ACL is committed to sustainability every year, and this year it is partnering with the Reverbs Music Decarbonization Project to power the IHG Hotels & Resorts stage, solely on a hybrid battery system. This includes the stage’s lights, audio, video and stage production.
“Following this year’s highly successful and history-making battery-powered main stage at Lollapalooza, we are excited to bring this sustainable solution to Austin City Limits Music Festival,” said Jake Perry, Director of Operations and Sustainability at C3 Presents.
The hybrid battery system is expected to run one megawatt-hour of battery storage. This will lower the emission savings and run time of biodiesel. Biodiesel is utilized in diesel engines across the festival, and festival producers can offset the carbon dioxide emissions of festival vehicles and generators.
“Decarbonizing power is the future for the music industry and every industry. What’s happening this year at ACL Fest is an important step towards eliminating our reliance on fossil fuels and reducing greenhouse gas pollution,” Tanner Watt, REVERB Director of Partnerships, said.
Sustainability and staying green have always been important for ACL. The Austin Parks Foundation (APF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to keeping the festival sustainable, encouraging reducing, reusing and recycling. APF and its volunteers will help operate other green programs such as Rock & Recycle and Divert It!. Efforts will also help the water refill stations.
APF also sets aside a portion of ticket sales to go toward signature park improvements and redevelopments, targeting investments in underserved communities.
“ACL Fest’s innovative sustainability programs continue to serve as a global benchmark for music festivals, and Austin Parks Foundation is proud to be at the forefront of these programs again this year,” Colin Wallis, CEO of Austin Parks Foundation, said. “As the primary beneficiary of the festival, our partnership with ACL Fest enables our team at APF to enhance not only Zilker Park through these green initiatives but also parks citywide through major strategic projects and enhancements. Together, we have invested millions in our parks system, and we’re excited about the future projects we’ll be able to complete thanks to this year’s festival proceeds.”
Every year, ACL continues to implement more ways to be sustainable. These practices – along with donations from ticket sales — help preserve Ziller Park and surrounding areas.
