SRC-MWN H.B. 3415 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 3415
77R11016 SMH-FBy: McClendon (Barrientos)
Natural Resources
4/30/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires
landfills of a certain size to have a gathering system to collect methane
gas and burn it on site. Energy produced of electricity produced in this
way can be used to meet the goals concerning the percentage of electricity
produced by utilities from renewable sources. H.B. 3415 requires the Public
Utility Commission and the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission
to promote the economic development and use of landfill gas. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 361B, Health and Safety Code, by adding Section
361.040, as follows: 

Sec. 361.040. DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF LANDFILL GAS. (a) Sets forth
legislative intent. 

(b) Requires the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission
(commission) and the Public Utility Commission of Texas to jointly promote
the economic development and use of landfill gas by certain means. 

(c) Requires the commission, if the commission requires a person to
register with the commission before undertaking landfill gas recovery
activities, to give priority to processing applications for registration. 

(d) Requires the commission and the Public Utility Commission of Texas to
jointly report to the legislature by November 1 of 2002, 2004, and 2006 on
the status of the development of landfill gas in this state. Requires each
report to identify certain projects. 

  (e) Provides that this section expires September 1, 2007.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2001.