In 2007, Austin City Council unanimously adopted Resolution 20070215-023 which directed City management to create plans and programs to make Austin “the leading city in the nation in the effort to reduce the negative impacts of global warming.”
The resolution established the Austin Climate Protection Program with goals in five major areas:
1. Municipal Operations – make all City fleets, facilities, and operations carbon neutral by 2020.
2. Energy Generation Planning – reduce Austin’s total energy use to 800 megawatts and increase the renewables portfolio to 35% of the power mix by 2020.
3. Energy Efficiency – enforce energy efficiency codes on current homes, commercial buildings and new construction.
4. Community-wide Emissions – develop an inventory of community greenhouse gas emissions, as well as targets and strategies for reduction.
5. Carbon Neutrality Assistance – provide tools such as offsets for individuals to mitigate their own emissions.
Progress in each goal area is provided in the annual Climate Resolution Progress Report. These efforts have been recognized with the following honors:
In 2011, Austin became the largest local government in the United States to subscribe to 100% renewable energy to power all City-owned buildings and facilities through Austin Energy’s GreenChoice program. This achievement was recognized with a 2012 Green Power Leadership Award from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Austin was ranked 6th among the nation’s 34 largest cities for energy efficiency by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) in 2013.
Austin uses 100% renewable energy to power all City-owned buildings and facilities.