEY DO, WE ARE PAYING THEM, UM, UM, RATES THAT ARE COMPETITIVE SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING OUR CUSTOMERS THAT PARTICIPATE IN THE LOW-INCOME AND FREQUENT PROGRAM, QUALITY SERVICE, UM, SERVICE, THAT, THAT, THAT WILL BE, UM, SOMETHING THAT THE, THE, THE, UH, CONTRACTORS WILL STAND BEHIND.
THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
AND I AM AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT ANYONE MAY HAVE.
UH, APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE, UH, COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS FOR JASMINE ON THE EFFICIENCY PROGRAM.
UH, SO LARRY GRAHAM FROM ALSO FROM TEXAS GAS, UH, IS, UH, GOING TO STEP UP AND GIVE US A, A PRESENTATION ON CLIMATE.
I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO QUEUE UP.
SO YOU SHOULD BE LIVE WHENEVER, WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.
JONATHAN HAD ASKED ME TO COME TO KIND OF GIVE US AN UPDATE, GIVE YOU ALL AN UPDATE ON THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN.
SO IT'S A SHORT PRESENTATION, OTHER PEOPLE ON THE AAV DEPARTMENT ABLE TO SHARE THAT PRESENTATION.
WE'LL, UH, WE'LL GET STARTED AS SOON AS SOON AS IT'S UP.
JASMINE, DO YOU, BY CHANCE HAPPEN TO HAVE IT AVAILABLE ON YOUR SYSTEM? JUST GOING TO SAY IF I HAD IT, I WOULD SHARE IT, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE I HAVE IT.
DID YOUR COMMISSIONER, IF YOU WANT TO FORWARD TO ME, LARRY, I CAN TRY TO OTHER GO.
ADVANCE THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THAT'S HELPFUL ABOUT TEXAS GAS.
SO WE'RE IN THREE STATES, OKLAHOMA, UH, KANSAS AND TEXAS, AND WE'RE ALL OVER THE STATE OF TEXAS, YOU KNOW, SO MORE THAN JUST AUSTIN, BUT WE DO HAVE 231,000 CUSTOMERS THAT'S INSIDE THE CITY OF AUSTIN, 320,000 IN THE SERVICE AREA.
THE SERVICE AREA ALSO INCLUDES GALVESTON AND PORT ARTHUR AND SOME OF THE NEIGHBORING CITIES AROUND AUSTIN.
UM, YEAH, SO, LIKE I SAID, JONATHAN ASKED, YOU KNOW, A RESPONSE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF WHERE WE ARE WITH THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN.
I THINK YOU ALL KNOW IS ADOPTED BY THE CITY, I BELIEVE IN SEPTEMBER.
AND SO I WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT THE, THE PLAN, AND THIS IS THE GOAL, UM, SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS.
UM, THOSE ARE CARBON, UM, AND, UH, LOWERING ALL NATURAL GAS RELATED EMISSIONS BY 30%.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S JUST, SO WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE.
THAT'S THE GOAL FROM THE PLAN? SO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, AND FROM THE PLAN, THIS IS LIKE I SAID, THIS IS ALSO
[00:45:01]
FROM THE PLAN.WE WERE KIND OF GIVEN, I GUESS, FIVE DIFFERENT STRATEGIES TO HELP US REDUCE EMISSIONS.
AND REALLY THE POINT TONIGHT IS JUST TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE, WE'RE WORKING AND EXPLORING ON ALL OF THESE.
I DON'T HAVE ANY TANGIBLE, YOU KNOW, PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO START, THAT I'M ABLE TO ANNOUNCE TONIGHT.
BUT I DO WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE'RE WORKING ON ALL OF THESE.
SO LET'S, UH, YOU KNOW, RENEWABLE NATURAL GAS IS A BIG ONE.
SO JUST ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, I THINK IT WAS FEBRUARY, 2020, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR, UM, SPONSORED A COUNCIL RESOLUTION AND IT ASKS US TO DO SOME WORK.
AND WE CONTRACTED WITH A CONSULTING FIRM, UH, TO LOOK AT WHERE IS RENEWABLE, NATURAL GAS AVAILABLE, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY IN THE CITY, BUT ALSO KIND OF IN OUR SERVICE AREA, YOU KNOW, WELL, HOW MUCH IS IT POSSIBLE TO USE THE, TO PUT IN THE GAS, OUR GAS SYSTEM? AND SO THE FIRST PROJECT THAT REALLY POPPED OUT THAT WE'VE BEEN KIND OF INTERESTED IN IS ONE AT THE AUSTIN WATER UTILITY AT HORTON HORNSBY BEND, UH, THEIR BIOSOLIDS MANAGEMENT PLANT.
AND SO THAT ONE HAS A LOT OF PROMISE BECAUSE THEY CURRENTLY HAVE A DIGESTER THERE AND THEY CURRENTLY ARE PRODUCING METHANE.
AND IT HONESTLY BE PRETTY EASY FOR US TO TAKE THE EXCESS METHANE AND PUT IT INTO OUR SYSTEM.
UM, AND SO WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET, YOU KNOW, WORK WITH THE WATER UTILITY.
WE DID GET A STATEMENT FROM THEM ON KIND OF WHERE THEY ARE RIGHT NOW.
UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK MY, THE VIDEO OF ME IS BLOCKING PART OF THIS.
UM, BUT THEY, THEY DID ISSUE A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION RECENTLY AND THEY'RE REVIEWING THOSE.
I THINK MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO BRING IN A DEVELOPER TO, TO DEVELOP THE, UH, THE, THE, THE PROJECT.
AND THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT THEY NEED TO FIGURE OUT.
UH, BUT ANYWAY, THE, THE, THAT PROJECT SHOWS THE MOST PROMISE, BUT WE'RE, BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT OTHERS.
SO, YOU KNOW, THE, UM, THE STRATEGIES ALSO TALKED THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM.
YOU JUST HEARD JASMINE'S UPDATE.
I THINK IT'S, EVERYBODY KNOWS THE, THE EXISTING PROGRAMS WERE REAUTHORIZED IN DECEMBER FOR THREE YEARS.
SO WE DO HAVE THESE REBATES IN PLACE FOR THREE YEARS.
I THINK THERE WAS SOME LANGUAGE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, EXPANDING THEM, BUT I THINK WHAT WE HAVE IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS, UH, NEXT SLIDE.
SO, YOU KNOW, SOME THINGS THAT GAS UTILITIES CAN DO THAT WE'RE DOING TO REDUCE EMISSIONS, AND THE FIRST PART IS PIPELINE REPLACEMENT.
SO WE'VE HAD A PRETTY AGGRESSIVE PROGRAM.
THE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS IN AUSTIN, ESPECIALLY REPLACING VINTAGE PIPE AND, UH, OLDER PIE WHERE THERE IS A SMALL AMOUNT OF LEAKAGE THAT, THAT HAPPENS.
THE OTHER THING IS ADVANCED LEAK DETECTION.
UM, WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, AS PART OF OUR PROGRAM AND PART OF OUR, THE REGULATORY, UM, THINGS THAT WE DO IS WE DO ADVANCED LEAK DETECTION.
WE DO LEAK SURVEYS OF DIFFERENT GAS MAINS, YOU KNOW, UH, TWICE A YEAR.
IT KIND OF DEPENDS ON THE AGE OF THE PIPE.
AND SO THERE'S NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT CAN DO A BETTER JOB OF DETECTING THE LEAKS.
AND THEN WE FIND THEM, WE OBVIOUSLY REPLACED THE PIPES.
AND SO THE, THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON THAT WE'RE DOING TO HELP REDUCE EMISSIONS.
AND I THINK A DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF THE EMISSIONS COME FROM OLDER PIPE.
SO AT SOME POINT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ALL OF THE OLDER PIPE REPLACED AND THAT'LL BE A GOOD THING.
UM, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE, THESE ARE JUST SOME COMPANY-WIDE STATISTICS, UM, THAT WE HAVE THIS ISN'T JUST FOR AUSTIN, BUT I THINK IT SHOWS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO MAKE SOME PRETTY IMPORTANT REDUCTIONS IN THE LEAKS TO OUR SYSTEM BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE WORK WE HAVE DONE TO REPLACE PIPE THE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS.
AND AGAIN, THE, THESE, THESE NUMBERS ARE NOT AUSTIN THEY'RE THEY'RE COMPANY-WIDE.
UM, SO LIKE I SAID, I DON'T HAVE ANY PROJECTS THAT I CAN TELL YOU TODAY THAT WE'RE READY TO ANNOUNCE, BUT I DO WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED RENEWABLE NATURAL GAS, UM, WITH SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS, WITH A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE, EXPLORING DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT POTENTIAL PROJECTS.
IN ADDITION TO THE HORNSBY BAND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT, IN OUR, IN OUR TERMS, WHAT WE CALL EITHER THE PHYSICAL OR TRANSACTIONAL,
[00:50:01]
RENEWABLE NATURAL GAS.SO THE PHYSICAL IS LITERALLY PUTTING THAT LIKE WE WOULD DO AT HORNSBY BAND AND PUT IT INTO THE SYSTEM AND THAT GAS WILL BE BURNED.
THERE'S ALSO A TRANSACTIONAL, WHICH MEANS THAT IT COULD BE PUT IN SOMEONE ELSE'S SYSTEM AND WE WOULD TAKE CREDIT FOR IT.
SO WE'RE LEARNING AND EXPLORING ABOUT THAT.
LIKE I MENTIONED, WE'RE IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE WATER UTILITY, WE'RE ALSO RESEARCHING OTHER STATES AND OTHER UTILITIES, HOW THEY'RE DOING RENEWABLE NATURAL GAS TO SEE WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T.
AND HONESTLY, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION AND WE'RE, WE'RE LEARNING, WE'RE JUST NOT READY TO ANNOUNCE ANYTHING, UM, TONIGHT, UH, ANY, YOU KNOW, ANY PROJECTS TONIGHT.
AND WE JUST NEED TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE SAY PUBLICLY, BUT I DO WANT TO STRESS THAT THERE'S A LOT OF WORK GOING ON, UM, IN THESE AREAS.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S IT, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE, HAVEN'T HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS WITH THE, UM, OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY LATELY, TO BE HONEST.
UM, BUT WE ARE CONTINUING TO WORK.
CAUSE WE, WE SEE THAT GOAL AND WE KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE FOR US TO GET THERE.
AND WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE COMMITTED TO DOING THAT.
IT'S JUST GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME AND SOME WORK.
UM, SO THAT'S WHAT I HAVE HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
LARRY, THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND THEN, UH, UH, SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAS ANY THE, UH, SO THAT 30% REDUCTION BY 2030, THAT TARGET, UM, IT'S GOING TO BE A STRUGGLE TO MEET THAT JUST WITH, WITH EFFICIENCY.
SO DO YOU THINK THAT, ARE YOU THINKING RENEWABLE NATURAL GAS IS PROBABLY YOUR BEST PATH? YEAH, I THINK SO.
IS THERE ANYTHING THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU MENTIONED LIKE THE HORNSBY BIN OR PERHAPS OTHER PROJECTS, HOW CAN WE HELP ADVANCE THAT AND MAKE IT HAPPEN FASTER? I MEAN, I, I APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, I'M NOT SURE, YOU KNOW, UM, I'M NOT SURE I MAY TALK TO YOU OFFLINE ABOUT THAT.
UM, I MAY HAVE SOME IDEAS OFFLINE.
UM, YOU KNOW, HONESTLY THE, IT, I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S A, THEY NEED TO BE CAREFUL WHAT I SAY, IF IT'S THE BIGGEST PRIORITY FOR THE WATER UTILITY AND WE WANT, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THEY HAVE A LOT GOING ON, OBVIOUSLY THEY'VE HAD A BAD COUPLE OF WEEKS, BUT, UM, WE, WE WANT TO WORK WITH THEM TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN BECAUSE I THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOOD FOR US BE GOOD FOR THE WHOLE CITY.
AND LIKE I SAID, THAT ONE JUST SEEMS TO HAVE THE MOST PROMISE RIGHT NOW.
LIKE I SAID, WE'RE LOOKING AT OTHERS AS WELL, SO, YEAH.
AND I, UH, YOU KNOW, I, I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE.
UH, WE, WE RECOGNIZE THE CHALLENGE THAT YOU GUYS FACE, UM, IN, YOU KNOW, KIND OF, UH, YOU KNOW, WHOLESALE OVERHAUL OF, UH, YOU KNOW, YOUR, THEIR BUSINESS, BUT SIMILAR TO THE WAY THE ELECTRIC INDUSTRY, UH, DID THE CHALLENGE THEY FACED, YOU KNOW, 15 YEARS AGO.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY HERE, UM, FOR, FOR COMPANIES THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, WILLING TO KIND OF, YOU KNOW, TACKLE THIS PROBLEM, HEAD ON, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, AND I THINK WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL IS, IS KIND OF QUANTIFYING HOW DO YOU GET THERE? UH, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE GET TO NET ZERO, UH, IN, IN THE TIMELINE THAT THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN CALLS FOR AND WHAT ARE KIND OF SOME, SOME REALISTIC INTERIM TARGETS AND IN THAT, IN THAT TIMELINE AND HOW ARE YOU ACTUALLY GOING TO DO IT? I HA HAVE YOU GUYS GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE, YOU KNOW, YOU KIND OF HAVE THOSE PROJECTIONS AND EVEN IF IT'S A PRELIMINARY, LIKE HOW ARE WE ACTUALLY GONNA GOING TO GET THERE EVEN, EVEN THE 2030 GOAL? YEAH.
I MEAN, I, I WOULD SAY WE HAVEN'T GOT THERE, BUT WE ARE WORKING ON IT.
W I WAS IN A MEETING RECENTLY, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE EXACT SAME THING.
LIKE, THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
WE NEED TO PENCIL IT OUT AND FIGURE OUT, OKAY, WHAT IS THE PATH? I MEAN, IT'S EIGHT YEARS.
SO, UM, SO I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'RE THINKING THE SAME WAY AND WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, AND I DO THINK THAT WE'RE THINKING RNG IS THE WAY THAT WE WILL GET THERE.
IT WON'T BE JUST, YOU KNOW, MORE REBATES AND, YOU KNOW, FEWER LEAKS, THE SYSTEM'S PRETTY TIGHT AS IT IS.
WE'RE JUST WORKING TO IMPROVE IT.
AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER SOLUTION THAT KIND OF GETS BANDIED AROUND A LOT THESE DAYS IS, IS, IS THE HYDROGEN, THE, THE TOPIC OF HYDROGEN GREEN USING GREEN HYDROGEN.
BUT I JUST, JUST TO CLARIFY, SO IT, IT, THE REASON THAT ORANGY IS MAYBE THE PREFERRED FOCUS OVER THE HYDROGEN, IT JUST BECAUSE ORANGE CAN BE USED IN BUILDINGS
[00:55:01]
SYSTEMS AS THEY EXIST TODAY.CORRECT? YEAH, THAT'S CORRECT.
THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE, UH, YOU KNOW, OUT AT HORNSBY BEND, IT WOULDN'T TAKE MUCH TO JUST, WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO DO MUCH TO CLEAN THAT GAS TO PUT IT IN THE SYSTEM.
SO, UM, COMMISSIONERS, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY, ANY QUESTIONS FOR LARRY? YOU JUST REMIND US, UH, APPROXIMATELY WHAT PERCENTAGE, IF YOU'RE ABLE TO GET THAT GAS FROM HORNSBY BEND, HOW MUCH, UH, THAT WOULD PROVIDE COMPARED TO WHAT YOU'RE SELLING TO AUSTIN CUSTOMERS? UM, KAYLA, I DON'T KNOW THAT, I MEAN, CLEARLY IT'S A SMALL PERCENTAGE.
I MEAN, I DON'T WANT TO OVERSTATE THAT.
UM, BUT BECAUSE SOME OF THAT IS VENTED RIGHT NOW, IT, THE BENEFITS ARE PRETTY IMPRESSIVE, BUT YEAH, THE IT'S A FRACTION OF WHAT WE, I DON'T KNOW THAT AMOUNT.
AND PART OF THAT IS WE HAVEN'T GOT THAT INFORMATION FROM THEM, BUT I, SO IT WOULD BE AN IMPORTANT STEP FOR US, BUT I DON'T WANT TO, YOU KNOW, TO GIVE YOU THE IMPRESSION THAT IT'S A HUGE AMOUNT OF GAS RELATIVE TO WHAT WE DISTRIBUTE IN THE CITY.
SO ARE THERE WAYS TO GET A RENEWABLE NATURAL GAS, OR ARE YOU ALREADY DOING THAT FROM THE LANDFILLS? WE'RE NOT IN A, YOU KNOW, I AM NOT AN EXPERT, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT MOST OF THE METHANE THAT'S PRODUCED AT NEARBY LANDFILLS IS ALREADY SPOKEN FOR AND IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR US.
AGAIN, ONE OF THE REASONS IS HORNSBY BEND IS EXCITING TO US AS A FIRST PROJECT IS WE HAVE A GAS MAIN, VERY CLOSE.
IT WOULDN'T TAKE MUCH FOR US TO TAKE THE METHANE THAT'S PRODUCED AND INTRODUCE IT TO OUR SYSTEM.
I MEAN, AND SO ONE OF THE ISSUES YOU HAVE IS, YOU KNOW, THERE COULD BE A LANDFILL OR AN ANIMAL FEEDING OPERATION, YOU KNOW, 40 MILES FROM HERE.
AND THERE'S THE ISSUE OF GETTING IT IN THE METHANE INTO OUR SYSTEM, RIGHT? HOW FAR AWAY ARE WE NOW? WE ARE IN, WE ARE IN SOME RURAL CITIES, LOCKHART, LILLIAN CUERO, ET CETERA.
UM, SO, SO WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING AT A NUMBER OF THINGS, BUT, BUT, BUT THAT ONE IS WE THINK THE EASIEST AND MOST FEASIBLE ONE TO DO, ESPECIALLY AS A FIRST PROJECT.
I THINK THERE'S FIRST PROJECTS.
BUT WHEN I LOOK AT THE LIFT, YOU GUYS NEED TO MAKE COMING BACK WITH A LIST OF WHAT ELSE IS AVAILABLE WOULD BE A GOOD STRATEGY FROM YOUR BIT PERSPECTIVE, BUT ALSO FROM US AS AN OVERSIGHT BOARD.
AND WHEN WE, WHEN THAT RESOLUTION WAS PASSED TWO YEARS AGO, YOU KNOW, WE HEARD THAT CONSULTING FIRM AND THEY REALLY HELPED US IDENTIFY ALL THE SOURCES.
AND THERE'S A LOT, THERE'S A LOT OF IT AVAILABLE.
NOW, A LOT OF, IT'S NOT IN THE IMMEDIATE AUSTIN AREA, BUT IT'S IN OUR SERVICE AREA.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES I CAN CHECK.
UM, DOES THIS PROGRAM INCLUDE REPLACING GAS STOVE THAT ARE NOT VENTED BECAUSE THAT WOULD HAVE FALLEN TO LIKE OUR PREVIOUS TOPICS WITH THAT INDOOR OFTEN? I MEAN, NO, WE'RE NOT REPLACING GAS STOVES THAT AREN'T VENTED.
I THINK IN AUSTIN, THERE'S PERMITTING REQUIRED THERE'S REQUIREMENTS THAT THEY ARE VENTED.
I MEAN, I'M NOT AN EXPERT ON THIS, BUT WE'RE NOT CURRENTLY REPLACING STOVES, COMMISSIONERS, ANY, ANY ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT.
SO I JUST WOULD, RE-EMPHASIZE THIS COMMISSION WE WANT TO, WE WANT TO WORK WITH YOU GUYS.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY LOOKING FOR YOU TO COME WITH A, YOU KNOW, JUST A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT, BUT WE'RE WILLING TO EVEN, YOU KNOW, WORK WITH YOU AND HOW, HOW DO WE SET, UM, INTERIM TARGETS AND WHAT ARE, YOU KNOW, LIKELY PROJECTS AND, UH, FIGURING OUT HOW DO WE ACTUALLY ADVANCE, UH, ANY OF THOSE PROJECTS.
UM, YOU KNOW, YOU MENTIONED THAT, THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE, UM, WOULD, WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU BACK AT SOME POINT TO KIND OF DISCUSS THOSE IN MORE SPECIFICS.
UM, AND, AND EVEN IF THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, EXAMPLES FROM YOUR PARENT COMPANY THAT THEY'RE DOING IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS THAT COULD BE APPLIED TO AUSTIN OR OTHER SIMILAR GAS UTILITIES, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM.
THAT'S, THAT'S UNIQUE TO YOU GUYS TO TGS.
UH, LARRY, I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.
UM, AS ALWAYS WE'LL, WE'LL TALK TO YOU VERY MUCH.
[01:00:01]
UH, NEXT UP, UH,[4. Quarterly update from Austin Water.]
FROM AUSTIN WATER.ALL RIGHT, KEVIN, THE FLOOR IS YOURS AND GO THIS QUITE RIGHT HERE.
I THINK IT'S LIKE A RESOLUTION ISSUE.
CAN YOU LIKE, MAKE IT FULL SCREEN OR MAYBE ZOOM OUT? WAIT IT, MOVE IT FORWARD A LITTLE BIT MORE, A LITTLE BIT LESS.
HI, GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.
I AM THE WATER CONSERVATION MANAGER FROM AUSTIN WATER.
AND THIS AGENDA IS TO GIVE A BRIEF UPDATE REGARDING WATER CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES.
WE'LL START OUT WITH A QUICK LOOK AT THE WATER SUPPLY OUTLOOK.
THEN GO ON TO TALK ABOUT ONGOING ACTIVITIES AT AUSTIN WATER IN REGARDS TO WATER CONSERVATION AND DISCUSS SOME NEW ACTIVITIES.
AS YOU MAY HAVE SEEN IN THE MONTHLY CONSERVATION REPORT.
THESE ARE THE WATER SUPPLY PROJECTIONS FROM THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER AUTHORITY FROM FEBRUARY 1ST OF THIS YEAR.
UH, THESE PROJECTIONS ARE IMPROVEMENT FROM THE PROJECTIONS FROM IN JANUARY, WHERE THEY SAW EVEN THE, THE MEDIAN CONDITIONS, UH, HEADING TOWARDS STAGE ONE DROUGHT IN THE SUMMERTIME UNDER THESE PROJECTIONS, WE HAVE THE ORANGE AND RED LINES, WHICH ARE THE DRY AND EXTREMELY DRY CONDITIONS HEADING DOWN TOWARDS THE STAGE ONE DROUGHT RESTRICTIONS, WHICH IS ILLUSTRATED BY THE BLACK DOTTED LINE GOING ACROSS IN MAY OR JUNE.
BUT IF WE PROCEED UNDER MEDIAN, UH, CONDITIONS, WE MAY, UH, GET OUT OR MAY AVOID STAGE ONE DRUG RESTRICTIONS, UH, THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER.
ONGOING ACTIVITIES, OUR EFFORTS TO ENCOURAGE THE ADOPTION OF, OF WATER REUSE, CONTINUE BOTH FOR THE ONSITE WATER REUSE SIDE OF THE, UH, COMPONENT, AND THEN THE CENTRALIZED RECLAIM SYSTEMS ON THE ONSITE WATER REUSE.
UM, WE HAVE AN INCENTIVE PROGRAM THAT WAS ESTABLISHED LAST YEAR BACK IN 2021, IN WHICH WE INCENTIVIZE LARGE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS TO DEVELOP ONSITE WATER REUSE PROJECTS IN THEIR BUILDINGS.
UH, IF PROJECTS THAT REPLACE 1 MILLION GALLONS OF POTABLE WATER IN A YEAR WITH THIS, THESE, THIS REUSE WATER ARE ELIGIBLE FOR $250,000 PROJECTS THAT OFFSET 3 MILLION GALLONS OF POTABLE WATER A YEAR ARE ELIGIBLE FOR $500,000.
AT THIS POINT, WE HAVE ONE APPLICATION UNDER REVIEW TO A RATHER LARGE PROJECT.
UH, UNFORTUNATELY IT'S NOT QUITE OUT OF REVIEW, SO I CAN'T REALLY SPEAK TOO MUCH ABOUT IT, BUT I CAN CELEBRATE THAT.
WE HAVE ONE PROJECT THAT HAS GONE THROUGH REVIEW AND HAS RECENTLY RECEIVED A LETTER RESERVING FUNDS, UH, FOR THEIR PROJECT.
AND THIS PROJECT IS FROM THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE OR THEIR HIGHLAND CAMPUS.
AND THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT WE'LL UTILIZE AC CONDENSATE AND RAINWATER FROM TWO OF THEIR BUILDINGS, TAKE THAT WATER STORED IN A 677,000 GALLON CISTERN UNDERNEATH THEIR PARKING GARAGE.
THAT WATER WILL THEN BE USED FOR IRRIGATION AROUND THE PARKING GARAGE AND IN A NEARBY PARK.
THE ANTICIPATED COMPLETION DATE FOR THIS PROJECT IS ACTUALLY JUNE 30TH OF THIS YEAR.
UH, SO THAT'LL BE EXCITING TO SEE THAT DONE AND WE'LL ANTICIPATE WE'LL OFFSET 1.9 MILLION GALLONS OF POTTABLE WATER A YEAR.
SO WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE THAT PROJECT MOVE FORWARD AND UTILIZE THAT INCENTIVE PROGRAM.
ALSO AT THE UP AT THE HIGHLAND MALL AREA IS THE CITY'S PERMITTING AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER, A RELATIVELY NEW CENTER.
AND AT THAT CENTER, THEY HAVE THE BLACK HAWK, BLACK WATER RECYCLING, UM,
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PRO UH, SYSTEM IN WHICH THEY UTILIZE UP TO 5,000 GALLONS OF WATER FROM TOILETS AND SINKS AND RECYCLE THAT FOR RECYCLING IN THE AREA.UH, CLARA STANDS FOR CLOSED LOOP, ADVANCED RECYCLING ASSEMBLY, UH, FOR, FOR THE TECHNICAL FOLKS.
UH, THAT PROCESS THAT SYSTEM IS, IS BEING, UH, IS, IS WORKING NOW A RECYCLING WATER STAFF HAVE BEEN MET WITH A NUMBER OF CHALLENGES WITH THE SYSTEM.
UH, NOT ONLY BECAUSE IT'S A NEW AND COMPLICATED SYSTEM, BUT BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A LOT OF FOLKS WORKING UP THE, UH, PROFESSION OF THE PERMANENT AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER AT THIS POINT.
SO IT CREATES SOME CHALLENGES ON THE INFLOW SIDE, AS WELL AS THE TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF THAT, BUT IT IS WORKING.
THEY'RE WORKING THROUGH THOSE PRO UH, ANY PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES AND LEARNING HOW THEY CAN HELP FUTURE COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS WITH THESE, UH, BLACK WATER RECYCLING SYSTEMS ON THE RECLAIMED WATER SIDE, THE CENTRALIZED RECLAIM WATERSIDE BACK IN SEPTEMBER OF 2021, YOU MAY RECALL THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL EXTENDED THE DISTANCE FROM RECLAIM LINES, UM, FROM WHICH LARGE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS HAVE TO HOOK UP TO THE RECLAIMED LINES PREVIOUSLY, IF A NEW LARGE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT WAS DOING WITHIN 250 FEET OF THE PURPLE PIPE, THE RECLAIMED LINE, THEY HAD TO HOOK UP.
NOW IT'S WITHIN 500 FEET, UH, THAT LARGE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS ARE REQUIRED TO HOOK UP TO INCENTIVIZE THOSE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS THAT DO NOT HAVE TO HOOK UP, UM, BUT ARE CLOSE TO A RECLAIMED LINE.
WE STARTED IN INCENTIVE PROGRAM LAST YEAR, UH, TO PROVIDE FUNDING, TO OFFSET, TO ENCOURAGE THESE COMPANIES, TO CONVERT THEIR IRRIGATION SYSTEMS OR THEIR COOLING TOWERS, TO USE RECLAIMED WATER UP TO A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS PER ACCOUNT.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY YET THAT WE CAN CROW ABOUT.
UH, WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT, UH, UH, COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS.
OF COURSE, IT TAKES THEM TIME TO CONSIDER IF THAT'S WERE WORTH IT FOR THEM.
UH, BUT WE HAVE BEEN HAVING DISCUSSIONS WITH CUSTOMERS AND HOPE TO HAVE SOMETHING TO BRING BACK TO YOU.
NEXT TIME I COME, UH, REGARDING THE USE OF THIS INCENTIVE TO GET PEOPLE OFF PORTABLE WATER ONTO RECLAIMED WATER, ALSO ONGOING EFFORTS.
FIRST, I WANTED TO REPORT ABOUT OUR, OUR PARTNERSHIP EFFORTS WITH AUSTIN ENERGY.
THERE'S BEEN TWO PROJECTS THAT WE'VE BEEN PARTNERING WITH.
FIRST OF ALL, THE INSTANT SAVINGS PROGRAM THAT AUSTIN ENERGY HAS BEEN PURSUING FOR SEVERAL YEARS IN WHICH THEY WORK WITH A THIRD-PARTY VENDOR, CLEARER CLEAR RESULT.
I THINK YOU HEARD THAT IN AN EARLIER PRESENTATION, BUT THEY WORK WITH CLEARESULT TO PROVIDE INSTANT REBATES TO CUSTOMERS IN RETAIL STORES FOR ENERGY SAVING DEVICES.
SO INSTEAD OF A REBATE WHERE THEY HAVE TO SEND SOMETHING IN, IF THEY BUY LED BULBS OR A SMART POWER STRIPS, WHAT HAVE YOU, INSTEAD OF HAVING A REBATE WHERE THEY HAVE TO SEND IT IN, THEY GET THAT COST SAVINGS RIGHT AT THE STORE.
SO WE'RE DIPPING OUR TOE IN WITH AUSTIN ENERGY REGARDING THIS WITH A RELATIVELY SIMPLE HOSE TIMER, $5 OFF AT LOWE'S THAT ACTUALLY STARTED YESTERDAY ON THE 14TH TO SEE IF THAT'S A OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GET MORE WATER SAVING DEVICES OUT THERE WITH INSTANT SAVINGS, RATHER THAN A REBATE REQUIRING PEOPLE TO SEND THINGS IN.
ALSO WITH AUSTIN ENERGY, WE ARE WORKING WITH THEM REGARDING THE ALL-STAR PROGRAM.
THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT AUSTIN ENERGY AGAIN, HAS DONE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS IN WHICH THEY CREATE KITS BOXES.
AS YOU SEE UP ON THE SCREEN WITH ENERGY SAVING DEVICES AND INFORMATION AND WATER SAVING DEVICES AND INFORMATION THAT WILL BE PUT TOGETHER FOR ALL SIXTH GRADERS IN THE AUSTIN AREA.
UM, IN PREVIOUS YEARS, I BELIEVE IT WAS JUST AUSTIN ISD.
SO THERE'S ABOUT 5406TH GRADERS, BUT THEY'RE TRYING TO EXPAND THAT TO ALL OF THE AUSTIN ENERGY SERVICE AREA.
SO THAT'LL BE UPWARDS TOWARDS 7006TH GRADERS THAT WERE RECEIVED THESE KITS WITH, UH, ENERGY SAVING INFORMATION AND WATER SAVING INFORMATION TO TAKE HOME.
SO, UH, THEY EXPERIENCED SOME PROBLEMS PUTTING THESE TOGETHER, AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE, WITH ALL THE SUPPLY CHAINS ISSUES TO GET ALL THESE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS TOGETHER.
SO THAT'S BEEN DELAYED A BIT, BUT THEY'RE ANTICIPATING THAT THOSE BOXES, THOSE KITS WILL BE PUT TOGETHER IN THE NEXT MONTH
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OR TWO TO GET THEM OUT TO TEACHERS.SO THEY WON'T BE IN THE CLASSROOM THIS SCHOOL YEAR, BUT THERE'LL BE READY FOR TEACHERS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.
SO WE'RE EXCITED TO BE PARTNERING WITH AUSTIN ENERGY IN THOSE TWO PROGRAMS TO HELP GET THE WORD OUT FOR WATER CONSERVATION.
AND THEN FINALLY, FOR ONGOING EFFORTS, I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW ABOUT CONSERVATION STAFF LEADING THE EFFORT TO IMPLEMENT THE LANDSCAPE TRANSFORMATION ORDINANCE, WHICH IS IN THE WATER FORWARD 2018 PLAN.
THIS STRATEGY IN THE WATERFORD PLAN IS ENVISIONED TO CREATE WATER SAVINGS, UH, THROUGH NOT ONLY LANDSCAPE AND IRRIGATION INCENTIVE PROGRAMS FOR RESIDENTIAL HOMES, BUT ALSO POSSIBLY, UH, MANDATING ORDINANCES REGARDING LANDSCAPE, UH, TURF IRRIGATION SYSTEMS. WHAT HAVE YOU IN NEW HOMES? SO THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE JUST KIND OF KICKED OFF LAST WEEK.
WE HAD OUR FIRST STAKEHOLDER MEETING NEXT WEEK.
WE HAVE OUR FIRST PUBLIC MEETING.
UH, WE'RE NOT BRINGING ANY PRECONCEIVED OR PRE DRAFTED ORDINANCES TO THESE INITIAL MEETINGS HERE.
WE'RE JUST MEETING WITH STAKEHOLDERS AND THE PUBLIC DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS TO GET THEIR IDEAS ON WHAT MIGHT BE INCLUDED IN THESE ORDINANCES, REALLY TO TRANSFORM THE WATER USE OF LANDSCAPES, RESIDENTIAL, NEW, NEW RESIDENTIAL LANDSCAPES.
LET ME EMPHASIZE, UH, THROUGHOUT THE CITY, PERHAPS THE BEST PLACE TO GO IS THIS SPEAK UP AUSTIN PAGE.
WE HAVE A LITTLE SQUARE ON THE SPEAK-UP AUSTIN PAGE THAT PROVIDES BASIC INFORMATION, UH, UH, SOME MEETING DATES GOING FORWARD, AND THEN A SURVEY THAT PEOPLE CAN GIVE US THEIR THOUGHTS ON THE LANDSCAPE TRANSFORMATION ORDINANCE.
UM, THIS IS A, THIS IS A VERY SMALL TIMELINE.
PERHAPS IF YOU HAVE THE BACK OF MATERIALS WILL BE EASIER FOR YOU TO SEE, BUT JUST IN TERMS OF THE TIMELINE, AS WAS BRIEFLY MENTIONED ON THE LAST SLIDE, UH, JUST TO THE LEFT OF CENTER IN THIS TIMELINE, YOU MIGHT SEE VERY SMALL 2 8 22.
THAT'S WHERE WE KICKED OFF OUR PROCESS.
UH, OVER THIS SPRING AND SUMMER, WE WILL BE TALKING WITH STAKEHOLDERS AND DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND HAVE NUMBER OF PUBLIC MEETINGS, REALLY TO GET A LOT OF IDEAS FROM THE PUBLIC REGARDING WHAT THIS MAY INVOLVE, WHAT THESE MANDATORY ORDINANCES MAY INVOLVE.
UH, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT, PUT THAT ALL TOGETHER IN THE SUMMER, COME BACK WITH SOMETHING TOWARDS THE END OF THE SUMMER TO GET, UH, THOUGHTS ON THESE ORGANIZATIONS, PEOPLE THAT WE'VE SPOKEN TO BEFORE.
UM, AND THEN WE'LL GO THROUGH A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT REVIEWS THROUGH THE CITY, UH, AND THEN WE'LL BE COMING TO A WATER AND WASTEWATER COMMISSION TO THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION AND THE COUNCIL IN LATE 20 22, 23 OVER THE WINTER PERIOD.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE TIMELINE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE LANDSCAPE TRANSFORMATION ORDINANCES? JUST A FEW BRIEF NEW OPPORTUNITIES WITH WINTER COMES A GENERAL LESSENING OF IRRIGATION.
SO STAFF THAT WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY HAD PATROLLING IN THE EVENINGS OR EARLY MORNINGS, UH, TO, TO ENFORCE THE WATERING RESTRICTIONS THAT DAY OF WEEK WATERING RESTRICTIONS WERE BEING, HAVE BEEN REPURPOSED TO ASSIST WITH, UH, RESIDENTIAL IRRIGATION AUDITS, UM, HELPING PEOPLE FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS SYSTEM.