H.R. No. 415



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, The Lower Rio Grande Valley and the northeastern 
border of Mexico represent one of the most dynamic regions in North 
America in terms of growth potential for international commerce and 
economic development; and
	WHEREAS, Because of the Valley's location on the periphery of 
Texas' electrical grid, the current transmission infrastructure is 
inadequate to ensure a stable and reliable electricity system 
necessary to meet the growing demands of Valley homes and 
businesses; and
	WHEREAS, On December 19, 2003, the Electric Reliability 
Council of Texas and the Comision Federal de Electricidad issued a 
joint Phase I Interconnection Study analyzing the need for High 
Voltage Direct Current interconnections, also known as DC ties, to 
provide stability and reliability support by connecting the 
separate and independent electrical grids of Texas and Mexico; and
	WHEREAS, This Phase I study specifically cited the 
McAllen/Mission/Reynosa region as one of four possible locations to 
build a High Voltage Direct Current interconnection along the 
border; and
	WHEREAS, On January 21, 2005, the United States Department of 
Energy approved Presidential Permit Order No. PP-285, thereby 
granting permission to Sharyland Utilities, L.P., of McAllen to 
construct a 150 Megawatt HVDC interconnection facility in Mission, 
Texas, and to connect it to the Cumbres Substation located across 
the border in Reynosa, Tamaulipas; and
	WHEREAS, On April 13, 2005, the Public Utility Commission of 
Texas unanimously approved PUC Docket No. 28834, thereby granting a 
Certificate of Convenience and Necessity to Sharyland Utilities, 
L.P., for this project; and
	WHEREAS, On December 8, 2005, the Comision Federal de 
Electricidad Board of Governors unanimously adopted Resolution 
Number One Hundred and Thirty Eight/2005, thereby approving the 
construction of its portion of this interconnection; and
	WHEREAS, The Sharyland interconnection will not only provide 
increased stability and reliability for both grids, but its open 
access two-way flow design has the potential also to spur the 
creation of an international wholesale market that will enable 
cross-border electricity trade that will benefit electricity 
consumers on both sides; and
	WHEREAS, On May 8, 2006, stakeholders both from the United 
States and Mexico will gather in Mission, Texas, to celebrate the 
groundbreaking and construction of this facility; now, therefore, 
be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas 
Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby recognize the Sharyland 
HVDC Tie Groundbreaking Celebration on May 8, 2006, and extend best 
wishes to the stakeholders who have contributed to this endeavor in 
meeting the future electricity needs of the region; and, be it 
further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 
prepared for Sharyland Utilities, L.P., and for the Comision 
Federal de Electricidad as an expression of high regard by the Texas 
House of Representatives.

                                                                          Flores

                                                  ______________________________
                                                       Speaker of the House     

	I certify that H.R. No. 415 was adopted by the House on May 
12, 2006, by a non-record vote.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House