Energy
Youth Climate Strike, Texas Capitol, September 20, 2019
Citizens’ Climate Lobby
E-Mail: austin@citizensclimatelobby.org
Net: voicesofaustin.online
Facebook: @CCLAustinTex
Purpose: Since our founding in 2007, Citizens’ Climate Lobby has operated as a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy organization focused on national policies to address climate change solutions. The Austin Chapter works to influence state and city officials. CCL’s advocacy focuses on legislation to promote carbon pricing, clean energy permitting reform, healthy forests, and building electrification.
Projects/Activities: The most important activity is to educate. Citizens’ Climate Lobby empowers people from diverse backgrounds to educate key stakeholders, policymakers, and the public about effective solutions to climate change.
Meetings: We meet once a month on second Saturday of every month. Each regular chapter meeting consists of a national call and a local chapter meeting. Although we prefer to meet in person, there is usually a Zoom option.
Volunteer Opportunities: All members are encouraged to contact their legislators regularly on specific issues guided by CCL alerts. Other activities include tabling at local events to introduce Citizens’ Climate Lobby to others, the writing of letters to the editor and other media outreach, meetings with legislative staff, and other outreach and education activities.
Send a note to austin@citizensclimatelobby.org to learn more.
Public Citizen
309 E. 11th Street, Suite 2
Austin, TX 78701
Adrian Shelley (512) 477-1155
E-Mail: ashelley@citizen.org
Net: citizen.org/texas
Facebook: facebook.com/publiccitizentx
Instagram: instagram.com/publiccitizentx/PublicCitizenTX
Purpose: Public Citizen is a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization that champions the public interest in the halls of power. Our Texas office works for clean energy, clean environment, and clean government. Our staff advocates for progressive policies including climate action, fossil fuel retirement, clean energy adoption, public health and air pollution, chemical safety, nuclear waste policy, government ethics and reform, and voting rights. We work at the state and local levels, and on national policy in conjunction with our headquarters in Washington D.C.
Volunteer Opportunities: Public Citizen runs an internship program year round. Advocacy opportunities are shared with our members, our e-mail recipients, and our social media followers.
Dues: $20; see donate.citizen.org/page/59137/donate/1?locale=en-US.
Solar Austin
309 E. 11th Street, Suite 2
Austin, TX 78701
E-Mail: info@solaraustin.org
Net: solaraustin.org
Facebook: facebook.com/solaraustin
Purpose: Solar Austin works to accelerate the transition to clean, renewable energy in Central Texas and expand everyone’s access to the benefits of solar energy to mitigate climate change while creating a healthy community and supporting a strong local economy.
Projects/Activities: We advocate for renewable energy and energy efficiency. Solar Austin has been instrumental in getting solar programs and goals established and funded at Austin Energy and continues to be a bridge between citizens, the solar industry, community nonprofits, Austin Energy, Austin’s City Council, and the City’s Electric Utility and Resource Management Commissions to help craft a future that works for everyone.
Meetings: Solar Austin hosts happy hours and other events with networking and speakers on topics that relate to solar and other clean energy solutions, including policies, programs, technologies, and the energy market. Check the Web site for upcoming events.
Volunteer Opportunities: Various advocacy campaigns, donated solar installations, and events.
Newsletters/Publications: Sign up for periodic emails from Solar Austin at actionnetwork.org/
Dues: Contributions welcomed – Solar Austin relies on your donations to advance equitable deployment of solar in Austin. Visit the Web site to give.
Texas Solar Energy Society
P.O. Box 1447
Austin, TX 78767-1447
Patrice ‘Pete’ Parsons (210) 722-7270
E-Mail: pparsons@txses.org
Net: txses.org
Purpose: TXSES is a member-based organization with a mission to educate and enable every Texan to adopt solar energy. Founded in 1976, TXSES is committed to protecting clean air; building resilient, socially equitable communities; supporting local, well-paying jobs; and laying the foundation for energy independence with solar energy.
Projects/Activities: In response to increased consumer demand for solar and the unreliability of the Texas grid, we have kicked off a statewide campaign to double the amount of distributed solar in Texas by 2030. Infinite Power: Take Your Share of the Texas Sun features: education; working with developers to implement net-zero subdivisions; advocating for fair credit for solar from utilities; working to stop unethical solar installers; convening 34 Texas electric coops to discuss relevant issues; training low-income individuals in solar panel installation; and launching an innovative financing model for low-income participants, with the goal to take the model statewide in 2025.
Meetings: Annual meeting in January. Statewide chapters meet monthly or quarterly.
Newsletters/Publications: The Solar Report, bi-monthly. Join mailing list on Web site.
Dues: Starts at $40/Individual; $250-$1,500/Business.
Environmental Justice
PODER (People Organized in Defense of Earth and Her Resources)
P.O. Box 17294
Austin, TX 78744
Susana Almanza (512) 770-7896
E-mail: poder.austin@gmail.com
Net: poderaustin.org
Purpose: To promote community empowerment and community involvement (recruitment), PODER has undertaken programs, projects, annual celebrations, and workshops and/or trainings. These include the following:
1) “Transportation & Quality of Life,” which advances the understanding and involvement of transportation planning and the decision-making process.
2) “Land Use & Community Health Action” (LUCHA), which addresses environmental, economic, health, and cultural impacts of land use and community development.
3) “Nahui-Ollin Healthy Communities Project” works with parents and youth to address air, energy, water quality, land use, and impacts of chemicals.
4) The Colorado River Conservancy organized for the protection, preservation and restoration of the wild green stretch of the Lower Colorado River that runs from East Austin’s Longhorn Dam to the Travis County Line.
5) “The Young Scholars for Justice Leadership Development Program,” integrating youth and young adults into all of PODER’s work.
6) Solar Equity ensures that low-income and people of color residents and businesses have access to solar energy.
Meetings: Call for information.
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