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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to requiring the installation of solar power generation |
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panels in the construction of public schools. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 11, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 11.171 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 11.171. SOLAR ELECTRIC GENERATION FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL |
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BUILDINGS. (a) The trustees of an independent school district |
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shall ensure that any new public school built in the district is |
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designed for and constructed with solar electric generation panels |
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on the rooftops of the school. The trustees may provide for the |
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addition of solar electric generation panels to the rooftops of any |
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existing public school in the district or for a new building on the |
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property of a public school to be designed for and constructed with |
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solar electric generation panels. |
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(b) The trustees of an independent school district shall |
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contract with the public utility, retail electric provider, |
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municipally owned utility, or electric cooperative providing |
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electricity to the district so that: |
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(1) surplus electricity produced by a school |
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building's solar electric generation panels is made available for |
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sale to the electric transmission and distribution system; and |
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(2) the net value of that surplus electricity is |
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credited to the district. |
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SECTION 2. Section 31.004, Utilities Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
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(c) The commission shall provide information to school |
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districts regarding how a school district may finance the |
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installation of solar electric generation panels for school |
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district buildings. |
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SECTION 3. Section 39.002, Utilities Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 39.002. APPLICABILITY. This chapter, other than |
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Sections 39.155, 39.157(e), 39.203, 39.903, [and] 39.904, and |
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39.911, does not apply to a municipally owned utility or an electric |
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cooperative. Sections 39.157(e), 39.203, and 39.904, however, |
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apply only to a municipally owned utility or an electric |
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cooperative that is offering customer choice. If there is a |
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conflict between the specific provisions of this chapter and any |
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other provisions of this title, except for Chapters 40 and 41, the |
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provisions of this chapter control. |
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SECTION 4. Subchapter Z, Chapter 39, Utilities Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 39.911 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 39.911. CREDIT FOR SURPLUS SOLAR GENERATION BY PUBLIC |
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SCHOOLS. (a) An electric utility, retail electric provider, |
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municipally owned utility, or electric cooperative shall provide |
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for net metering and contract with an independent school district |
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so that: |
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(1) surplus electricity produced by a school |
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building's solar electric generation panels is made available for |
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sale to the electric transmission grid and distribution system; and |
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(2) the net value of that surplus electricity is |
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credited to the district. |
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(b) The commission by rule shall require that credits for |
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electricity produced by a school building's solar electric |
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generation panels reflect the value of the electricity at the time |
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of day that it is made available for sale to the electric |
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transmission grid and distribution system. |
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SECTION 5. Section 11.171, Education Code, as added by this |
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Act, does not apply to the construction or design of a school |
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building the planning process for which began before the effective |
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date of this Act. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |