Bill Text: TX SB383 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to prohibiting interconnection of an offshore wind power facility.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2025-02-03 - Referred to Business & Commerce [SB383 Detail]
Download: Texas-2025-SB383-Introduced.html
| By: Middleton | S.B. No. 383 | |
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| relating to prohibiting interconnection of an offshore wind power | ||
| facility. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Title 6, Utilities Code, is amended by adding | ||
| Chapter 301A to read as follows: | ||
| CHAPTER 301A. OFFSHORE WIND POWER FACILITY | ||
| Sec. 301A.001. DEFINITIONS. In this Chapter: | ||
| (1) "Offshore" means located within the territorial | ||
| sea, as defined by 33 CFR 2.22. | ||
| (2) "Wind power facility" includes: | ||
| (A) a wind turbine generator; and | ||
| (B) a facility or equipment used to support the | ||
| operation of a wind turbine generator, including an electrical | ||
| transmission or communications line, an electric transformer, a | ||
| battery storage facility, and energy storage facility, or | ||
| telecommunications equipment. | ||
| Sec. 301A.002. INTERCONNECTION PROHIBITED. The commission | ||
| shall not approve interconnection of a wind power facility, | ||
| transmission, or distribution facility located offshore, if the | ||
| commission has reason to believe that such a facility may: | ||
| (1) negatively impact previously established | ||
| industries, violating preestablished community values relying on | ||
| such industries, including but not limited to: | ||
| (A) shipping routes; | ||
| (B) general tourism; and | ||
| (C) recreational and commercial fishing; | ||
| (2) negatively impact environmental factors, including but | ||
| not limited to: | ||
| (A) general welfare of wildlife; and | ||
| (B) disruption of migratory patterns; | ||
| (3) present a risk to the life and safety of residents, | ||
| nearby industries, and wildlife, if located within an area with | ||
| historical exposure to natural disasters; or | ||
| (4) be deemed unnecessary, in accordance with Section | ||
| 37.056, Public Utilities Code, due to lack of need for additional | ||
| service and the presence of adequate existing services in the area | ||
| adjacent to the offshore wind power facility. | ||
| SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives | ||
| a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as | ||
| provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this | ||
| Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this | ||
| Act takes effect September 1, 2025. | ||
