Residents and advocacy groups urge Austin City Council to halt or slow deposit for gas ‘peakers’

A string of public commenters at the Dec. 11 noon public-communication period pressed the Austin City Council to delay or decline a proposed utility deposit on new gas peaker plants, arguing the city’s Resource Generation and Climate Protection Plan requires feasibility studies, an all‑source RFP and community input before committing to fossil‑fuel assets.

"Purchasing gas peakers that won't go into service until at least 2030 is a de facto abandonment of the 2035 carbon-free goal," said Kayeba White of Public Citizen, who asked the council not to rush a deposit. Multiple speakers raised cost, health and climate concerns and urged the utility to evaluate battery energy storage and other clean alternatives through the RFP process.

Bob Hendricks of Citizens' Climate Lobby said batteries are cheaper, emit no combustion pollution, and can deliver reliability without the long‑term air emissions and fuel contracts required by gas plants. "Moving ahead with gas peakers before completing the required study openly, transparently and free from oil and gas bias would be irresponsible and unnecessary," he said.

Remote speakers, including Becky Smith (Clean Water Action) and Rafael Schwartz (Sierra Club), urged the council to require Austin Energy to follow the steps spelled out in the recently adopted plan — feasibility analyses, public input and an all‑source procurement — before the city commits taxpayer or ratepayer funds to a deposit.

Council members acknowledged the public concern during later debate on other agenda items; the deposit under discussion was not recorded as a final council action at this meeting. Staff noted an all‑source RFP is open and that further analysis would follow required procedures.

Next steps: Austin Energy’s RFP process and staff feasibility work remain the background for any later council decision to approve deposits or predevelopment funding for generation assets.