MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS & COMMERCE

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

9:30 a.m.

Capitol Extension, Room E1.036

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Business & Commerce was held on Tuesday, April 15, 2008, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036 at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Troy Fraser, Chair Senator Kip Averitt Senator Kevin Eltife Senator Craig Estes Senator Kyle Janek		Senator Chris Harris, Vice Chair Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. Senator Leticia Van de Putte Senator Kirk Watson

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:36 a.m.  There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted: 

 

Chairman Averitt made opening comments.

 

Chairman Fraser made opening comments.

 

The following testified before the committees:

 

-Barry Smitherman, Chairman, Public Utility Commission of Texas

-Brian Lloyd, Public Utility Commission of Texas

-Bob Kahn, CEO, Electric Reliability Council of Texas

-William Bojorquez, Vice President of System Planning, Electric Reliability Council of Texas

-Elizabeth Ames Jones, Commissioner, Railroad Commission of Texas

-Rich Varela, Executive Director, Railroad Commission of Texas

 

At 12:05 p.m. Senator Fraser moved that the committee stand recessed until 12:45 p.m.; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

At 12:47 p.m. the committee reconvened. 

 

 

The following testified before the committee:

 

-Buddy Garcia, Chairman, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

-Richard Hyde, Director - Air Permits, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

-David Schanbacher, Chief Engineer, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

 

The following testified as a panel:

-John Fainter, President, Association of Electric Companies of Texas

-Michael Webber, Associate Director, Center for International Energy & Environmental   Policy

-Ramon Alvarez, Senior Scientist, Environmental Defense

-Phillip Oldham, Energy Counsel, Texas Association Of Manufacturers

 

The following testified as a panel:

-Paul Sadler, President, The Wind Coalition

-Bert Garvin, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, FPL Energy

-Steve Taylor, Director - North American Public Relations, Applied Materials, Inc.

-Jim Lester, Houston Advanced Research Center

 

There being no further business at 3:46 p.m., Senator Fraser moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

 

 

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Senator Troy Fraser, Chairman

 

 

 

 

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Tatum Reagan, Clerk