Government
BY HALEY MCLEOD & BEN THOMPSON
Austin Energy outlines plans to up its generation Austin Energy’s blueprint for its next decade of power resource planning and generation investments—including proposed natural gas units amid the utility’s pledged decarbonization—were finalized Dec. 12. The big picture AE’s Resource, Generation and Climate Protec- tion Plan to 2035 is a follow-up to the last version of the power strategy that’s leading up to 2030. The 2035 plan calls for new investments to keep up with AE’s customer growth and soaring demand. A majority of AE’s residential customers surveyed this summer would also accept higher monthly bills to reach Austin’s goal of 100% carbon-free power by 2035; it’s currently about 70%. Proposed generation updates may include: • Boosting AE’s portfolio of renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar
TravCo sees decline in opioid overdoses Local and state officials announced Dec. 2 that Travis County has been awarded a $1.6 million federal grant to launch a jail-based substance use intake program as recent data shows the first decline in accidental opioid deaths in more than three years. Fentanyl-related opioid deaths went from 180 in 2023 to 130 in 2024 from January to July of both years, according to Travis County. Overdoses remain the leading cause of accidental deaths in Travis County, prompt- ing commissioners to renew a 2022 public health crisis declaration in November. As part of this effort, the county allocated $100,000 for naloxone—a medication used to treat opioid overdoses—and an additional $300,000 for future overdose prevention programs in the upcoming year.
Carbon-free energy usage
Percent of carbon-free energy used
80% 100%
60% 40% 20% 0%
SOURCE: AUSTIN ENERGY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
• Exiting the locally unpopular Fayette Power Project—AE’s lone remaining coal plant • Using new sources such as geothermal generation • Exploring other options, such as nuclear genera- tion and increasing utility battery usage Any additions would be costly, and subject to public review and council approval before finalized.
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