The Texas State Legislature has ginned up an unprecedented number of bills this session that if passed will go a long way toward bringing clean energy and green jobs to Texas.
We are nearing the end of the session. Bills are coming out of committee and getting on the calender. So if you really want to make a difference, this is the time to let your voice be heard. I've put together the information below to help sort out and make sense of it all. The bills are broken down into topics with links to the Texas Legislature Online website where you can investigate the ones of interest, pick the ones you like best and take action.
Best regards
Bob Fusinato
[Send
questions, comments, or suggestions to BobFusinato@tx.rr.com]
Breaking News: 04/21/2009
Today the Texas Senate approved SB 545, the solar energy incentives bill with strengthening measures. And the Senate Commerce Committee approved SB 541 a 3,000 MW emerging technology (non-wind) Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS).
The Senate approved SB 546 yesterday. While a pretty weak energy efficiency bill, it was still important to pass it and move it forward...
In February a group of environmentally concerned citizens and proponents of clean-renewable energy solutions for Texas came together in Austin to ask their State Senators and Representatives to support clean energy legislation and to hold polluting industries accountable. [See the Alliance for Clean Texas (ACT) website for more info]
Many believe we are at the cusp of a "green energy " revolution that will allow us to move away from polluting technologies and transition to new technologies that will ultimately cost less than cleaning up the old ones.
Some of our legislators are getting the message. An unprecedented number of clean energy and environmental protection bills were filed by the March 13th deadline. If you want Texas to take the lead in this green energy revolution, its important that your senators and representatives hear from you.
There are many similar and overlaping bills addressing the different ways to promote a transition to clean renewable energy. We need to move forward on each of these fronts. So, in the end, it may not be as important which of the bills get passed but that some legislation gets passed in each of the areas.You can follow these bills on the Texas Legislature Online (TLO) website. The tables below include links to the information on TLO.
Disclaimer and observations:
There is a race going on right now to see who will take the lead in developing clean, renewable energy technology. Texas is already a leader in the production of energy from wind. But we are not in the lead when it comes to producing the generators. And we are not taking advantage of other resources like solar and geothermal energy.
While Texas is a prime location for new energy development, much of that development is going to other states that have less but are trying harder. We need to send a message to entrepreneurs and investors that when it comes to clean, sustainable energy technologies we not only have the resources but that we are open for business.
There are two things that public policy can do here in Texas to create a clean-tech industry - foster the market (creating demand) and provide a positive development environment for industry investment (supply side).
Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) work on the demand side by requiring that utilities satisfy a minimum amount of demand from renewables. This assures renewable energy suppliers that there will be a market for their product.
The original Texas renewable portfolio standard (RPS) created a floor for renewable energy that made us a leader in wind energy. The legislation included energy sources such as sun, wind, geothermal, hydroelectric, wave or tidal motion, and biomass or biomass related waste. But wind has dominated the growth in renewables here in Texas because we have lots of it and wind power has been the most cost-effective.
The wind power industry has pumped billions of dollars into the Texas economy. However, there is also huge potential for solar, and geothermal energy sources here in Texas. So we can and, for various reasons, should diversify our portfolio. Solar is particularly attractive because peak power is generated during the heat of summer when we need it most.
Due to the abundance of sun and dry air, West Texas is a good place for concentrating solar power plants that can feed utility scale electric energy into the same transmission lines being built for the wind farms out there. Photo-voltaic cells, the kind we can put on our rooftops, represent a significant source of electricity from the more diffuse solar energy abundant throughout the state. Because roof top solar panels are at the point of use, they don't suffer the losses from transmitting power over long distances. Both of these kinds of solar power technologies are developing rapidly and becoming more cost-effective.
Policy assists won't be needed forever. As production of energy from renewable technology scales up, prices will come down. And, we will all benefit from more cost-effective, diversified sources of clean energy. The sooner the better. We can and should take the lead and bring those green jobs here to Texas.
This session has seen a significant attempt to extend Renewable Portfolio Standards to these energy sources. Here is a list of bills of interest in this category. [Click on the link to bills to obtain latest status from Texas Legislature Online.]
| Non-Wind RPS Legislation | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bills | Authors | Requirement |
| SB
1419 / HB 3478 |
Sen.
Lucio / Rep. Gallego |
Require at least 4,000 MW of electrical generating capacity from "emerging" renewables like solar, geothermal, biomass, and small scale wind by 2020. |
| HB 3145 | Rep. Gonzalez Toureilles | 4000 MW Non-Wind RPS w/biomass considerations |
| SB
435 / SB 436 |
Sen. Ellis | 3000 MW peak load renewable goal by 2020; and 3000 MW base load renewable goal by 2020 |
| SB 541 | Sen. Watson | 3000 MW Non-Wind RPS by 2020 with "Made-in-Texas" incentives |
| SB
2020 / HB 4327 |
Sen. Watson Rep. Strama |
3000 MW Non-Wind RPS by 2020 with "Made-in-Texas" incentives and carve out for up to 1000 MW met through Energy Storage |
| SB
1423 / HB 2850 |
Sen.
Huffman Rep. Farabee |
3000 MW Non-Wind RPS by 2025 |
| HB 2520 | Rep. Swinford | 3000 MW emerging renewable RPS by 2020; establishes emerging renewable energy credits trading program with alternative compliance payment. |
| SB 620 | Sen. Shapleigh | 1500
MW Non-Wind RPS by 2015; [Also raises overall RPS goal to 6880 MW by 2015 and 11000 MW by 2025] |
In addition to expanding the State's RPS for non-wind sources,
several bills seek to enhance the RPS overall.
-- HB
2776
by Rep Farrar, requires that utilities purchase
renewable
energy via "commercially reasonable long-term contracts (10 to 15
years).
-- HB
239
by Rep. Rodriquez requires that the State Energy Conservation Office
(SECO) will determine what policy changes would be needed to support
raising the overall RPS to 25% (or more) of electric power generated in
Texas.
Many opportunities exist in our communities for local, small-scale application of renewable technologies. Distributed clean energy solutions will reduce the distance needed for transmission and distribution of power, decrease transmission losses and improve grid stability and reliability.
Here are some bills that seek to generate demand for distributed power devices.
| Legislation Requiring Distributed Power | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bills | Authors | Requirement |
| SB
427 / HB 278 |
Sen. Shapiro Rep. Anchia Rep. Alvarado |
Sets goal of an additional 2000 MW of distributed renewable power to be accomplished through customer assistance and incentives provided by electric utilities. |
| HB
3450 / HB
4239 (identical) |
Rep. Swinford | Sets goal of an additional 3000 MW of solar generation capacity by 2020 to be accomplished through customer incentives provided by electric utilities. At least 1000 MW of which must be installations less than 2 MW & connected to the grid from retail customer side of meter. |
| SB 677 | Sen.
Shapleigh |
Requires
homebuilders that build, or plan to build, more than 50 homes in a
subdivision to offer
installation of solar energy devices for heating, cooling, or the
production of power. |
| HB 1980 | Rep. Rodriguez | Requires that new (or newly acquired) state buildings must plan for and install a solar device. Similar requirements apply to certain school district and institute of higher learning facilities. |
There are also a number of bills that work on the supply side by providing a positive development environment. They incentivize development through rebates, loan guarantees, tax breaks and other measures.
| Rebates and Loans to Kick-start Renewables | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bills | Authors | Requirement |
| SB 545 | Sen. Fraser & Sen. Van de Putte |
The
committee substitute creates a distributed solar generation incentive
program administered by electric utilities for residential, commercial
and industrial customers and funded by a small charge on electric
bills. It would:
|
| HB 1697 | Rep. "Mando" Martinez | Adds solar technology to efficiency incentive programs administered by electric utilities. |
| SB 598 | Sen. Van de Putte | Estab pilot revolving loan program (administered under current loanstar program) for retrofitting public school buildings with photovoltaic solar panels. The loanstar program provides incentives for efficiency improvements only. This program would couple loans for solar panels with essential energy efficiency upgrades. |
| SB 600 | Sen. Van de Putte | As proposed, S.B.
600 establishes an eight-year graduated goal for
increasing solar generation capacity. The bill expands existing energy
efficiency programs to include solar generation technologies, making it
accessible to all retail customers. ~~~ In addition, S.B. 600 changes the current energy efficiency funding formula from growth in demand to a new market-driven funding mechanism of one percent of each electric utility's annual retail gross receipts to residential and commercial customers. |
| HB 1391 | Rep. Strama, Miklos, Villarreal and Pena | Estab. Emissions management districts to set up incentive financing for (on-site renewable energy or energy efficiency) projects of property owners within the district. |
| SB
878 / HB 977 |
Sen. Wendy Davis / Rep. Burnam |
Requires that at
least 20% of the grants made by the Texas Enterprise Fund be given to
renewable energy projects. (The House committee reduced it to 10% and added language that may weaken the bill further.") |
| Tax Breaks for On-site Wind/Solar and other Renewables | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bills | Authors | Solar | Wind | Gen | Requirement |
| Sales Tax: | |||||
| HB 799 | Rep. Lucio III & Rep. Alvarado | x | Sales Tax exemption for devices that generate electricity from renewable energy per RPS definition. | ||
| HB 1417 | Rep. Leibowitz | x | x | Sales Tax exemption on solar or wind energy devices for farm or residential use. | |
| SB
130 / HB 238 / HB 1431 |
Sen. Ellis Rep. Rodriguez Rep. Bohac |
x | Sales Tax exemption on renewable
energy devices (per RPS definition) installed on retail customer side
of meter. (Three bills similar but not identical) |
||
| HB 2226 | Rep. Parker | x | x | Sales tax exemption for certain solar and wind energy devices purchased on memorial day week-end. | |
| HB 3190 | Rep. McCall | x | Sales Tax exemption for non-vehicular fuel cells. | ||
| SB 599 | Sen. Van de Putte | x | Sales Tax exemption for photovoltaic renewable energy devices installed on the retail customer's side of the meter; and, for equipment necessary for the production or manufacture of these devices. | ||
| SB 619 | Shapleigh | x | Sales Tax exemption for solar energy device. | ||
| Franchise Tax: | |||||
| HB 237 | Rep. Rodriguez | x | Franchise Tax deduction for purchase of certain renewable devices used for heating, cooling or generation of electric power for the taxable entity. | ||
| HB 1140 | Rep. Truitt | x | Franchise Tax credit for purchase and installation of grid connected solar. | ||
| HB 1992 | Rep. Rodriguez | x | Franchise Tax credit for projects that replace non-renewable electric power with renewables (per RPS defn). | ||
| HB 4639 | Rep. Lucio III | x | x | Franchise
Tax credit for investments in wind, solar-thermal, solar-electric
devices up to 20% or $500,000 for wind 35% or $250,000 for solar-thermal 35% or $500,000 for solar-electric. |
|
| Property Tax: | |||||
| SB
832 / HB 1328 |
Sen. Wentworth / Rep. McClendon |
x | x | Facilitates claiming property tax exemption for value of on-site wind or solar generators via homestead exemption. | |
| HB 1751 | Rep. Leibowitz | x | Exemption from increase in property taxes due to installation of renewable energy devices for farm or residential use. | ||
| HB 2753 | Rep. Farias | x | Voluntary assessment of residential property by a county for photo-voltaic or solar-thermal improvements for purpose of increased financing. | ||
| HB 3190 | Rep. McCall | x | Sales Tax exemption for non-vehicular fuel cells. | ||
| HJR 72 | Rep. Leibowitz | x | Const. Amendment authorizing legislature to exempt increase in property taxes due to installation of renewable energy devices for farm or residential use. | ||
| HJR 141 | Rep. Coleman | x | Const. Amendment to provide property tax abatement for installing solar panels on homes or businesses. | ||
| Other Taxes: | |||||
| HB 4433 | Rep. Rodriguez | x | Exempts Oil & Gas incidentally produced in association with production of geothermal energy from Oil & Gas severance tax. | ||
Providing a renewable-friendly regulatory environment through net metering laws and limits on restrictions to renewable devices can reduce the payback period for distributed energy investments and reduce the hassle in getting it done.
| Renewable Friendly Regulatory Environment | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bills | Authors | Requirement |
| Net Metering: | ||
| HB 1243 | Rep. Gallego, Farabee, Solomons, Swinford & Coleman | Requires that utilities offer net metering service with fair market compensation. |
| HB 1643 | Farabee | Seeks rules for net metering and standards for interconnection. |
| HB 1655 | Anchia | Estab. rights of distributed renewable generation owners and certain renewable generation providers. |
| HB 4579 | Rep. Strama | This bill requires that electric utilities and retail providers purchase electric power generated by a customer with generation capacity of up to 5 megawatts. It requires that the PUC establish "reasonable price" rules for the energy generated. |
| SB 618 | Shapleigh | Requires that the PUC set standards for net metering as defined in federal regulatory policy act of 1978. Standards to be completed no later than January 2010 |
| HB 4098 | Rep. Eiland | Expands definition of distributed solar generation facility qualifying for credit for excess solar power generation from an ISD to any installation with < 2,000kw capacity. Requires power utility purchase of excess power delivered to grid at current utility cost (or wholesale cost in power choice areas). |
| SB 1420 | Sen. Lucio | Clarify PUC rules regarding net-metering. Requires utilities pay customers for excess electricity generated. And requires that PUC post payback performance on powertochoose.org |
| Limit Restrictions: | ||
| SB
236 HB 25 / HB 798 |
Sen. West Rep. Leibowitz / Rep. Lucio III |
Specifies limits on restrictions of solar energy devices by prop owners assoc. |
| SB
403 / HB 2956 |
Sen. Mike Jackson Rep. Coleman |
Specifies limits
on restrictions of solar panels by prop owners assoc. |
| SB 1552 / HB 4637 | Sen. Lucio / Rep. Lucio III |
Limits restrictive covenants to residential property except as specified. Allows restrictions on solar energy installations that are consistent with other codes; but declares as unenforceable any restriction that increases the cost or decreases the efficiency of the system by more than 10 percent. |
| HB 3941 | Rep. Swinford | Requires municipalities to conduct study supporting ordinances limiting distributed renewable energy systems. |
| Helpful Resources: | ||
| HB 3045 | Rep. Farias | Develop mapping program to provide photo-voltaic energy potential by location. Include related cost saving and CO2 emission reduction data. |
There are of course many reasons why we want to shift to clean, renewable sources of energy to power our cars and trucks as well as to generate electric power - reducing dependence on foreign oil, reducing harmful emissions, reducing greenhouse gases.
Electric powered and hybrid electric vehicles connect the dots between the goals for clean energy transport and the need for clean electric power. Charging them with dirty fossil fuel based electricity only shifts the pollution from one place to another. HB 2867 by Rep. Strama requires that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality develop a rebate program for plug-in hybrid vehicles. And HB 629 by Rep. Anchia promotes the purchase of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles by state agencies.
Energy efficiency is the cheapest, cleanest, quickest way for Texas to meet its power needs. It is cheaper than any other option for new power generation. It reduces pressure to build power plants from polluting sources like coal, thereby reducing air pollution in urban areas that fail to meet federal clean air requirements. It can be implemented faster than new power plants and creates high-quality, local jobs in many places rather than just a few communities. Investments in efficiency pay for themselves in reduced energy costs for governments businesses and individuals. And, they reduce emissions of dangerous greenhouse gases.
| Legislation Requiring Efficient Power Generation & Use | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bills | Authors | Requirement |
| Electric Power Reduction Goals: | ||
| HB 280 | Rep. Anchia | The committee substitute would expand energy efficiency by raising the goals of a successful existing program that requires electric utilities to invest in efficiency. It raises the goal to 30% of demand growth by 2012 then creates a more aggressive goal of 1% of peak demand by 2016 and 2% of peak demand by 2021. |
| HB 1646 | Rep. Burnam | Translates efficiency goals for utilities from percent of demand growth to percent of demand. Creates an office of efficiency deployment in the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) |
| SB 601 | Van de Putte | Extends existing goals for electric utilities beyond 2009. Requires that utilities meet .5% of peak demand through energy efficiency programs by Jan. 2012 and 1% of peak demand by 2015. |
| SB 546 | Sen. Fraser | Extends existing
goals for electric utilities beyond 2009. Requires that utilities meet
30% of demand growth
through energy efficiency by 2010 and 50% by 2015. Language was added in committee that may weaken the bill. |
| HB 1604 | Rep. Sylvester Turner | Sets a goal of reducing peak demand in electricity through improved load management & demand response techniques by 2% by 2015. |
| SB 1191 | Sen. Ellis | Places certain requirements upon electric utilities with regard to implementing load management and demand response programs. Sets incremental peak demand reduction goals up to 5% by 2018. |
| HB 3375 | Rep. Deshotel | Sets goal to reduce per capita electric power and natural gas consumption 25% by 2025 through efficiency measures. Establishes SECO efficiency credits trading program to provide market driven incentives. |
| High Performance Building Codes & Standards: | ||
| HB 2783 | Rep. Anchia | Requires that state building codes be updated from International Residential Code (IRC) of 2001 to the code in effect on May 1, 2009. |
| HB 2778 | Rep. Farrar | Requires that state building codes are updated to international standards on a periodic basis. |
| HB 4086 | Rep. Farrar | Adopts Jan 2009
International Residential Code (IRC) for single family residences;
and, International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) for all other residential,
commercial, and industrial construction in Texas. Provides for update of Texas code within 180 days of issuance of new IRC or IECC. |
| SB
127 / SB 267 / HB 2019 |
Sen. Ellis / Sen. Hinojosa / Rep. Strama |
Requires adoption of high performance, sustainable design, construction and renovation standards for certain state buildings and facilities. |
| SB 670 | Sen. Shapleigh | Requires that every new state building, instructional facility, and facility of an institution of higher education be designed and constructed so that the facility will be certified under the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED rating system as that standard exists as of September 1, 2009. |
| HB 3149 | Rep. Anchia | Requires evaluation and adoption of building standards for energy efficiency, resource efficiency, and indoor air quality in instructional facilities with a long-term cost reduction goal. Provides for some state funding toward projects implementing the standard. |
| Efficiency Standards for Appliances and other Products: | ||
| HB 2210 | Rep. Anchia | Expands energy efficiency standards for certain appliances (including energy hogging back yard pool pumps). |
| SB 437 | Sen. Ellis | Establishes energy efficiency standards for certain products sold or installed in Texas. Penalties may be imposed on manufacturers of non-compliant products. |
| SB 1862 | Sen. Ellis | Requires more efficient, environmentally sensitive standards for certain products purchased by state agencies. |
| Other Efficiency Related Legislation: | ||
| SB
1102 / HB 1993 |
Sen.
Watson/ Rep. Anchia |
Requires that On-site Combined Heating and Power (CHP) must be considered when constructing or renovating certain "critical government facilities". |
| HB 1767 | Rep. Rodriguez | Requires the use of motion sensor technology in certain state buildings, public school facilities, and higher education facilities. |
| HB 3567 | Rep. Madden | Requires verification of energy savings by providers and independent audit by "certified" auditors for state energy savings performance contracts. |
| SB 1973 | Sen. Ellis | Establishes advisory council within the state comptrollers office to help ensure savings from energy savings contracts are sufficient to repay the cost. |
| HB 3575 | Rep. Madden | Ensure that energy performance providers used by government agencies conform to state & local building codes. |
| SB
1042 / HB 1762 |
Sen. Ellis / Rep. Chavez |
Requires that the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) establish and maintain a database of energy usage vs thermostat settings in State buildings. |
| Legislation Providing Incentives for Efficiency Improvements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bills | Authors | Requirement |
| Loans & Funding for Efficiency: | ||
| HB 4261 | Rep. Rodriguez | Establish a no-interest loan program (for individuals and small business) to promote the use of energy efficiency measures and renewable energy technology in certain residential dwellings and commercial buildings. |
| SB 975 | Sen. Ellis | Establish loan program to encourage the use of renewable energy technology and the making of energy efficiency improvements. Provides for issuance of bonds to fund program. Contingent upon voter approval of constitutional amendment SJR 28 . |
| HB 695 | Rep. Anchia | Establish a loan incentive program to promote energy efficiency in apartment buildings. |
| SB 631 | Sen. Wendy Davis | Establish a loan incentive program to promote energy efficiency in apartment buildings. |
| HB 2337 | Rep. Villarreal | Establish a guaranteed level of state and local funds under the existing debt allotment for school districts whose construction or renovation design plans are highly rated for environmental efficiency. |
| SB 701 | Sen. Ellis | Provides increased state assistance to fund public school instructional facilities that meet certain design and construction, renovation, or improvement standards. |
| Decoupling: | ||
| SB
1972 / HB 2079 |
Sen. Ellis / Rep. Anchia |
Requires that the Public Utility Commission (PUC) of Texas study the feasibility of mechanisms to decouple certain electric utility revenues from the volume of sales of electricity. |
| SB 211 | Sen. Shapleigh | Requires that an electric utility meet certain energy efficiency goals before receiving a rate increase. |
| Weatherization Assistance for Low-Income Texans: | ||
| HB 1182 | Rep. Sylvester Turner | The system benefit fund
was established during
deregulation to help certain low-income Texans afford
electricity. The law included provision for weatherization
assistance. However, since 2003, the Legislature has not appropriated
money from the funds effectively sweeping the money into the general
revenue fund. This bill restructures the SBF as a separate trust fund to prevent bypassing to other uses. The bill also clarifies and prioritizes uses of the fund. The PUC is authorized to spend the funds collected without further legislative appropriation. |
| SB
464 / HB 1698 |
Sen. Zaffirini / Rep. "Mando" Martinez |
This bill establishes the SBF as a trust fund "outside the state treasury" and clarifies fund uses. It specifically sets aside 12% of fund receipts for efficiency programs. |
| HB 4011 | Rep. Weber | Adds purchase of advanced meters for low-income customers to list of approved uses of system benefit fund. |
| SB 1861 | Sen. Ellis | Requires the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) to establish a program to provide weatherization assistance to fix structural damage that would allow certain homeowners to then receive federal assistance for residential weatherization (under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009). |
| Tax Breaks for Efficiency Improvements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bills | Authors | Requirement |
| Sales Tax: | ||
| SB
1716 HB 346 / HB 2338 |
Sen. West / Rep. Straus / Rep. Villarreal |
Provides for refund of the sales taxes imposed on real property repair and remodeling services for certain energy efficient facilities. |
| HB 303 | Rep. Dutton | Provides an exemption from the sales tax for labor to install certain tangible personal property in buildings that obtain LEED certification. |
| SB 134 | Sen. Ellis | Extends Memorial Day week-end Tax Holiday for energy efficient products to include the Friday before Memorial Day and the Tuesday after. |
| HB 791 | Rep. Burnam | Adds a period during Independence Day holiday to the tax exemptions for certain energy-efficient products now in effect for Memorial Day. |
| Franchise Tax: | ||
| HB 2184 | Rep. Leibowitz | Establish a franchise tax credit for building new single-family homes or duplexes that exceed certain (state) energy efficiency standards. The credit is indexed according to the percentage by which the code is exceeded. |
| HB 3955 | Rep Chris Turner | Establish a franchise tax credit for energy-efficient manufacturing of energy efficiency products. |
| SB 128 | Sen. Ellis | Establish a franchise tax credit for certain investments made in relation to sustainable commercial building projects. |
| HB 2629 | Rep. Rodriguez | Provides incentives in the low income housing tax credit program to reward applicants who agree to use energy-saving devices and energy conservation measures in a project. |
| Property Tax: | ||
| HB 880 | Rep. Strama & Rep. Chavez |
Property tax exemption for amount appraisal value of property that arises from the installation of an energy efficiency-related improvement ... Contingent upon voter approval of constitutional amendment (HJR 47) |
| HB 1936 | Rep. Villarreal | Provides that a governing body of a municipality may exempt a portion of the value of a residence homestead from property taxes if it meets certain energy efficiency standards (prescribed by the governing body). Contingent upon voter approval of proposed constitutional amendment, HJR 75 |
| HB 1937 | Rep. Villarreal | Provides for voluntary assessment of property by a municipality to finance certain energy conservation improvements. |
Renewable friendly infrastructure development - smart grid, hi-speed rail, energy storage and other infrastructure projects.
| Renewable Friendly Infrastructure Development | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bills | Authors | Requirement |
| Smart Grid & Energy Storage Technology: | ||
| HB 4458 | Rep. Strama | - It promotes development of
enabling
infrastructure for energy
storage & smart
grid technologies. Requires
that the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) seek funding under
the American Recovery and Reinvestiment Act of 2009 for this purpose. - It commisions a study that will evaluate use of energy storage to reduce consumer costs and maximize renewable assets; and to evaluate the impact of plug-in hybrids on the electric power system. - Also requires that electric utilities offer net metering of excess power generated by on-site renewables and provides for the sale of stored energy. |
| HB 1652 | Rep. Ortiz, Jr.
& Rios Ybarra |
Requires that portions of the Texas Enterprise Fund or the Texas emerging technology fund be dedicated to promote alternative energy sources and energy efficiency technologies. |
| HB 1695 | Rep. Sylvester Turner | Requires that electric utilities create and implement a plan for infrastructure improvement and maintenance (with goal of hardening against severe weather and other threats). Requires the plan includes the use of distributed generation and advanced meter technologies that prevent, detect, and report the failure of grid facilities and assist in the repair of those facilities. |
| HB 4641 | Rep. Lucio III | Requires that
electric utilities establish a plan, (presumably implement), and
report results for a pilot program demonstrating a communication and
control network designed to improve the efficiency and reliability of
the associated electric delivery system and to facilitate storm
recovery. The bill encourages utilities to seek funding for the pilot program under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 or the Energy Independence & Security act of 2007. |
| Mass Transit & Intermodal Trans.: | ||
| HB 2883 | Rep. "Mando" Martinez | Addresses the need for transportation planning and guidelines to accommodate bicycles, pedestrians, and mass transit riders on streets and highways. |
| SB 581 | Sen. Wentworth | Allows public entities within a county that is part of a inter-municipal commuter rail district to join the district and authorizes the board to change the name of the district. |
| State-wide Passenger Rail: | ||
| SB
1382 / HB 2244 / HB 2418 |
Sen. Corona / Rep. Leibowitz / Rep. McClendon |
To facilitate the development and interconnectivity of rail systems in this state, this bill requires that the Texas Department of Transportation prepare and update a long-term plan for a state-wide passenger rail system; and that it coordinate the planning, construction, operation, and maintenance of the system. |
| SB 612 | Sen. Shapleigh | Authorizes TxDOT to plan and make policies for the location, construction, maintenance, and operation of rail facilities or systems, and to acquire, finance, construct, reconstruct, relocate, maintain, and operate publicly or privately owned passenger or freight rail facilities. |
Funding research and development of green technologies can help pave the way.
| Legislation Promoting Green Tech R&D | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bills | Authors | Requirement |
| HB 3138 | Rep. Herrero | Franchise Tax credit for research & development of electric energy storage technologies. |
| SB
542 / HB 1991 (similar) |
Sen. Watson / Rep. Anchia |
Addresses use of money from the Texas Emerging Technology fund for research and development of clean energy (low carbon fuels; low carbon electric power - renewables, efficiency, and energy storage; carbon emissions mitigation) |
| HB 366 | Rep. Anderson | Creates a task force to review electric energy generation policies and certain permits for operation of electric generation facilities and to study the state's long-term demand for electric generation capacity. |
| HB 4330 | Rep. Strama | Requires an independent study concerning the feasibility and viability of certain time-differentiated pricing schemes for electric service. |
| SB
608 / HB 4345 |
Sen. Watson Rep. Chisum |
Establishes Texas
Center for Sustainable Business under the State Energy Conservation
Office (SECO) with the purpose to assist Texas business in reducing
greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to a low-carbon economy.
The goal is to establish a GHG emissions baseline for 2005 and develop practices, strategies, and policies that will reduce GHG emissions near 2005 levels by 2012, 83% of 2005 levels by 2020, 58% by 2030, and 20% by 2050. |
| HJR 140 | Strama | Proposes a constitutional amendment to dedicate certain royalties from oil production on permanent university fund lands to create an endowment within the fund to support research and development in alternative energy, renewable energy, and energy conservation. |
| SB 1043 | Sen. Ellis | Requires that the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) develop and implement a program to quantify the carbon dioxide emissions reductions attributable to major state initiatives and programs concerning energy efficiency, load management, and renewable energy. |
Emerging industries tends to coalesce around areas which address education and training needs for the people that will be working in this new industry.
| Green Tech Training & Education | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bills | Authors | Requirement |
| SB
108 / HB 516 |
Sen. Ellis / Rep. Strama, Anchia, Lucio III, Menendez |
Establishes
a green job skills development fund and training program in support of
the expected growth in the renewable energy sector over the next 10
years. HB 516 "addresses nine different categories of jobs in the 'green economy': energy efficient building, renewable energy, energy storage technologies, biofuels, waste recycling techniques, products recycling techniques, energy efficiency assessments, manufacturing of sustainable products, and water conservation and efficiency. Funds will be administered through the Texas Workforce Commission to regional coalitions that consist of community partners and universities. The training will enhance trade skills and expertise in everything from basic energy efficiency home improvements to complex manufacturing assembly". |
| HB 4459 | Rep. Strama | Establishes the green job skills development fund and training program in order to foster economic development and employment opportunities in the renewable energy or energy efficiency industries. |
| SB 1523 | Sen. Shapleigh | Requires satisfactory completion of a course in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System as a requisite for a degree in architecture at certain public institutions of higher education. |
| SB 1770 | Sen. Watson | Establishes Texas Youth Build Program to promote the economic self-sufficiency of disadvantaged or at-risk youth, non-violent juvenile offenders, and young veterans by providing those persons with opportunities to acquire job skills while performing community service activities.The bill creates opportunities for communities to restore abandoned properties and historic areas, enhance public places, and increase the availability of affordable, energy-efficient housing for individuals and families of low income; and create training and employment opportunities for eligible veterans. |
According to the State Energy Conservation Office's 2008 Texas Renewable Energy Resource Assessment,
"Texas leads the nation in non-hydropower renewable energy potential, being rich in wind, solar, biomass and geothermal resources."
See -- http://www.seco.cpa.state.tx.us/publications/renewenergy/pdf/executivesummary.pdf
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