“We need a reliable, efficient, and effective energy infrastructure to keep our citizens safe and our economy strong. We've got to get this right. And when I’m Mayor, we will.” - Peter Brown
Peter Brown has dealt with energy issues extensively as Chair of the Sustainable Growth Committee and throughout his professional career. His advocacy in the wake of Hurricane Ike last year led to the creation of Mayor White’s Task Force on Electric Service Reliability. Building on that experience, his Energy Blueprint calls for three things. First, he’ll insist on transparent documentation from utility companies and work to leverage city resources to get a better deal for customers and lower their monthly electrical bills. Second, he’ll make sure our electrical infrastructure is reliable and ready, implementing important recommendations from the Reliability Task Force, securing funding, and using new technologies to keep our grid well maintained. Finally, Peter recognizes that as we protect and prepare our grid, we’ve also got to modernize it, with accelerated deployment of smart meters and investments in tomorrow’s energy solutions, including renewable energy and energy efficient construction. Houston is paying too much today for a system that doesn’t work, and that needs to change.
Utility companies shouldn’t ask Houston rate-payers to pick up the tab each time their poor management decisions put a dent in their profits. We need a different approach, focused on protecting Houston taxpayers, consumers and businesses. The City of Houston should be an advocate for residents, not just a go-between. When Peter Brown is Mayor, he’ll stand up and demand accountability, reliable service, and lower electric rates for Houston. More »
MAKE THEM DELIVER
When Houston residents pay for something, it better be delivered. As Mayor, Peter Brown will stand up to local utility companies, demanding that they adhere to existing contractual obligations under the terms of their current franchise. Utility companies should be responsible for demonstrating compliance with the maintenance, grid-hardening, and energy-efficient investments they’re supposed to be making. No more double billing, no more corporate bailouts. Peter Brown will make sure we get what we pay for, and don’t have to pay for it twice.
AUTOMATIC MONITORING
Before considering any future rate increase, the City should require utility companies to open their books to a full audit and detail exactly what they’ve been doing with the money we’ve been paying them. These provisions will help hold them accountable while making utilities think twice about raising rates.
A BETTER DEAL FOR HOUSTON
As it is, we pay too much. Electricity in Austin and San Antonio is nearly half the price of ours. The City should use its leverage and drive a harder bargain, protecting Houston consumers and getting them a better deal. And we should explore creative ways to lower monthly electric bills, like an opt-in program that would allow residents – especially seniors and those on low or fixed incomes – to buy their electricity from the City and enjoy the discounted bulk rates the City already receives.
In the wake of Hurricane Ike, Councilmember Peter Brown called for a task force to figure out what went wrong and find real solutions to keep our grid ready and reliable. His call led to the creation of Mayor White’s Task Force on Electric Service Reliability. Its April report provided valuable recommendations to strengthen our system. Unfortunately, local utilities haven’t yet followed through. We need to learn from our mistakes, so we don’t pay for them again. It’s time to make the common sense, cost effective investments necessary to protect Houston and keep us ready. More »
FOLLOW THROUGH ON TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS
Many of the initiatives recommended by the Task Force – like installing Remote Telemetry Units (RTUs) to let us re-route power in the event of emergencies – are simple, inexpensive, and yield immediate results. Some, such as adopting more effective policies for trimming trees and vegetation require no additional spending and immediately impactful – they simply require a change of mindset. Other efforts, like hardening targeted portions of the grid, are expensive and take longer. But they still need to get done. Peter Brown will get things going on day one, pressing for immediate action from local utility companies, and working with them to make it happen.
INVEST FOR RESULTS
From a cost perspective, the best thing about many of the available common sense grid improvements is that they will start saving Houston money immediately, and easily pay for themselves. Installing RTUs, for example, will allow the grid to recover rapidly and remove the need for utilities to retain millions of dollars worth of spare equipment for antiquated infrastructure. Additionally, we should make sure we get more from the money we’ve been paying local utilities.
SECURE THE RESOURCES
To make more projects viable for the future, we should look at additional ways to secure funding. We must ensure that we receive our fair share of available stimulus funding, FEMA grants and other federal monies by having concrete plans in place to move forward with these programs. We can also use targeted reinvestment zones (TIRZs) and public-private partnerships, as suggested by the task force report, to help develop important initiatives.
EMPOWER HOUSTON TO HELP
Peter Brown will use the latest technologies to allow residents to instantly alert the City of poorly maintained infrastructure – including downed lines and poor maintenance – to keep our grid working and electricity flowing. Streamlined notification processes using smartphone applications enable quick and easy reporting to city departments, allowing residents to quickly collect and share photographic evidence of disrepair or neglect. We can also connect with residents via their existing social networks like Facebook and Twitter to enhance communication between residents and City departments.
As we protect and prepare our grid, we’ve also got to modernize it. The safety of our citizens and the health of our economy depend on maintaining a reliable, state-of-the-art energy infrastructure. Running an Architecture and Urban Planning firm, Peter Brown was a leader in promoting energy efficient construction. As a City Councilmember, he fought for sustainable, energy-efficient solutions. As Mayor, Brown will build on that record, applying the right targeted incentives, and making the right investments. He’ll work hard to build the energy infrastructure to support a sustainable future for Houston. The energy capital of the world should be able to get this right. More »
GET SMARTER, FASTER
The foundation of a smart grid is an upgraded system of smart meters for individual utility users which provide accurate real-time data, and links to the broader network. We already pay for these in our monthly bills, but they’ve been deployed in relatively few households. We need a faster timeline for installation, so that more can benefit from these technologies sooner. The City should cooperate with utility companies to help win federal stimulus funding for these programs, and use that leverage to improve and accelerate smart grid installation.
INCENTIVES FOR RENEWABLE, RELIABLE ENERGY SOLUTIONS
Individual installations of renewable energy, such as solar panels, wind, or thermal can save money for businesses and homeowners. The City should promote these installations by expanding existing incentive programs and streamlining permit processes to remove unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles and regulations. We should also ensure Houston is able to take advantage of existing tax incentives at the federal, state, and county level, which Peter has fought for on City Council. Finally, Houston should consider providing stable, affordable financing for individual renewable energy installations, something other cities have successfully done.
ENERGY EFFICIENT GROWTH
The greenest, cheapest, fastest way to save money on our monthly electrical bills is to use less electricity. Incentives to spur more energy efficient construction are an investment in our future. Lower monthly utility bills save taxpayers money. Lower electrical overhead costs make Houston more business friendly. By providing incentives for energy efficient construction, and encouraging adherence to nationally recognized LEED certification standards, Peter Brown will keep Houston’s future sustainable.
ENCOURAGE MORE EFFICIENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Efficient housing with modern weatherization and Energy Star rated appliances is important for needy families because energy efficiency isn't just good for the environment, it has a proportionally higher impact on lower income families. Upgrading HVAC, sealing leaky ducts, fixing windows and adding proper insulation can cut energy bills by 20-40%. Combining weatherization funds with affordable housing dollars reduces the burden for families suffering the most and can help moderate energy prices for all Houstonians.
ENERGY EFFICIENT, COST EFFICIENT CITY GOVERNMENT
The City of Houston is one of the largest consumers of electricity in the state, and its actions make a difference. Peter Brown will make City government more cost-efficient by continuing our investments in energy consumption audits, energy-saving technologies, and energy-efficient materials. He’ll also explore other areas, like the City’s vehicular fleet, where continued savings might be possible. Lowering the City’s energy costs will save taxpayer dollars.
MAKE HOUSTON A LEADER
In order to promote the production of clean, renewable energy and grow the new energy economy here in Houston, we need to provide a market for it. The City should continue to lead in its purchase of renewable energy. Working with Mayor Bill White, Brown helped increase the share of renewable energy the city uses to its current level of 32%. As Mayor, he’ll continue to set high goals for success, and work to raise the city’s renewable energy portfolio above 50%. Brown will help bring new energy to Houston.
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