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Environment
City to seek new bids for compost processing
The question of which contractor or contractors will process compostable items is up in the air for now. Currently, those organic items are collected from customers’ green bins under a contract with Austin Resource Recovery. At last week’s Council meeting,…
Resources • By Jo Clifton • Nov 27, 2024
Electric Utility Commission sounds alarm on Austin Energy peaker plant plan, hoping for alternatives
Pivoting from its now-scrapped draft, Austin Energy is putting the finishing touches on its long-awaited Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan proposal, just in time for a vote at the very last City Council meeting of 2024. But first, the…
Energy • By Kali Bramble • Nov 27, 2024
Council approves updated Water Forward, Conservation and Drought Contingency plans
On Thursday, City Council approved updates to Austin’s Water Forward Plan and to the related Conservation and Drought Contingency plans. Water Forward, Austin’s 100-year integrated water resource plan, was first adopted by the city in 2018, after the record-breaking, nearly…
Water • By Mina Shekarchi • Nov 22, 2024
Council will consider new parks funding and management strategies
On Thursday, City Council is slated to approve a resolution from Mayor Pro Tem Leslie Pool that directs the city manager to explore new parks funding strategies; to consider a regional approach to parks funding, acquisition and maintenance; and to…
Parks • By Mina Shekarchi • Nov 21, 2024
SOS sues utility to protect Barton Creek Habitat Preserve
The Save Our Springs Alliance has filed suit against the West Travis County Public Utility Agency and its board of directors, challenging the utility’s decision to condemn 2.685 acres of the Barton Creek Habitat Preserve in Southwest Travis County. SOS…
Development • By Jo Clifton • Nov 21, 2024
Austin Energy proposes gas peaker units, not larger combined cycle plant
Austin Energy has been working for more than a year – collaborating with stakeholders and looking at a variety of technologies, “including energy efficiency, demand response, batteries, rooftop solar expansion and natural gas peaker units or combined-cycle generation and more”…
Energy • By Jo Clifton • Nov 20, 2024
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Austin Energy looking forward to using geothermal energy
While some environmentalists continue to argue against a new gas plant that would serve Austin Energy’s customers when the prices of electricity are at their peak, Mike Enger, the utility’s vice president for energy markets and resource planning, is looking…
Energy • By Jo Clifton • Nov 19, 2024
Tree ordinances continue to take root in Austin
Since 2020, Austin’s tree regulations and protections have preserved a total of 1,397,678 inches of trees within city limits. Thus far in Fiscal Year 2025, 4,670 inches of trees have been surveyed and 4,250 inches have been preserved, with 91…
Environment • By Hunter Simmons • Nov 14, 2024
Updated: Austin Energy still considering options to answer to grid growing pains
As its end-of-year deadline approaches, Austin Energy is busy crunching numbers, hoping to finally nail down a much-anticipated update to its Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan. Update: Following publication of this story, Austin Energy reached out to the Monitor to let…
Energy • By Kali Bramble • Nov 7, 2024
Council slated to approve updates to Water Forward Plan and to Austin Water’s Conservation and Drought Contingency plans
This month, City Council will vote on proposed updates to Austin’s Water Forward Plan and to the related Water Conservation and Drought Contingency plans. During a briefing on Oct. 22, Austin Water Director Shay Ralls Roalson presented an overview of…
Water • By Mina Shekarchi • Nov 5, 2024
Parks and Recreation Board recommends audit of contracts governing city sports fields
The Austin Parks and Recreation Board unanimously voted to recommend that City Council conduct a comprehensive audit of all contracts related to dozens of city-owned baseball and soccer fields. The Austin Parks and Recreation Department frequently contracts with outside organizations…
Parks • By Madeline de Figueiredo • Oct 31, 2024
City shares update on parks-nonprofit relationships
During a special called meeting of City Council’s Audit and Finance Committee on Oct. 9, three speakers stated their concerns about the relationship between the Parks Department and its nonprofit partners, specifically regarding special events and the Trail of Lights.…
