Hello CELC members and partners!
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This past month was pretty busy with forums, summits, in-person meetings and webinars. The TRACS Summit was a successful partnership with SPEER, St. Edwards, and UT in hosting a state-wide university focused event. We are excited to share that we will be going on the road next month to the 2026 South Central Climate Resilience Forum (SCCRF).
SPEER will be continuing the conversation on the importance of energy efficiency at the 2026 South Central Climate Resilience Forum (SCCRF) in April. Our panel brings together insights from local governments, non-profit organizations, and technical energy experts to showcase how diverse partners are enhancing climate preparedness. The session explores energy management—including local codes, LEED for Cities, collaborative network programs and PACE programs—as viable resources. We greatly appreciate USGBC Texas, PACE, City of San Antonio, and City of Austin in joining us in the symposium.
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In this edition:
- Now Live: SPEER's 2025 Impact Report
- Exciting CELC Opportunities Ahead
- Texas Energy Advocates – University Program (TEA-UP)
- Spotlight on CELC: Member Events and Updates
| | *Interested in becoming a CELC member? | |
Now Live! SPEER's 2025 Impact Report
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SPEER's 2025 Impact Report: Advancing Energy Efficiency & Serving Our Communities is now live!
While 2025 certainly had its challenges, SPEER continued to lead the charge in our territory with dogged determination to pursue our mission: promoting energy efficiency and serving the great people of Texas and Oklahoma.
Take a look at some of last year's accomplishments we are most proud of (including CELC and TEA-UP program highlights), and dive in here!
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April 7 @ 9:30 am - 10:30 am
Join fellow CELC members for a 10-minute presentation on boosting energy efficiency in our communities followed by an open group discussion and thought sharing. Learn more on our event page and see our current CELC members.
Presenter: Alex Pharmakis, Sustainability Manager, City of Farmers Branch
Registration: Sign up as a CELC member to receive the invitation. *CELC members can email cities@eepartnership.org if you do not have the reoccurring meeting invitation.
| | CELC Webinar - From Award to Deployment: Maximizing Your EPA Clean School Bus Funding | |
March 26 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
This session provides an overview of how school districts can move from EPA Clean School Bus award to successful electric school bus (ESB) deployment. Participants will learn key steps to electrifying a school bus fleet, best practices for infrastructure planning and implementation, strategies to maximize awarded funding, and important considerations related to grant requirements and eligibility. The session will also address ESB performance, including range, charging, operations, and day-to-day capabilities.
Presenter: Dan Rosefield, Highland Fleets
Register here.
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SPEER/CleanTX Earth Week Workshop & Happy Hour | |
April 21, 2-6 PM
Scholz Garten, Austin
CleanTX and SPEER are partnering for an Earth Week Workshop & Happy Hour focused on Community-First Grid Expansion.
As data centers and hyper-scalers drive unparalleled electricity demand in Texas, utilities face mounting pressure to connect new load faster than traditional grid infrastructure can be planned and built. The need for innovative, near-term solutions is urgent. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore how Texas can meet large load demand by combining speed-to-market solutions with on-site generation as a bridge and long-term market resource. Panelists will discuss hybrid approaches that integrate natural gas, BESS, and renewables to deliver power to sites faster while shifting the paradigm from grid defection to grid services in ERCOT.
We’ll also address ways to strategically reduce residential energy use, shift load, and invest in energy efficiency, demand response, and distributed energy resources to unlock grid capacity, accelerate data center interconnections, and deliver shared benefits for utilities, communities, and consumers through collaborative, community-focused energy strategies. ICC CEU’s will be provided for the workshop session.
Head here to register and check out sponsorship options!
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The TRACS Summit was a remarkable success, bringing together diverse stakeholders to discuss critical energy issues at a statewide level with over 200 attendees. Co-hosted by SPEER, St. Edward's University, and UT, the event fostered collaboration and knowledge sharing among participants from academia, local governments, and non-profits.
Key Highlights:
- Engaging Panels: Experts convened to tackle pressing topics related to energy efficiency, climate resilience, and community engagement. The discussions provided valuable insights into innovative solutions and best practices.
- Networking Opportunities: Attendees connected with peers, exchanging ideas and forming partnerships that will drive future initiatives. We hosted three events for networking with a kick-off, mixer, and a career connections event with a total of 157 attendees
- Commitment to Action: The summit reinforced the collective commitment to enhancing Texas' energy landscape and addressing climate challenges through collaboration and innovation.
Check out SPEER's full photo library from the event and feel free to peruse and download as you please. Want to utilize photos for your organization's social or other publications? We'd appreciate a tag!
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Spotlight on CELC: Member Events and Updates
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New Member Spotlight
We'd like to welcome a new member to CELC: Texas A&M University!
Curious about CELC membership? Head here to learn more and see a list of current members!
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Start of Ozone Season Media Luncheon & Awards
March 18, 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Where: Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) Dalchau Service Center (3505 Montopolis Dr, Bldg. A, Room 504, Austin, TX 78744)
Cost: Free!
CAPCOG's Air Central Texas program and the Clean Air Force of Central Texas are proud to host the Start of Ozone Season Media Luncheon & Awards on March 18, 2026.
You're invited to attend this special event to celebrate the local impact individuals and organizations made to protect air quality during the year and get a firsthand look at the current state of our air quality as we enter the 2026 Ozone Season. Hosted at the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) Dalchau Service Center, the luncheon offers a chance to network with local meteorologists, reporters, and Clean Air Coalition and Clean Air Force members over a complimentary lunch.
Register here.
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