Climate Challenge Participation Accord

DOE's Energy Partnerships for a Strong Economy

The Climate Challenge Program is a joint, voluntary effort of the United States Department of Energy (DOE) and the electric utility industry undertaken in pursuit of the President's goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The framework of the Climate Challenge Program was established in the Climate Challenge Memorandum of Understanding dated April 20, 1994 (Climate Challenge MOU) (see Attachment A to this Participation Accord).

This Participation Accord describes the actions that the DOE and the City of Austin Electric Utility Department have committed to undertake under the Climate Challenge Program. The City of Austin Electric Utility Department's commitments include specific activities and efforts to reduce, avoid, or sequester greenhouse gas emissions. DOE's commitments include specific actions designed to assist the City of Austin Electric Utility Department in achieving its Climate Challenge commitments.

I. City of Austin Electric Utility Department's Commitments

A.
Consistent with paragraph II.B.1 and Exhibit B of the Climate Challenge Program MOU, The City of Austin Electric Utility Department has implemented or will implement the following programs and activities to reduce, avoid, or sequester greenhouse gas emissions.

1.

The City of Austin Electric Utility Department is committed to the funding of Demand Side Management Programs. The City of Austin Electric Utility Department's current FY95 budget is $15 million to City of Austin Environmental and Conservation Services Department (ECSD) for the implementation of the Demand Side Management program. The Demand Side Management programs include the following: lighting improvements, weatherizing, HVAC cycling, residential loan and rebate program, "energy star" and "green builder" new home rating programs, commercial and municipal energy programs, multi-family programs, air conditioning programs, and educational programs which supply information in utility bills. The City of Austin Electric Utility Department commits to continued funding for the Demand Side Management programs. From 1990 through 1994 the Demand Side Management programs have decreased load by 234 GWh and have anticipated savings of 281 GWh between 1995 and the year 2000.

2.
The City of Austin Electric Utility Department has committed to purchase 6 MW of power from a landfill methane recovery unit beginning in December, 1995. The City of Austin Electric Utility Department will evaluate additional opportunities to purchase power for landfill methane recovery as it becomes available. The City of Austin Electric Utility Department will consider joining the EPA Methane Outreach Program as an Utility Ally.

3.
The City of Austin Electric Utility Department will continue to seek funding to increase its current photovoltaic generating capacity by 200 kW per year. Since August 1991, The City of Austin Electric Utility Department has installed 35.64 kW of photovoltaic capacity to a base of 602 kW.

4.
The City of Austin Electric Utility Department will seek funding to install one solar thermal water heater per year, starting in 1995.

5.
The City of Austin Electric Utility Department is committed to purchasing 10 MW of electricity produced at a west Texas wind farm in September, 1995.

6.
The City of Austin Electric Utility Department is committed to upgrading the instrumentation and controls at Holly Power Plant (units 3 & 4) in 1995 and Decker Power Plant (units 1 & 2) in 1997. This upgrade may increase efficiency by 0.5 % which would result in a savings of 45 GWh.

7.
The City of Austin Electric Utility Department has upgraded transmission lines which will result in a 437 GWh savings. The City of Austin Electric Utility Department will evaluate transmission line conversions from 69 kV to 138 kV and building new 138 kV transmission lines. These conversions include upgrading to more efficient transformers.

8.
In 1995, The City of Austin Electric Utility Department is committed to expand the fleet of Alternative Energy Vehicles. The City of Austin Electric Utility Department plans to add 19 liquid propane gas trucks and 1 electric pick-up truck in order to reduce the use of gasoline powered vehicles. By the year 1999, 90% of all administrative vehicles are planned to be fueled by an alternative energy.

9.
The City of Austin Electric Utility Department will promote the use of coal-combustion by-products (fly ash) from Fayette Power Plant for concrete processing and other applications. Fayette Power Plant is a joint project between the City of Austin Electric Utility Department and the Lower Colorado River Authority.

10.
The City of Austin Electric Utility Department has financially committed in November, 1994, to the Public Power Climate Challenge Initiatives by contributing $8000.00. Future contributions to the initiatives will be made when applicable and cost effective.

11.
The City of Austin Electric Utility Department is committed to tree planting on public lands and promoting reforestation on private property for energy conservation. The City of Austin Electric Utility Department implemented the following programs to promote forestation efforts which include: EUD utility bill inserts, EUD/TreeFolks Tree Growing Guide, PSAs, Educational efforts, and Tree Trimming standards. The City of Austin Electric Utility Department plans to participate in the APPA Tree Power program.

12.
The City of Austin Electric Utility Department is committed to purchasing "energy star" computers, which cut energy usage by up to 50%. In 1994, The City of Austin Electric Utility Department purchased 80 "energy star" computers and plans to purchase 120 more in 1995.

13.
The City of Austin Electric Utility Department is committed to assisting the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department with the DOE "Cool Communities" program.

14.
The City of Austin Electric Utility Department will implement a Permanent Pollution Prevention Program to aid in the elimination of greenhouse gas emissions sources.

Table 1 (Attachment B) contains the CO₂ quantification for the above listed projects, programs, and activities.

B.
The City of Austin Electric Utility Department will report to DOE annually on activities and achievements under the Climate Challenge Program. Results achieved during each year shall be reported in a clear and understandable manner that is consistent with the guidelines adopted pursuant to subsection 1605(b) of the Energy Policy Act and the model accounting protocols in Exhibit B of the Climate Challenge MOU. The first such report may include a description of the activities and achievements of the City of Austin Electric Utility Department prior to its becoming a participant in the Program, expressed on an annual basis to the extent possible.

C.
At reasonable intervals upon request, but no later that December 1, 1995, the City of Austin Electric Utility Department will meet with DOE regarding its participation in the Climate Challenge Program. The purpose of such a meeting will be to evaluate the City of Austin Electric Utility Department's progress towards achieving the Climate Challenge commitments and possible adjustments to these commitments based on the availability of reasonable, cost-justified activities for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

D.
The Climate Challenge representative for the City of Austin Electric Utility Department will be Richard A. Scadden, Environmental Manager, Town Lake Center, 721 Barton Springs Road, Austin, Texas 78704. The City of Austin Electric Utility Department will notify DOE prior to or, in any event, no later than 30 days after any change in the contact.

A.
DOE will perform the actions and fulfill the commitments set out in section III of the Climate Challenge MOU.

B.
The Climate Challenge representative for DOE will be Allan R. Hoffman, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20585 (202/586 1786). DOE will notify the City of Austin Electric Utility Department prior to or, in any event, no later that 30 days after any change in representative.

C.
DOE will consider requests to intervene in proceedings of federal, state, and local commissions and boards on issues pertinent to the Climate Challenge Program. Before DOE intervenes in regulatory and other proceedings pertaining to the City of Austin Electric Utility Department for purposes of addressing Climate Challenge Program issues, it will provide notice to the City of Austin Electric Utility Department.

E.
To the extent permitted by applicable law and regulations and by the availability of funds, DOE will consider the City of Austin Electric Utility Department's participation in Climate Challenge as a factor to be weighed positively in evaluating applications for financial or other assistance submitted to DOE in support of commitments made by the City of Austin Electric Utility Department under this Participation Accord.

F.
DOE agrees to provide public recognition to the City of Austin Electric Utility Department for its Climate Challenge activities. DOE will, among other things, prepare an annual report summarizing results achieved under Climate Challenge and highlighting any outstanding achievements or innovative approaches of the City of Austin Electric Utility Department.

A.
Use of DOE-developed materials by the City of Austin Electric Utility Department will be governed by the provisions of section IV of the Climate Challenge MOU.

B.
In addition to the foregoing provisions, DOE and the City of Austin Electric Utility Department agree to act in accordance with the principles set out in section I of the Climate Challenge Program MOU and the general provisions set out in subsections V.A - V.D., V.F and V.G of the Climate Challenge Program MOU, which are hereby incorporated by reference.

C.
Either party may withdraw from this Participation Accord or any of its activities under the Climate Challenge Program without penalty and without being subject to remedies at law or equity.

City of Austin Electric Utility Department by:

  (Original signed by)

_________________________                                  ______________

John B. Moore, III                                              Date

Director,

City of Austin Electric Utility Department







United States Department of Energy by:

 



  (Original signed by)

_________________________                                  ______________

Hazel R. O'Leary                                                Date

Secretary of Energy,

United States Department of Energy

    Project/Activity                                 Annual CO2 Emission Reduction                                           

                                                             (metric tons)                                                   

                           1990   1991   1992    1993     1994    1995    1996     1997    1998     1999     2000      total    

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Demand Side Management                                   36,182  74,434  108,370  136,367  171,742  199,642  232,154  958,891   

(DSM)                                                                                                                           

6 MW of power from a                                             37,160  35,319   36,006   34,632   33,984   31,383   208,485   

Landfill Methane                                                                                                                

recovery unit                                                                                                                   

Photovoltaic Generation                   0.01    0.01    0.02    0.02    0.19     0.34    0.49     0.64     1.29        3      

Solar Thermal water                                                5       10       16     21       26       31         110     

heaters                                                                                                                         

10MW of windpower                                                        20,603   19,551   17,617   17,033   14,267    89,071   

Upgrading the                                                    1,175    1,285    4,891   5,646    6,312    6,558     25,868   

instrumentation and                                                                                                             

controls of the power                                                                                                           

plants.                                                                                                                         

Transmission Line                                        41,332  43,425  44,344   45,077   46,828   45,024   43,769   309,802   

Conversions                                                                                                                     

Alternative Energy                                                                                                       nq     

Vehicles                                                                                                                        

Coal Combustion                  25,713  29,434  35,569  48,765  64,915  73,883   78,684   77,119   81,324   82,009   597,415   

By-Products (fly ash)                                                                                                           

from Fayette Power Plant                                                                                                        

Public Power Climate                                                                                                     nq     

Challenge Initiatives                                                                                                           

Forestry Program                  0.04    0.08    0.12    0.16    0.20    0.24     0.29     0.33    0.37      0.41      2.24    

"Trees for Energy"                                                                                                              

 "Energy Star" Computers                                                                                                 nq     

 "Cool Community"                                                                                                        nq     

Pollution Prevention                                                                                                     nq     

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Total Metric Tons CO2                                                                                               2,189,647      

Please send comments to:
Lawrence.Mansueti@hq.doe.gov