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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the development of a state strategy for increasing the |
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availability of low-emission automotive fuels for Texas drivers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. (a) The State Energy Conservation Office shall |
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prepare a report that provides a coherent strategy for and |
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recommends mechanisms for increasing the availability of |
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low-emission automotive fuels. The report must include: |
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(1) a list of recommended fuels; |
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(2) proposed mechanisms for increasing the |
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availability of the fuels recommended under Subdivision (1) of this |
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subsection to the majority of Texas drivers by 2010, including: |
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(A) rebates for retrofitting vehicles to make |
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them compatible with the recommended fuels, if necessary; |
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(B) procurement agreements by municipalities and |
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state agencies to purchase vehicles that are compatible with the |
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recommended fuels; and |
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(C) market incentives to producers and |
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distributors of the recommended fuels; |
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(3) an assessment of: |
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(A) the anticipated effects on ground-level |
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ozone levels in urban areas as a result of using the recommended |
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fuels; |
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(B) the cost to the state to implement the |
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mechanisms proposed under Subdivision (2) of this subsection; |
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(C) the possible benefits to the state in reduced |
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health care costs that may result from using the recommended fuels; |
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(D) the number of new jobs expected to be created |
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in this state that may result from using the recommended fuels; |
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(E) projected costs to Texas consumers of using |
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the recommended fuels; |
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(F) the anticipated effect on state revenue as a |
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result of new economic activity related to the production, |
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distribution, and use of the recommended fuels; and |
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(G) the net reduction of emissions projected to |
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result from using the recommended fuels; and |
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(4) any statutory changes needed to implement the |
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strategy or a recommended mechanism. |
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(b) For each fuel in the list of fuels recommended under |
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this section, the State Energy Conservation Office shall include an |
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analysis of the life cycle emissions for the fuel and a |
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determination of how well the fuel achieves the goal of producing at |
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least 20 percent less emissions over its life cycle than |
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conventional gasoline. The life cycle of a fuel includes emissions |
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that occur in the production of the fuel. If part of the fuel's |
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production process includes carbon capture and storage, also known |
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as carbon sequestration, the resulting reduction in carbon dioxide |
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emissions is included in computing the life cycle emissions for the |
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fuel. |
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SECTION 2. (a) The State Energy Conservation Office may |
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establish a task force to assist in developing the strategy and |
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recommendations required by this Act. |
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(b) Not later than October 1, 2008, the State Energy |
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Conservation Office shall deliver the report required by this Act |
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to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house |
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of representatives, and the standing committees of the legislature |
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with primary jurisdiction over environmental, economic, and |
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transportation matters. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |