Democratic Party of Collin County
Environmental Issues Newsletter
January 12, 2009


Hello Folks

There is a Regular Session of the Texas State Legislature every two years.  And 2009 is one of those years. The Legislature will convene for the 81st Regular Session on January 13, 2009.

Volunteers are needed to promote clean energy legislation in Texas this year.

With the economy in a tailspin and oil prices all over the map, some say that this is not the time for clean energy. Some say that we can't make progress, or even maintain our lifestyle without heavy use of fossil fuels.  But this is not true.  Texas has enough wind and solar power to make us a net exporter of clean energy. In addition, there's vast potential for generating energy via roof-top solar systems; and geothermal heating and cooling.  There is also untapped opportunity for efficiency improvements, both in our buildings and in our cars, which, if seized, would reduce our dependence on coal for electricity and oil for transportation.

Transitioning to a clean, renewable energy economy and making better use of resources will have many benefits from re-vitalizing the economy to making our homes, cities, and environment better places to live. 

Accepting the challenge will require action on many levels. And the 2009 Texas Legislative Session affords an opportunity to challenge Texas State Government to be part of the solution.  In my opinion, Texas is well positioned to lead in the "Green Energy Revolution".  Establishing a favorable regulatory climate for new clean technologies while insisting that old polluting industries clean up their act will go a long way to make this happen.

I've attached information on some of the efforts to push an environmentally responsible clean-energy agenda in Austin this session.  Please pass this on to those you think might be able to help. Feel free to contact me for more information.

Best regards
Bob Fusinato
[Send questions, comments, or suggestions to BobFusinato@tx.rr.com]


Background.

  1. Last session saw major legislation to promote energy efficiency (EE), HB 3693. The bill required the PUC to study the potential for efficiency measures to reduce electricity demand growth. The study has been completed and the findings point the way to further improvements in efficiency.
  1. Texas leaders have witnessed the growth of the wind industry, propelled by the renewable energy portfolio standard (RPS) adopted in 1999. Texas is the nation's largest producer of wind energy, and many Texas leaders want to see that success replicated with other clean energy technologies like solar and geothermal. Other states are attracting clean energy investments with incentives that Texas doesn't offer. There is growing consensus that Texas needs to get its share of investments in non-fossil energy and that some state action is needed to help make that happen.

  2. With the increasing prospect that some form of federal cap and trade legislation will be eneacted in the next couple of years, Texas needs to position itself to be competitive in an increasingly carbon-constrained environment. We can do so by developing industries that manufacture the efficient and clean technologies that will reduce the need for fossil fueled energy.
    [See Catalyst Project report articulating this argument.]

  3. Major cities in the state (Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio) have passed ordinances setting high energy efficiency requirements for new buildings, recognizing the multiple benefits of efficient buildings: reducing utility bills for the owners/tenants, reducing the need for new power plants by reducing total energy consumption, reducing air pollution (a problem now for Austin, San Antonio and Tyler which are going into non-compliance under the Clean Air Act), and cutting CO2 emissions.
Given these factors, the time is right to build on the foundation laid by HB 3693 with additional policies to increase energy efficiency and expand renewable energy.


Clean Energy Legislation:
Two years ago, many of us asked our state Senators and Representatives  to support a moratorium on coal-fired power plants and support clean-energy and efficiency legislation.  The moratorium didn't happen and a lot of good clean energy bills were left on the table.

This year the Legislature is poised to build on last session's landmark energy efficiency bill with increased steps toward a clean energy economy. As politicians in Washington grapple with the notion of a stimulus package to re-energize the economy, at least some of it will be in the form of investments in green energy infrastructure. And, attitudes amongst legislators in Austin are beginning to change, if not towards global warming, at least, towards making Texas a leader in clean energy technology development and production.  

Clean energy proponents in Texas are promoting energy efficiency legislation that will:
Increasing our state's renewable energy portfolio and helping other technologies achieve the same success we've seen with wind is also a priority.  We're asking the Legislature to:
The Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club and other Texas environmental organizations are also asking the State to establish a carbon emissions inventory, to update the air permitting process for electric generation plants, create a Clean Energy Fund to promote research & development in emerging energy technologies, adopt green fleet vehicle requirements for public entities, to help Texas develop a vehicle-to-grid electric market, and to support improved mass-transit initiatives.

We need the help of concerned citizens in each district to make this happen.  We need volunteers to call and, if possible, meet with legislatures in your district to promote a clean energy agenda for the 2009 Legislative Session. 

Once the Legislature is in session, there will be events down in Austin.  We need you in Austin on Feb. 17-18 for our Clean Energy/Green Jobs conference and Lobby Day.  Van Jones, founder of Green for All (www.greenforall.org) and an inspirational voice in the movement to create green-collar jobs, will be a featured speaker on the 18th. You won't want to miss him!

We are looking for volunteers to lobby for clean energy legislation in February. There will be a training session on the evening of Feb. 17 for meetings that you'll have with legislators and staff during the day on the 18th.

Take Action:
This is no time to sit on the sidelines and hope for economic recovery or a cleaner environment.  Clean, renewable energy technologies will be growth industries of the future. Billions of dollars are being invested in new, green or clean energy companies across the country. If we are going to get the jobs to come here to Texas, we need to promote the market and provide incentives for companies to develop and manufacture the products here.

Things you can do
  1. Make calls to your state legislators to promote a clean energy agenda.
  2. Setup and attend local meeting with your legislators (or via teleconference).
  3. Participate in "lobby day" in Austin Feb 17 (evening) and Feb 18.
  4. Attend clean energy conference Feb 18 & 19.


References:

Lone Star Chapter Sierra Club
Alliance for Clean Texas Lobby Day and Clean energy conference, February  2009
Other:
News:
San Antonio Express News Jan 2, 2009, "Session may be Tinted Green"
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/Session_may_be_tinted_green.html


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