News Archives - Energy Header
News Archives - Energy Header

Do you know where the electricity in your house comes from? Coal? Solar? Nuclear? The answer impacts everything from climate change to environmental justice. That’s why we write stories about the local effort to make Austin’s energy supply more sustainable.

Solar Panel
EcoBits
Amy Stansbury

It’s Here. Solar Power For All.

Austin is a pretty climate conscious city. That’s why for years, our city’s electric utility, Austin Energy, has been providing discounts and rebates to homeowners who install solar panels on their roofs. These programs have not only supported our city’s greenhouse gas emission goals, but

Read More »
Rooftop Solar
EcoBits
Amy Stansbury

Mayors Are Making The Push For Solar Energy

Austin is not the only city making the push for solar energy. Earlier this month, a group of 70 US mayors signed a letter written by the nonprofit organization Environment America, pledging their support for solar energy and its advancement in local communities across the country.   “We, the undersigned U.S.

Read More »
Solar Panel
EcoBits
Amy Stansbury

Less Money. More Solar.

Less money. More solar.   That’s the big takeaway from a new solar contract that Austin City Council approved earlier this month. Now that they have Council’s approval, our city’s electric utility (Austin Energy) will purchase all of the output from a new 150 MW solar plant being built

Read More »
Shudde Fath
EcoBits
Amy Stansbury

There Is No One Quite Like Shudde Fath

There is no one quite like Shudde Fath. At 101 years old, she is one of this city’s most respected environmental leaders. After 40 years of volunteer service on the city’s Electric Utility Commission, Shudde retired earlier this week, receiving a Distinguished Service Award from

Read More »
Austin Green Awards Trophy
EcoBits
Amy Stansbury

The Most Sustainable Designs In Austin

“We no longer want any of our students to think that sustainability is a topic that they can choose to study but rather that it is the very foundation upon which architecture must build.” These were the words of Michelle Addington, the newly appointed dean of

Read More »
Solar Panel
EcoBits
Amy Stansbury

Save The Date For the Solar Business Festival

Sponsored Post – from the Solar Business Festival Interested in the solar industry in Texas? Then save the date for the 2nd Annual Solar Business Festival, taking place November 29th and 30th at the Thompson Conference Center on the University of Texas Campus. The Solar Business Festival (SBF), is the leading solar

Read More »
Congregation Beth Israel
Blogs
Amy Stansbury

Net-Zero Hero: Congregation Beth Israel

Sponsored Post – from the City of Austin Office of Sustainability Austin is green and we all want to keep it that way! As a community, we’re committed to reaching the target of Net-Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, which will ensure a safe, healthy, vibrant

Read More »
Keeping Austin Green
EcoBits
Amy Stansbury

The City of Austin: A Green Power Leader

Once again, the City of Austin has been recognized for being a leader in green energy. The EPA recently released its annual ranking of top Green Power Partners. The City of Austin is fifth in the nation among local governments that purchase renewable energy.  Currently, the City of Austin gets 100 percent

Read More »
Library Bike Coral
EcoBits
Amy Stansbury

Opening Day Set For New Public Library

After several delays, an opening date has finally been set for the new Austin Central Library. October 28th will be the grand opening of our city’s flagship library branch. The new library is located in the Seaholm EcoDistrict, which has been redeveloped in recent years using green design and construction

Read More »
Wind Power
EcoBits
Amy Stansbury

More Renewable Energy For Austin

More renewable energy is coming to Austin. Our city’s publicly-owned electric utility, Austin Energy, just signed to a contract to bring 200 MW of additional wind power online. Once it’s operational, the new wind farm will produce enough electricity to power 54,000 households. This will allow Austin Energy to

Read More »
Rooftop Solar
Blogs
Amy Stansbury

Energy, Climate, and Austin

As the federal government reverses course on climate change policy at the national level, the question remains – how much should local governments do to pick up the slack? In the weeks and months since President Donald Trump announced that he is withdrawing the US

Read More »
Lightbulb Switch
EcoBits
Amy Stansbury

How To Beat The Heat

It’s summer in Austin, which means that the temperatures are rising… and so are the electricity bills. To help you beat the heat (and the high price tag associated with it) our city’s publicly-owned electric utility, Austin Energy, has launched a Summer Savings social media campaign to educate

Read More »