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Texas
State Programs
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State Planning and Incentive Structures | Energy Efficiency Actions | Energy Supply Actions
State Planning and Incentive Structures
Lead By Example—Energy Efficiency in Public Facilities
Status: Completed
Details: On June 15, 2007, Governor Perry signed HB 3693—an omnibus energy efficiency bill, which established efficiency provisions applicable to school districts and to certain institutions of higher education and executive branch state agencies, requiring them to establish a goal of reducing their annual electricity consumption by 5% for each of six state fiscal years beginning September 1, 2007. Executive Order RP49 (2005) requires that each state agency develop a plan for conserving energy and to set a percentage goal for reducing its electric, gas, and natural gas usage. Each state agency was also required to submit the energy conservation plan to the Office of the Governor and the Legislative Budget Board no later than December 1, 2005. State Statute (19 TX Administrative Code 34.1.C ) requires that before beginning construction of a new state building or a major renovation project, a state agency or an institution of higher education establishes that the project complies with minimum energy efficiency design requirements.
- http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/
BillSummary.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=HB3693 - http://governor.state.tx.us/news/executive-order/3639/
- http://info.sos.state.tx.us/pls/pub/
readtac$ext.TacPage?sl=R&app=9&p_dir=&p_rloc=&p_tloc=&p_ploc=&pg=1&p_tac=&ti=34&pt=1&ch=19&rl=34
Lead By Example—Energy Efficient Appliance and Equipment Purchase Requirements for Public Facilities
Status: Completed
Details: On June 15, 2007, Governor Perry signed HB 3693—an omnibus energy efficiency bill, which requires school instructional facilities, higher education educational facilities, dormitories, and certain other buildings, executive branch agencies, and certain judicial entities, to purchase commercially available light bulbs compatible with light fixtures that use the fewest watts for the necessary illumination. State facilities must also purchase other equipment and appliances that meet or exceed federal energy standards whenever such purchases are cost effective.
Lead By Example—Clean Energy Goals for Public Facilities
Status: No Activity Identified
Lead By Example—Energy Efficiency and Alternative Fuel Goals for Public Fleets
Status: Completed
Details: Per TX Code § 2158.004, Texas requires all its agencies with more than 15 vehicles to purchase or lease only alternative fuel vehicles and hybrids.
State and Regional Energy Planning
Status: Completed
Details: Texas is part of the Western Governor's Association (WGA). In June 2006 the Governors signed resolutions to meet or exceed goals of 30,000 MW of clean energy by 2015 and a 20% increase in energy efficiency by 2020, to encourage adequate funding for state energy efficiency and renewable generation programs, and to facilitate development of regional energy markets.
Determining the Air Quality Benefits of Clean Energy—Energy Efficiency/Renewable Energy Set Asides (NOX Budget Trading Program)
Status: No Activity Identified
Determining the Air Quality Benefits of Clean Energy—Energy Efficiency/Renewable Energy Set Asides (CAIR Budget Trading Program)
Status: No Activity Identified
Energy Efficiency Actions
Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standards
Status: Completed
Details: On June 15, 2007, Governor Perry signed HB 3693 - an omnibus energy efficiency bill, which increased Texas' longstanding energy efficiency targets for state utilities to: 10% of annual growth in demand by December 31, 2007; 15% of annual growth by December 31, 2008; and 20% of the electric utility's annual growth in demand of residential and commercial customers by December 31, 2009. Texas has required utilities to use efficiency to reduce load growth by 10% since 2001.
- http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/Text.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=HB3693
- http://texas.efficiencylink.net/
Public Benefit Funds for Energy Efficiency
Status: Completed
Details: Texas's program is tied to the state's utility energy efficiency savings targets (Texas restructuring law requires utilities to administer energy efficiency programs to achieve savings equivalent to 10% of annual load growth) and costs are covered through a non-bypassable charge in transmission and distribution rates. The utilities submit rate filings to the utility commission to cover estimated costs.
Building Codes for Energy Efficiency—Commercial Programs
Status: Goes Beyond ECPA
Details: 2000 IECC with 2001 Supplement, with reference to ASHRAE 90.1-2001, mandatory for all buildings. Jurisdictions may adopt a more recent code. For local jurisdictions, COMcheck can be used to show compliance. ASHRAE 90.1-2004 mandatory for state-funded buildings; can use ASHRAE Compliance Form from ASHRAE User Manual to show compliance.
Building Codes for Energy Efficiency—Residential Programs
Status: Meets ECPA
Details: 2000 IECC with 2001 Supplement, mandatory for all buildings; jurisdictions may adopt a more recent code. As of September 1, 2005, the 2003 IECC is mandatory for state-funded buildings. Can use REScheck to show compliance.
State Appliance Efficiency Standards
Status: No Activity Identified
Energy Supply Actions
Renewable Portfolio Standards
Status: Completed
Details: In May 2007, the Texas legislature repealed a provision included in a 2005 law expanding the state's RPS known as "Subsection (m)." Subsection (m) would have required all renewable energy generated in the state-even that associated with voluntary purchases-to count toward compliance with the state mandate. On August 1, 2005, the governor signed a bill that doubled the state's requirement for the amount of electricity that must come from renewable sources. 5,880 MW (about 5% of the state's capacity) by 2015, with a goal (not currently a requirement) of 10,000 MW by 2025. The law also requires that 500 MW be produced by non-wind sources (i.e., biomass, solar).
- http://www.dsireusa.org/library/includes/incentive2.cfm?Incentive_Code=TX03R&state=TX&CurrentPageID=1&RE=1&EE=1
- http://www.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/news/news_template.shtml?id=1264
Public Benefit Funds for Clean Energy Supply
Status: No Activity Identified
Output-Based Environmental Regulations
Status: Completed
Details: In 2001, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) created a standard permit with output-based NOx emission limits. This permit applies to small generators installed or modified after June 1, 2001. The permit sets different NOx limits (lb/MWh) based on facility size, location, and level of utilization. The compliance calculation accounts for the thermal output of combined heat and power units by converting the measured steam output (Btu) to an equivalent electrical output (MWh). To qualify as a combined heat and power unit, the heat recovered must represent a minimum of 20% of total energy output by the unit.
Interconnection Standards—Clean Distributed Generation
Status: Completed/Further Work In Progress
Details: HB 3693 became effective in September 2007. The bill requires major changes to Texas net metering and interconnection policies. PUCT documents on this subject are under Docket 34890, and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) is looking at the issue through its Distributed Generation Task Force. In June 2008, the PUCT issued proposed interconnection rules, which would amend §25.217 and §25.242. Comments were due by July 21, 2008, a public meeting was held on August 8th, and then a final order is expected to be released during the fourth quarter of 2008. The draft rule proposes allowing for the interconnection of systems up to 2 MW. In 1999, the Public Utility Commission of Texas adopted final rules to address the technical and contractual issues related to distributed resources. This rule applies to all DG up to 10MW, with simplified rules for small units <10kW.
Interconnection Standards—Net Metering
Status: Completed/Further Work In Progress
Details: Statewide net metering for certain utility types. Texas' net-metering rule was established by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT). It requires certain utilities to offer net metering to qualified facilities 50 kW or less that use renewable resources. HB 3693, which effective in September 2007, requires major changes to Texas net metering and interconnection policies. PUCT documents on this subject are under Docket 34890 and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) is looking at the issue through its Distributed Generation Task Force.