S.B. 1325 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


S.B. 1325
By: Carona
Regulated Industries
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The Comprehensive Municipal Solid Waste Management, Resource Recovery, and
Conservation Act was enacted to promote the state's environmental policy
of reducing the generation and improving the management of solid waste,
including disposal and processing to extract usable materials or energy.
As proposed, S.B. 1325 permits retail electric providers, municipally
owned utilities, or electric cooperatives to receive energy credits for up
to 50 megawatts of electric energy produced or acquired using
waste-to-energy technology in Texas. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or
institution. 

ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 363, Health and Safety Code, by adding
Subchapter H, as follows: 
SUBCHAPTER H. WASTE TO ENERGY
Sec. 363.151. RENEWABLE ENERGY CREDIT. Authorizes a retail electric
provider, 
municipally owned utility, or electric cooperative, in furtherance of the
state's policy of 
encouraging the conversion of solid waste to energy, to credit toward
satisfaction of the 
requirements of Section 39.904, Utilities Code, any production or
acquisition of electric energy 
produced by a waste-to-energy technology in this state in an amount not to
exceed 50 
megawatts in total for all providers. Defines "waste-to-energy technology."

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2003.