| Press Release Archive
City, State, DOE to fund "Energy
Champion"
The U.S. Department of Energy has designated
the City of Austin, a recognized leader in energy-efficiency
and renewable energy programs, one of its Communities of the
Future and will help fund the hiring of an "Energy Champion"
to continue to make the Austin community more energy efficient.
This partnership will begin by improving
the energy efficiency in the Mayor's Office at 3 p.m. Tuesday,
July 31, 124 W. Eighth Street. Simple things that any resident
or property owner can perform to their home or business such
as switching out incandescent light bulbs to more-efficient
compact fluorescent bulbs and covering air leaks around wall
sockets will be installed in the Mayor's Office to save energy.
Representatives with the Department of Energy and State Energy
Office will be on hand for the kick off of this partnership.
The Communities of the Future initiative
is designed to meet national objectives of reducing negative
impacts on the environment and economy from an over-dependence
on energy derived from fossil fuels. The initiative seeks
to reduce this dependency by increasing energy efficiency
and the use of renewable energy.
As part of this joint agreement, the DOE,
State of Texas and City of Austin will fund for two years
the salary of an "Energy Champion." The Mayor will
empower the Energy Champion to assess the City's commitment
to clean energy initiatives and whether it is providing the
resources to make it happen. The Energy Champion will work
at Austin Energy. In return, the DOE and State will provide
their expertise, including energy ombudsmen to serve as contacts
for the City, as well as technical assistance to identify
for the City grants and programs that match the City's energy-efficiency
goals.
For more information, contact Ed
Clark, Public Information.
Phone: (512) 322-6514
Pager: (512) 802-2000
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