Austin, TX
Texas resident selling energy to grid in PUC pilot program
AUSTIN, Texas — Scott Stambush sells excess power to the Texas grid. He’s participating in a pilot program that allows customers to sell surplus energy in the ERCOT market. ERCOT is the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which oversees the state’s grid.
“I’ve had this system since June of 2021,” Stambush said. “I got it after Storm Uri when we realized that we needed power.”
The grid failed during a winter storm two years ago. Hundreds of Texans died when they were left in the cold without power. Stambush says he and his family used his Tesla to stay safe during that storm.
“The car kept my family and myself warm for two and a half days, since we were without any electricity, any warmth whatsoever,” Stambush said.
Now, he’s helping power the grid. One way the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) is trying to make the grid more reliable during extreme weather events is through its virtual power plant pilot program. Texans who have small energy resources, like backup generators or solar panels that are connected to a battery storage system, can sell their surplus power to the grid when called upon.
“I do feel like I’m making a difference,” Stambush said. “I also know there are sick people who are dependent on electricity for their devices. And if the grid goes down on those people, they’re in very big trouble. So I am helping everybody try to stay cool in the summer, in the heat.”
Stambush says the solar panels feed his Tesla Powerwall. When the grid needs power, it automatically sells the extra energy back to the grid.
“Last month, my electric bill was negative $124,” he said. “So I not only had free electricity, but now I have a credit of $124. The month before that, I had a credit of $24.”
Stambush is one of two consumers that’s participating so far. Six more are in the process of joining.
“They’ve produced about 1.6 megawatts on a daily basis,” said PUC Commissioner Will McAdams. “If 80 megawatts of consumers are engaging with the pilot, we can power over 18,000 homes with that energy.”
Right now, the program is allowing consumers to put 80 megawatts onto the grid. This is just a fraction of ERCOT’s peak capacity, but the PUC is testing the program with a small group of people before developing a permanent plan.
“It’s a great tool to have in the toolbox moving forward,” McAdams said.
For the eighth time this summer, ERCOT on Wednesday asked Texans to conserve energy. ERCOT says it avoided taking emergency measures so far this summer, but more than once the demand for energy has come close to overtaking the supply. The grid’s operator partly credits conservation efforts from homeowners and renewable energy for keeping reserves from running out.
As for Stambush, he’s pleased to participate in a new program that’s already having a positive impact on the grid.
“It makes me feel great that I am helping people, and it makes me feel even better that I’m making money doing it,” Stambush said. “So really, what else is there when you make money and help people at the same time?”
Follow Charlotte Scott on Facebook and Twitter.
Austin, TX
PEAK6 to Relocate Global Headquarters to Austin, Texas
CHICAGO, Dec. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — PEAK6 Investments LLC (“PEAK6”) today announced that, effective January 1, 2025, it will move its global headquarters from its current location in Chicago, Illinois to the company’s existing office in Austin, Texas, which it established in 2021. PEAK6 affiliates PEAK6 Group LLC, PEAK6 Strategic Capital LLC, PEAK6 APX Holdings LLC and PEAK6 LLC will also relocate their global headquarters to Austin. PEAK6 will maintain its office in Chicago.
“Texas has been a cornerstone of PEAK6’s growth for over a decade,” said PEAK6 Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Matt Hulsizer, who continued, “With the majority of our talented workforce now based in Texas and Austin emerging as our largest office, moving our headquarters was an important decision to be closer to our team. We’re excited for the next chapter of PEAK6 that will be written from our new headquarters.”
Austin’s unique blend of creativity, technology and culture provides the ideal environment for PEAK6. The city’s highly educated workforce, business climate, and strong entrepreneurial spirit have enabled us to attract top talent and drive innovation.
About PEAK6
PEAK6 uses technology to find a better way of doing things. The company’s first tech-based solution was developed in 1997 to optimize options trading, and over the past two decades, the same formula has been used across a range of industries, asset classes, and business stages to consistently deliver superior results. Today, PEAK6 seeks transformational opportunities to provide capital and strategic support to entrepreneurs and forward-thinking businesses.
PEAK6’s core brands include PEAK6 Capital Management, PEAK6 Strategic Capital, Apex Fintech Solutions, We Insure, FOCUS, Zogo, Evil Geniuses and Poker Power.
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/peak6-to-relocate-global-headquarters-to-austin-texas-302339437.html
SOURCE PEAK6 Investments
Austin, TX
Texas vs Arizona State: Teams prepare for Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl
AUSTIN, Texas – On Wednesday, the Texas Longhorns and the Arizona State Sun Devils will square off in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
The New Year’s Day match-up will be the first football game of 2025.
The last time the Horns and Sun Devils played on the field was in 2007 when Texas beat Arizona 52-to-34 in the Holiday Bowl.
“This is the first time that we’ll host Texas true blue blood in college football into the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl, and if they win, Texas would be the first team in the history of college football to win all six New Year’s Six Bowl games,” said Gary Stokan, President and CEO of Peach Bowl, Inc.
Texas has never played in the Peach Bowl, and Arizona has never played in the CFP. It will be a game of firsts for both teams. The Sun Devils have only played in the Peach Bowl once before, in 1970, when they beat North Carolina.
“They created the Fiesta Bowl out of that experience of the 1970 Peach Bowl,” said Stokan. “So interesting history there, and interesting history can be made with both teams moving along to the semifinal, the first CFP playoff.”
It will be the 57th Peach Bowl, and tickets to the annual game have sold out yearly since sometime in the 1990s.
“We were founded back in 1968, and it is the ninth-oldest bowl game in college football history, but only the first bowl game founded for charity,” said Stokan.
Stokan said the Peach Bowl and Chick-fil-A teamed up this year to give out scholarships to both universities, each receiving $100,000. The endowed scholarship will help fund tuition for students attending UT or ASU from Atlanta.
“We’ve given $64 million to charity since 2002, which makes us the most charitable organization in the country,” said Stokan.
The Longhorns will return to Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the second time this season, and fans are upset that the beloved mascot has been banned from the sidelines.
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“Unfortunately, we hate it, but, you know, we’re not able to house Bevo similar to what the SEC championship did, so we apologize to all the Texas fans,” said Stokan.
The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl President said he had answered more interview questions about Bevo than football.
“I’m not sure whether Texas fans are more interested in Bevo or the game,” said Stokan.
The stadium staff said they cannot accommodate the nearly one-ton steer.
While the Peach Bowl is already sold out, some people feel this same restriction could affect Bevo’s game attendance for a possible national title game.
If Texas wins the Peach Bowl and their semifinal game, the Longhorns would return to Atlanta on January 20 for the national championship.
The Source: Information from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin’s Katie Pratt
Austin, TX
Where in Austin to see free live music that doesn’t suck
Austinites, new and old, often hear that the city is no longer the live music capital of the world, but that claim should be taken with a grain of salt. There are plenty of spots in ATX to hear free live music that’s good — as long as you know where to look.
The Capital City was first dubbed the “Live Music Capital of the World” in August 1991. According to Visit Austin, the title was justified by the number of music venues per capita in the city. ATXToday reports there are over 250 venues in Austin where live music is played, proving there’s no shortage of spots offering live entertainment.
However, not every venue allows residents and visitors to Austin to enjoy quality live music without some sort of cover charge. This is when it pays to know the Capital City like the back of your hand.
9 places in Austin to see free live music
While there are countless bars, coffee shops, restaurants and music venues in Austin offering free live music, not all of it passes as “good.”
What’s the point of hitting up a cover-free spot if the live entertainment is soul-crushingly bad?
Below are nine spots to see quality live music in Austin for free.
Reminder: If you’re enjoying free live music somewhere, show the artists some support! Most have tip jars and/or signs with their Venmo username near the stage.
Banger’s Sausage House and Beer Garden
Pros: Spacious beer garden with indoor and outdoor seating, covered outdoor stage for live entertainment, a stellar sound system that funnels live music inside (even in the bathrooms) quality local acts that get guests on their feet during Sunday brunch and beyond, attentive service and an expansive food and drink menu.
Address: 79 Rainey St., Austin, Texas.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.
View Banger’s live music calendar here.
Mama Dearest
Pros: Backwoods-themed bar with eclectic and borderline eerie decor, decent sound system for listening to live music, indoor-outdoor seating, food truck, all of the vibes. Misting fans on outdoor patio in the summer, heaters in winter.
Address: 515 Pedernales St., Austin, Texas.
Hours: 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday-Friday; noon to 2 a.m. Saturday-Sunday.
Mama Dearest often will share its live music offerings on Instagram. Check the bar’s IG here.
Austin Beer Garden and Brewing Co.
Pros: Free live music on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, delicious pizza and sandwiches, various drink options (beer, wine, seltzer and more!), dog-friendly, children welcome.
Address: 1305 W. Oltorf St., Austin, Texas.
Hours: Closed Monday; 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; noon to midnight Saturday; noon to 10 p.m. Sunday.
View ABGB’s live music calendar here.
The Elephant Room
Pros: Centrally located venue offering live jazz music nightly, no cover charge on Sunday, Monday or before 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, intimate setting, attentive service.
Address: 315 Congress Ave., Austin, Texas.
Hours: 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday-Friday; 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday; 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday.
View the live music calendar here.
Armadillo Den
Pros: Spacious, casual friendly service, free live music, good sound system, numerous food trucks on-site. Kids are welcome until 6 p.m. Monday-Friday. Otherwise, the Armadillo Den is for those ages 21 and older.
Address: 10106 Menchaca Road, Austin, Texas.
Hours: 4 p.m. to midnight Monday-Wednesday; noon to 12:30 a.m. Thursday; noon to 2 a.m. Friday; 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday; noon to midnight Sunday.
View Armadillo Den’s live entertainment calendar here.
Jester King Brewery
Pros: Live music on weekends at a brewery that doubles as a ranch where goats not only live but also thrive alongside their trusted canine companion. Jester King also has delicious bites and funky beers to choose from, forts for kids to climb on and ample space.
Address: 13187 Fitzhugh Road, Austin, Texas.
Hours: 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.
Browse Jester King’s live music calendar here.
Blind Pig Pub
Pros: Live music every day of the week in the heart of Dirty Sixth, indoor and outdoor stages, open-air rooftop patio. For a chiller experience on weekends, visit the Blind Pig before 9 p.m.
Address: 317 E. Sixth St., Austin, Texas.
Hours: 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday-Tuesday; 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Wednesday-Friday; 1 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday.
Austin Garden & Studio at Inn Cahoots
Pros: The Garden at Austin Garden & Studio often hosts live music on the outdoor stage. Musical genres vary, but the sound quality is superb. There also is a food truck on-site and yard games to play.
Address: 1209 E. Sixth St., Austin, Texas.
Hours: Doors open at 4 p.m. Monday-Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.
Browse the December 2024 schedule here, and view the 2025 schedule here.
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Icehouse
Pros: Located in the heart of West Sixth where bars and restaurants are plentiful, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot offers stellar sound quality, a covered bar and stage for chilly or rainy nights, strong drinks, fast service and more.
Address: 701 W. Sixth St., Austin, Texas.
Hours: 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday-Friday; 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday, noon to 2 a.m. Sunday.
Check Whiskey Tango Foxtrot’s Facebook and Instagram pages for up-to-date information on live music offerings.
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