As Austin Energy continues to work out the details of its resource, power generation and climate plan, environmental advocates continue to apply pressure, demanding that the utility abandon its proposal to build a new hydrogen-capable combined cycle power plant.

Austin Energy says the plant, which will initially run on natural gas before switching to a cleaner hydrogen fuel source, could help meet rising electricity demand as sectors like transportation switch to electric power and the city continues to grow. But critics say the move would be a risky investment This could undermine Austin’s commitment to neutralize its carbon footprint by 2040.

“Although the concept of hydrogen as a clean energy carrier is fascinating, the technology in its infancy. The reality of its production, storage and distribution makes it an impractical and costly stopgap measure,” said Jorge Villero, a member of Third Act Texas, in a speech to the Electric Utility Commission earlier this month. “Austin Energy should double down on its efforts on energy efficiency and renewable energy sources, strategies that have been proven to reduce emissions, lower costs and improve grid reliability.”

Since the controversial proposal was tabled late last year, Austin Energy slowed down his roleAdvisory figures such as the University of Texas professor and author Michael Webber to facilitate deeper conversations with consumers. Webber joined members of the Electric Utility Commission this month to contribute to the ongoing discussion, arguing that market realities could challenge ambitions for a comprehensive transition to zero-emission renewable energy.

“It is an ethical imperative to decarbonise the electricity grid, but at the same time we need to expand it to decarbonise the economy as a whole,” said Webber. “We have found that it is ultimately cheaper, faster and fairer to achieve a net zero or carbon neutrality target – that is, to allow certain emissions in one part of society but reduce them elsewhere – than to switch to completely zero-carbon solutions.”

Webber, who sums up his energy policy as “do your best and clean up the rest,” argues that Austin needs locally generated, controllable energy sources to Transmission congestion and price volatility in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas market while meeting the needs of electric vehicles, heating and appliances. Webber says natural gas power plants combined with carbon scrubbers — as well as cleaner fuels made from biomethane, hydrogen or ammonia — could provide a lifeline as Austin Energy continues to invest in local solar projects and explore clean energy such as geothermal power generation.

“These thermal power stations burning natural gas, biomethane, hydrogen or whatever are not about using them 24/7. It’s about using them with low capacity factors for the times when wind or solar is not available,” said Webber. “Electric vehicles have very clear benefits for air quality and by shifting emissions from ground-level exhaust during the day to a smokestack in rural areas several hundred metres up, that pollution doesn’t create photochemical smog in the same way.”

Others say the utility should invest in cleaner power generation methods that are more consistent with Austin’s Climate Equity Plan.

“I hear the need for more power in our load zone, but instead of a new fossil fuel power plant in Decker or Sandhill, we need Battery banks “We can import cheap wind energy at night and pre-install it in the city for use during the evening peak,” said Al Braden, a member of the Electric Utility Commission’s resource planning working group.

“If the bottom line is that fossil fuel gas cannot be avoided, then rather than investing in a new power plant that would tie up a polluting resource for another 40 to 50 years, I would prefer the unpopular decision to extend the life of existing gas reserves for a limited time, with a clear commitment as to how long that would be,” added former Austin Energy employee Jen Krieger.

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