On May 20th, 2025, we invited kids and families to City Hall to advocate for action on solar batteries and storage. A multigenerational group made sun-inspired hand signs with slogans like “Our Kids are Feeling the Heat” and “Solar Si, Gas No.”
Unfortunately, a last-minute change in the schedule meant that the utility oversight committee meeting got postponed to later in the morning, and those of us with kids had to leave for school drop-off before we got a chance to speak.
Below is a modified version of the comment that I’d prepared to deliver in person. Want to add your voice on the issue? Click here for a 30-second action you can take right now to advocate for solar on city buildings.
Dear Austin City Council Members:
One evening last week, as we were anticipating a string of 100-degree days in mid-May, my 4th grader turned to me and asked how much worse the heat in Austin would be in 5 years, or 10. How hot would it be in January? Mom, he asked, do you think we should move somewhere colder?
Now, I worry a lot about climate change. But hearing my child voice those same worries moved me deeply. And while I certainly want him to share his concerns openly with me and as often as he needs to, it feels deeply unfair: ahead of summer break, our kids should be worrying about which swimming hole to go to first or which flavor of ice cream to pick. Instead, summer has become a really scary and uncertain time for kids and families.
I’m proud to live in a city like Austin that’s taking leadership on a clean-energy transition, and there are some great ideas on the table, but what we need more of is urgency in implementing those solutions.
Just as we would rush our kids to the ER if they had a high fever, the myriad ways that extreme heat is already impacting our kids’ health–particularly for children under 5–should light a fire under us to take immediate action.
So, I’m asking City Council to encourage our public utility to speed up and expand investments in battery storage for solar. I also support the draft resolution for putting solar on city buildings, but it needs a deadline, ideally by mid-July to coincide with the start of budget discussions.
Our kids are worrying about climate change, and they’re watching us. It might be almost summer break for them, but for us, it’s time to get to work.
Sincerely,
Eileen McGinnis
Founder, The Parents’ Climate Community
