\:ASS~O b~ Vb i C:e '("'(l::I..~ O c- ~ ts

Smdcnr Govcrnmenr 10\~\oi THE UNIVERSITY OF AT AUSTIN

1 University Station, A6210 • Austin, TX 78712-0180 • 512-471-3 166 • Fax: 512-471-3408 http://www.11tsg.org

~R18 In Support of the City of Austin divesting from the Fayette Power Project

Authors: Rachel Aitkens, Andy Jones, Brittany Dawn McAllister, and Melessa Rodriguez

Sponsors: Representatives Sarah Hobson, Andy Jones, John Lawler Joseph Lee, Melessa Rodriguez, Jimmy Talarico, John Woods, and Thaddeus Scott Woody

WHEREAS, The Campus Environmental Center, an agency of the Student Government of the University of Texas at Austin, voted to invest time and energy in a campaign to encourage divestment from the Fayette Power Project; and

WHEREAS, It is the mission of the Student Government at the University of Texas at Austin "to support students and student organizations in their academic and community endeavors" i; and

WHEREAS, Energy from the Fayette Power Project, a plant located in La Grange, Texas and co-owned by the Lower Colorado River Authority and Austin Energy, accounts for 32% of Austin Energy's resource mix and 70% of Austin Energy's carbon dioxide emissions" ; and

WHEREAS, Austin Energy has proposed to reduce their use of.. coal to 23% of their overall resource mix which would reduce the amount of emissions from coal to 50%"'; and

WHEREAS, Austin's dependency on coal is not only financially expensive but costly in terms of negative externalities, including negative health effects on mountain communities in the and citizens in and around Austin'v; and

WHEREAS, A coalition of non-profits consisting of Sierra Club, Public Citizen, Environment Texas, and Power Smack have drafted a proposal recommending that Austin divest completely from th e Fayette Power Project and invest more in wind, solar, and other forms of renewable energyv; and

WHEREAS, If Austin Energy does not completely divest from the Fayette Power Project, the city's air could reach non-attainment status (as set forth by the EPA), which would cost Austin a significant amount in fines until its return to attainment status vi ; and

WHEREAS, Divesting from the Fayette Power Project c.ou ld decrease the negative effects on individuals suffering from asthma and other respiratory conditionsv"; and

WHEREAS, Divesting from the Fayette Power Project would allow ratepayers, including students in off­ campus housing, to see lower rates once their energy source is renewable; and

WHEREAS, Clean energy solutions help students by keeping utility bills affordable, creating green-collar jobs, improving air quality, and reducing health problems from asthma and other respiratory illnesses; therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED, The Student Government at the University of Texas at Austin believes that divesting from the Fayette Power Project is both feasible and most cost-effective over the long term; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, The Student Government at the University of Texas at Austin believes if the City of Austin were to divest, it would set a precedent for cities across the nation to adopt similar green standards; and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Student Government of The University of Texas at Austin supports the Campus Environmental Center's efforts to call on the City of Austin to divest completely from the Fayette Power Project; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be provided to the Office of the President of The University of Texas at Austin, the Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs, the Office of the Dean of Students, the City Relations Agency of Student Government, the office of the mayor of Austin, and the City Council of Austin.

; Utsg.org ;; Austin Smart Energy. (2009). Austin Smart Energy: Survey. Retrieved September27, 2009, from Austin ~mart Energy Web site: http://www.austinsmartenergy.com/divison.php?page=get_involved&sub=survey m Pace Consulting, LLC. (2009). Austin Energy Straw Man, No Additional Generation, Lowest Bil/ Impact, and Replace FPP Scenarios. Retrieved September 27, 2009, from Austin Smart Energy Web site: http://www.austinsmartenergy.com/downloads/PACE_Analysis.pdf iv The Alliance for Appalachia. (2009.) What's Your Connection to Mountaintop Removal?. Retrieved September 27, 2009, from iLoveMountains.org Web site: http: /Ii lovemountains. org/mycon n ectio n/s how_connection. ph p ?zip= 7 8 704#deta iIs v Lone Star Sierra Club. (2009.) Roll Beyond Coal, Austin!. Retrieved September 27, 2009, from Lone Star Sierra Club Web site: http://lonestar.sierraclub.org/Conservation/20090826RBC2-Sider.pdf v; Community Impact Newspaper. (2009.) Austin Air Faces Critical Test. Retrieved September 27, 2009 from Community Impact Newspaper Web site: http://impactnews.com/southwest-austin/news/5124-austin-air­ faces-critical-test v;; Environment Texas. (2009.) Clean Energy Austin - Environment Texas. Retrieved September 27, 2009 from Environment Texas Web site: http://www.environmenttexas.org/clean-air/clean-energy-austin