BILL ANALYSIS
By: Watson
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Today, nationwide, Texas is the number one emitter of carbon dioxide, the primary global warming gas. Globally, Texas also ranks seventh, among nations, for emissions of carbon dioxide.
S.B. 1687 requires the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to develop and
present a report to the legislature by December 31, 2008, of strategies to reduce the amount of
carbon dioxide emissions that, over the life-time of the strategy, will result in a net financial
saving, or no financial cost to businesses and consumers of the state. The bill requires TCEQ to
look at programs implemented by other states and in other countries.
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
S.B. 1687 amends Chapter 382, Health and Safety Code. The bill defines "greenhouse gas". It charges the TCEQ to prepare and deliver a report to all members of the legislature no later than December 31, 2008. The report includes a list of strategies for reducing emissions of greenhouse gases that may result in net savings for consumers or businesses or can be achieved without financial cost to consumers or businesses in Texas. The TCEQ, in preparing the list of emission reduction strategies, is required to consider strategies for reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases that have been implemented in other states and nations. The bill requires the TCEQ, when evaluating whether an emission reduction strategy may result in a financial cost, to consider the total net costs that may occur over the life of the strategy - as opposed to the short-term capital costs that may result from the strategy implementation. The bill authorizes TCEQ to appoint advisory committees to assist in the identifying and evaluating of greenhouse gas emission reduction strategies.
EFFECTIVE DATE