Bill Text: TX HB3061 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the creation of certain energy efficiency programs.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-14 - Referred to Energy Resources [HB3061 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HB3061-Introduced.html
88R7066 ANG-F | ||
By: Zwiener | H.B. No. 3061 |
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relating to the creation of certain energy efficiency programs. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Chapter 388, Health and Safety Code, is amended | ||
by designating Sections 388.001 through 388.012 as Subchapter A and | ||
adding a subchapter heading to read as follows: | ||
SUBCHAPTER A. BUILDING ENERGY PERFORMANCE STANDARDS | ||
SECTION 2. Chapter 388, Health and Safety Code, is amended | ||
by adding Subchapter B to read as follows: | ||
SUBCHAPTER B. ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS | ||
Sec. 388.051. ENERGY EFFICIENCY LOAN GUARANTEE PROGRAM. | ||
(a) The comptroller and the State Energy Conservation Office by | ||
rule shall establish and administer a program to issue or guarantee | ||
loans for energy audits, upgrades, or retrofits to increase the | ||
energy efficiency of commercial buildings and residences that are | ||
not newly constructed. | ||
(b) Rules adopted under this section must establish | ||
eligibility requirements to receive a loan or loan guarantee under | ||
this section. The requirements must include emissions reduction | ||
cost-effectiveness criteria. | ||
(c) The State Energy Conservation Office shall: | ||
(1) use money from federal grants available through | ||
the United States Department of Energy to begin the program | ||
established under this section and leverage private capital or | ||
state resources, if money available under the grants is | ||
appropriated for that purpose; and | ||
(2) establish policies for the use of federal grants | ||
that are compatible with requirements associated with the issuance | ||
of those grants. | ||
(d) The State Energy Conservation Office may use a portion | ||
of the money or other resources described by Subsection (c) for | ||
grants, technical assistance, or administrative expenses. | ||
Sec. 388.052. HOME REBATE PROGRAM. (a) The comptroller and | ||
the State Energy Conservation Office shall establish a home rebate | ||
program for whole-house energy savings retrofit programs that will | ||
make rebates available to eligible third-party aggregators and | ||
households, including single-family and multifamily residences, to | ||
make existing residences more energy efficient. | ||
(b) The State Energy Conservation Office shall establish | ||
program requirements that are compatible with federal standards and | ||
beneficial to the state. | ||
(c) The State Energy Conservation Office may use money | ||
available to the office for purposes of this section for grants, | ||
technical assistance, and administrative expenses, including | ||
appropriate contracts. | ||
(d) The State Energy Conservation Office may coordinate | ||
with the Public Utility Commission of Texas and electric utility | ||
providers, including electric cooperatives and municipally owned | ||
utilities, to maximize the benefits of the program established | ||
under this section by combining the benefits of the program with | ||
other programs. | ||
Sec. 388.053. HIGH-EFFICIENCY ELECTRIC HOME REBATE | ||
PROGRAM. (a) The comptroller and the State Energy Conservation | ||
Office shall establish a high-efficiency electric home rebate | ||
program for electric appliances that have an overall energy benefit | ||
to the state when installed in households, including single-family | ||
and multifamily residences. | ||
(b) The State Energy Conservation Office shall establish | ||
program requirements that are compatible with federal standards and | ||
beneficial to the state. | ||
(c) The State Energy Conservation Office may use money | ||
available to the office for purposes of this section for grants, | ||
technical assistance, and administrative expenses, including | ||
appropriate contracts. | ||
Sec. 388.054. IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM. (a) The comptroller | ||
and the State Energy Conservation Office shall establish a program | ||
to foster sustained, cost-effective implementation of | ||
international codes, including the International Energy | ||
Conservation Code and its subsequent revisions, to the extent | ||
allowed by state law. The program must provide for training, | ||
grants, and other assistance as necessary. | ||
(b) The State Energy Conservation Office shall establish | ||
program requirements that are compatible with federal standards and | ||
beneficial to the state. | ||
(c) The State Energy Conservation Office may use money | ||
available to the office for purposes of this section for grants, | ||
technical assistance, and administrative expenses. | ||
Sec. 388.055. REQUIRED REPORTS. The State Energy | ||
Conservation Office annually shall submit to the commission and the | ||
laboratory a report that: | ||
(1) evaluates the effectiveness of the programs | ||
established under this subchapter; and | ||
(2) quantifies energy savings and emissions | ||
reductions as a result of programs established under this | ||
subchapter for consideration in the state implementation plan for | ||
emissions reduction credit. | ||
Sec. 388.056. EXPIRATION. This subchapter expires December | ||
31, 2031. | ||
SECTION 3. Section 389.002, Health and Safety Code, is | ||
amended to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 389.002. USE OF CERTAIN INFORMATION FOR FEDERAL | ||
RECOGNITION OF EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS. The commission, using | ||
information derived from the reports to the commission under | ||
Sections 386.205, 388.003(e), [ |
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take all appropriate and necessary actions so that emissions | ||
reductions achieved by means of activities under Chapters 386 and | ||
388 are credited by the United States Environmental Protection | ||
Agency to the appropriate emissions reduction objectives in the | ||
state implementation plan. | ||
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |