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.