AUSTIN, Texas — The transportation sector contributes the largest share of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Power plants historically have claimed the top spot for the country until the move towards natural gas, and more recently, wind and solar energy. Utilities across the country have been moving towards depending on renewable energy.
- Unclear if the city can reach its carbon neutral goal by 2050
- One way they can gain control is by promoting electric vehicles
- Austinite that made the switch says he’s saving money long-term
A recent audit from the City of Austin said while there have been “considerable efforts to reduce the community’s carbon emissions,” it is unclear if the city can reach its goal to be carbon neutral by 2050 if people keep driving gas-powered cars. Auditors recommend promoting electric vehicle adoption in greater numbers.
“The City of Austin does not have direct control over whether someone decides to drive alone in a gas-powered car. This lack of control makes it difficult for the City to know if it will reduce transportation emissions enough to achieve the 2050 carbon-neutral goal,” auditors wrote in the report.
The report found that Austin Energy is reducing carbon emissions from energy generation, and is on track to meet or exceed the objective to have 65 percent renewable energy generation by 2027. From October 2018 to July 2019, energy generation in the city was on average 37 percent renewable.
Meanwhile, 75 percent of Austinites commute to work by driving alone. Auditors noted a primary way to decrease transportation emissions is for people to drive alone in gas-powered cars less often, and to start driving electric cars. Electric cars will not reduce congestion, auditors said, but it can help with carbon reduction without major infrastructure changes or changes to people’s habits.
“It’s a new technology, and I think there is a perception that it’s just really too expensive. We are really trying to demystify electric vehicles, because you can actually get into an electric vehicle, it doesn’t necessarily have to be a Tesla,” said Amy Atchley, senior project lead of electric vehicles and emerging technologies at Austin Energy.
Among several local initiatives, Austin Energy is working with school districts to educate staff and students about electric vehicles. The program, EVs in Schools, provides dual port charging stations on school campuses and a curriculum about green energy.
"Education is key in accelerating electric vehicle adoption. We really wanted to bring a program that would advance science and technology, a program that teachers could incorporate into their STEM programs, to help move this electric vehicle mobility along," Atchley said.
The program is so far in four AISD schools: Akins High School, Travis Early College High School, Juan Navarro High School, and Kealing Midde School. There are plans for expansion at Austin High School. Atchley said they are also working with schools in other cities. Since November 2018, more than 200 teachers have been trained in the curriculum and more than 6,000 students have learned it.
“It's not even really a question with (my students) as far as climate change goes. It kind of can bring the science classroom to life, right? They have this concern and then their teacher starts talking about it,” Jay Hammers, a special education job coordinator at Akins, said.
Hammers is among the participating educators in the program. He drives his Nissan Leaf to school every day and said in the six years he has owned the car, he experienced minimal maintenance. Hammers finds having an electric car more affordable in the long term.
“We see the impact right now, the floods are getting worse, storms are getting worse, weather is getting weirder. It’s about the future, but it’s also about right now, making things better now, while we can,” Hammers said.