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 plan will face the judgment of the city’s Electric Utility Commission, which voiced concern last […]
Kali Bramble
Posted inEnergy
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 us know that the utility is no longer proposing hydrogen as part of the plan. […]
Posted inDevelopment
West Travis County Public Utility Agency postpones vote on controversial pipeline for luxury resort
After years of speculation, Dallas billionaire Steve Winn is pursuing his dream of bringing luxury to the Hill Country, with plans to develop a sprawling upscale resort on 1,400 acres just south of Hamilton Pool. But given the backlash it met at last week’s West Travis County Public Utility Agency meeting, Winn’s road to success […]
Posted inPreservation
Landmark commission stalls demo of midcentury Baptist church
As East Austin’s Rehoboth Primitive Baptist Church moves on to roomier digs up north, its congregation is preparing to say goodbye to its home of six decades in more ways than one. What was once holy ground at 5303 Samuel Huston Avenue landed on the Historic Landmark Commission’s radar last month, with a request from […]
Posted inPreservation
East Austin bids adieu to another historic bungalow
After a century on East Austin’s Cotton Street, a little blue Craftsman bungalow is finally biting the dust, with new owners getting the go-ahead from the city’s Historic Landmark Commission to proceed with demolition. A different outcome seemed possible just last month, when commissioners voted to initiate the site’s historic zoning based on ties to […]
Posted inEnergy
Austin Energy hopes new solar standard offer can scale up sorely needed local generation
Update 10:35 p.m. Oct. 2: On Monday, the Electric Utility Commission (EUC) approved an update to the city’s solar program after a quick discussion. As Austin Energy grapples with an electric future and unprecedented demands on the grid, the utility is making moves to secure a place for locally generated renewables with a new approach […]
Posted inResources
Council rejects Texas Gas Service rate hike
Despite reining in its initial proposal, Texas Gas Service has still failed to win over City Council in its endeavor to raise prices for Austin ratepayers. The utility faced backlash this summer with news of its plans to aggressively hike fixed monthly fees, prompting Austin and 16 other cities in its service area to join […]
Posted inPreservation
Applications are open for Austin’s Heritage Preservation Grant
The city of Austin is once again opening the floor to bids for its Heritage Preservation Grant, offering funding for preservation and storytelling efforts at historically landmarked sites. The program, funded by the city’s Hotel Occupancy Tax revenue, offers sums ranging from $30,000 to $200,000 for projects at landmark destinations open to the public and […]
Posted inPreservation
Historic Landmark Commission votes to preserve east side building over developer’s wishes
After a lively series of debates, Historic Landmark Commission members are making moves to halt the bulldozing of a century-old building at East 12th and Comal streets. 1500 E. 12th St. caused a stir this past July when owner Eureka Holdings, which holds a large swath of real estate along the 11th Street corridor, filed […]
Posted inLocal Politics
Ethics Commission complaints allege Mayor Watson and challenger Doug Greco violated campaign finance laws
Incumbent Kirk Watson and challenger Doug Greco may soon hit a snag in their respective bids for mayor, with the Ethics Review Commission investigating claims that both broke the same campaign finance law. The complaints, filed by former Commissioner Betsy Greenberg, allege that the candidates exceeded the $46,000 limit on donations sourced from outside the […]
Posted inEnergy
Critics still say hydrogen gas plant would be a dealbreaker in Austin Energy Resource Generation Plan
As Austin Energy continues to iron out the details of its Resource, Generation, and Climate Protection Plan, environmentalists are keeping the pressure on, demanding the utility abandon its proposal to build a new hydrogen-capable combined cycle power plant. Austin Energy says the plant, which would run on natural gas before transitioning to a cleaner hydrogen […]
Posted inPreservation
Umlauf Vision Plan aims to revive iconic sculptor’s home and studio as museum
Plans to significantly expand the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum are continuing to drum up enthusiasm, with Historic Landmark commissioners granting the project their blessing last week. The Umlauf Historic Preservation, Expansion, and Unification Plan hopes to add thousands of square feet in new gallery and programming space while opening up new areas of the […]