| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to creating a task force to review electric energy |
|
|
generation policies and to study the state's long-term demand for |
|
|
electric generation capacity. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Chapter 31, Utilities Code, is amended by adding |
|
|
Section 31.006 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 31.006. ELECTRIC ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT TASK |
|
|
FORCE. (a) In this section, "task force" means the electric |
|
|
energy and environmental impact task force. |
|
|
(b) The electric energy and environmental impact task force |
|
|
shall meet quarterly to: |
|
|
(1) study the state's long-term demand for electric |
|
|
generation capacity and the infrastructure and technology |
|
|
available and necessary for meeting that demand; |
|
|
(2) study the environmental effects of existing and |
|
|
proposed electric generating facilities; |
|
|
(3) inventory all existing electric generating |
|
|
facilities operating in this state; and |
|
|
(4) review changes to state statutes, administrative |
|
|
rules and regulations, judicial decisions, and executive branch |
|
|
policies regarding electric energy generation. |
|
|
(c) The task force is composed of representatives of: |
|
|
(1) the commission; |
|
|
(2) the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality; |
|
|
(3) ERCOT; |
|
|
(4) the Texas Water Development Board; |
|
|
(5) the Railroad Commission of Texas; and |
|
|
(6) the state energy conservation office. |
|
|
(d) The members of the task force shall elect a presiding |
|
|
officer from among the members and shall adopt rules governing the |
|
|
operation of the committee. |
|
|
(e) All meetings of the task force shall be conducted in |
|
|
accordance with Chapter 551, Government Code. |
|
|
(f) The task force may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and |
|
|
appropriations for purposes of this section. |
|
|
(g) Not later than December 31 of each year, the task force |
|
|
shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and each |
|
|
member of the legislature a report on the task force's findings and |
|
|
recommendations. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Not later than October 1, 2009, the electric |
|
|
energy and environmental impact task force established under |
|
|
Section 31.006, Utilities Code, as added by this Act, shall conduct |
|
|
an organizational meeting. |
|
|
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
|
|
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
|
|
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
|
|
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
|
|
Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |