December 1st is
A°¼Í¹ÊÓƵ Solar-Powered Facilities Day
On December 1, 2022, the City of Austin Mayor and Council proclaimed A°¼Í¹ÊÓƵ Solar-Powered Facilities Day in recognition of A°¼Í¹ÊÓƵ's achievements in solar power and renewable energy, most notably:
- Austin °¼Í¹ÊÓƵ schools produce more solar power than all other Texas school districts combined, and according to the Environmental Protection Agency, only one school district in the nation purchases more green energy than A°¼Í¹ÊÓƵ.
- Currently, 14 A°¼Í¹ÊÓƵ facilities have rooftop panels, which produce two megawatts of energy, the equivalent of powering 230 homes in Austin.
- A°¼Í¹ÊÓƵ’s solar production and renewable energy use support the City of Austin’s goal of equitably reaching net-zero community-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 2040
- Every modernized school from the 2017 Bond Program was built to be solar-ready. This will also be the standard for the 2022 bond program, which voters approved.
Congratulations to our Austin °¼Í¹ÊÓƵ Sustainability Team and City of Austin Partners
- from left to right
- Rey Torres, A°¼Í¹ÊÓƵ Energy and Water Manager
- Louis Zachary, A°¼Í¹ÊÓƵ Executive Director of Facilities Maintenance
- Steve Adler, City of Austin Mayor
- Darien Clary, A°¼Í¹ÊÓƵ Director Of Sustainability
- Christine Steenport, A°¼Í¹ÊÓƵ Assistant Superintendent Of Operations
- Timothy Harvey, Solar Program Manger, City of Austin
- Kathie Tovo, Council Member, Austin City Council District 9
- Alison Alter, Council Member, Austin City Council District 10
The proclamation reads
Be it known that
Whereas,
The City of Austin has set the goal of equitably reaching net-zero community-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, meaning the Austin community would reduce our use of fossil fuels to nearly zero; and
Whereas,
The Austin Energy Resource, Generation, and Climate Protection Plan aims to achieve a total of 375 megawatts of local solar capacity by the end of 2030, of which 200 megawatts will be customer-sited; and
Whereas,
The °¼Í¹ÊÓƵ District first installed ground-mounted solar arrays in 2002 to produce renewable energy and began installing solar panels on the rooftops of its schools in 2012; and
Whereas,
Currently, 14 A°¼Í¹ÊÓƵ facilities have rooftop panels, which produce two megawatts of energy or enough to power 230 homes; and
Whereas,
Austin °¼Í¹ÊÓƵ schools produce more solar power than all other Texas school districts combined, and according to the Environmental Protection Agency, only one school district in the nation purchases more green energy than A°¼Í¹ÊÓƵ.
Now, Therefore,
I, Steve Adler, Mayor of the City of Austin, Texas,
do hereby proclaim
December 1st, 2022 As A°¼Í¹ÊÓƵ Solar-Powered Facilities Day in Austin.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the City of Austin to be affixed this 1st Day of December in the Year Two Thousand Twenty-Two
Learn more about solar power at Austin °¼Í¹ÊÓƵ:
- recognizing Austin °¼Í¹ÊÓƵ for its solar production and usage
- A°¼Í¹ÊÓƵ Solar and Renewable Energy Webpage