July 25, 2013 – Austin, Texas
Policy
Too good to be true?
claims former electric vehicle (EV) enthusiast Ozzie Zehner. “Electric vehicles are not as clean as they are touted to be, according to a peer-reviewed article published in the IEEE Spectrum. says despite sweeping public opinion and the billions of dollars in subsidies granted to EV makers, the energy intensive materials used in manufacturing electric cars, as well as the life-cycle and disposal of the batteries, negate EV’s environmental benefits.”
But then the set about “debunking Zehner’s debunking” with Bob Bruninga, a senior research engineer at the US Naval Academy … an EV owner since 1980 [who] like Zehner, built his own EV.” Bruninga, who sits on the committee of the Transportation and Aerospace Policy at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), stated “Zehner ignores the fact that EV owners mostly charge their cars from clean renewable energy either from their own solar arrays or purchase agreements from solar or wind. …Although an EV driven in the dirtiest utility area of the country (with no solar) may only break even with respect to emissions (today), again, Zehner ignores the very important value of that EV to our national security by 100% elimination of its dependence on foreign oil (our #1 national security issue).”
So while electric vehicles (“EVs”) and charging stations are being rolled out across the country, the jury seems to be out on an interesting debate is being waged as to whether EVs are meet the clean energy hype.
As the debate wages on, EVs and charging stations are popping up across the country. For example, Power Across Texas member Austin Energy has completed the installation of more than 100 plug-in charging stations at schools, hotels and grocery stores for electric vehicles as part of the . Austin was one of only nine metropolitan regions in the country to participate in this national initiative designed to accommodate the growing number of electric vehicles expected to share the roads in the next decade.
CPS Energy of San Antonio, another Power Across Texas member, has been participating in electric transportation research since 2008. In 2012, CPS installed 120 public charging stations at 30 locations resulting in the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Technology Transfer Award for Electric Transportation Systems, Infrastructure, and Utility Readiness.
And, Power Across Texas friend TXU Energy invested last year “in about a dozen charging stations across the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth. The locations and type of charging station equipment will be selected by each city, and TXU Energy will fund the cost of the charging station equipment, infrastructure, installation —and the electricity used to power EVs for the first year.”
To find a charging station near you (not just in Austin!), click here to access the Department of Energy’s updated map:
People
In the Driver’s Seat
an energy research consortium, is in the national limelight for its efforts to promote clean energy and develop smart grid technologies. recently published an article on the Pecan Street Demonstration Project highlighting East Austin’s Mueller neighborhood (site of Austin’s old airport, which has become the largest concentrated community of electric vehicle (EV) owners in the world.
Austin Energy, along with the City of Austin, The University of Texas, the Austin Technology Incubator, the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce and Environmental Defense Fund are founding members of the Pecan Street Project. Just last month, the Pecan Street Project opened the $1.5 million in East Austin that will enable small and large companies to test new new, leading-edge consumer products and technologies.
Programming
See and Be Seen!
Power Across Texas is thrilled to be an official sponsor of the the third annual weekend of debate, discussion and dialogue, held on the campus of The University of Texas at Austin. This can’t miss event, which will be held September 27-29, 2013, features some of the biggest names in the world of politics and public policy, including chairs of major committees in the Texas House and Senate.
Among the Festival’s confirmed participants — more than 55 as of this writing — are a range of federal and state elected officials, public policy professionals, issue activists and advocates, leaders from academia and more. They include several leaders in the energy realm including Lt. Governor David Dewhurst, Texas House Speaker Joe Straus; State Representative and Energy Resources Committee Chairman Jim Keffer, PUC Chairwoman Donna Nelson
Stay tuned for more information as we get closer to the date. Power Across Texas members are eligible for a discount offered through our sponsorship. Please contact Karen R. Johnson, Chief Executive about joining PAT today.
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