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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the legislature's goals for natural gas generating |
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capacity. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 39.9044(a) and (c), Utilities Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) It is the intent of the legislature that 50 percent of |
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the megawatts of generating capacity installed in this state after |
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January 1, 2000, use natural gas. To the extent permitted by law, |
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the commission shall establish a program to encourage utilities to |
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comply with this section by using natural gas produced in this state |
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as the preferential fuel. [This section does not apply to |
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generating capacity for renewable energy technologies.] |
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(c) The [Not later than January 1, 2000, the] commission |
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shall adopt rules necessary to administer and enforce this section |
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and to perform any necessary studies in cooperation with the |
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Railroad Commission of Texas. At a minimum, the rules shall: |
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(1) establish the minimum annual natural gas |
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generation requirement for each power generation company, |
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municipally owned utility, and electric cooperative operating in |
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this state in a manner reasonably calculated by the commission to |
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produce, on a statewide basis, compliance with the requirement |
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prescribed by Subsection (a); and |
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(2) specify reasonable performance standards that all |
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natural gas capacity additions must meet to count against the |
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requirement prescribed by Subsection (a) and that: |
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(A) are designed and operated so as to maximize |
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the energy output from the capacity additions in accordance with |
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then-current industry standards and best industry standards; and |
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(B) encourage the development, construction, and |
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operation of new natural gas energy projects at those sites in this |
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state that have the greatest economic potential for capture and |
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development of this state's environmentally beneficial natural gas |
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resources. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |