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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to creating a task force to review electric energy |
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generation policies and certain permits for operation of electric |
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generation facilities and to study the state's long-term demand for |
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electric generation capacity. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 31, Utilities Code, is amended by adding |
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Section 31.006 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 31.006. ELECTRIC ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT TASK |
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FORCE. (a) In this section, "task force" means the electric |
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energy and environmental impact task force. |
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(b) The electric energy and environmental impact task force |
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shall meet quarterly to: |
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(1) study the state's long-term demand for electric |
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generation capacity and the infrastructure and technology |
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available and necessary for meeting that demand; |
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(2) study the environmental effects of existing and |
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proposed electric generating facilities; |
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(3) inventory all existing electric generating |
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facilities operating in this state; |
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(4) review changes to state statutes, administrative |
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rules and regulations, judicial decisions, and executive branch |
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policies regarding electric energy generation; and |
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(5) as necessary and in accordance with Section |
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382.05171, Health and Safety Code, determine whether the issuance |
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of a permit to operate an electric generating facility is necessary |
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to meet the state's demand for electric generation capacity. |
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(c) The task force is composed of representatives of: |
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(1) the commission; |
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(2) the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality; |
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(3) ERCOT; and |
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(4) the Texas Water Development Board. |
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(d) The members of the task force shall elect a presiding |
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officer from among the members and shall adopt rules governing the |
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operation of the committee. |
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(e) All meetings of the task force shall be conducted in |
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accordance with Chapter 551, Government Code. |
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(f) The task force may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and |
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appropriations for purposes of this section. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 382, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 382.05171 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 382.05171. REVIEW OF ELECTRIC ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL |
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IMPACT TASK FORCE. (a) In this section, "task force" means the |
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electric energy and environmental impact task force established |
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under Section 31.006, Utilities Code. |
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(b) In addition to the requirements for obtaining a permit |
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under this chapter, before the commission may issue a permit to |
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operate an electric generating facility, the commission shall |
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submit a copy of the application to the task force to determine |
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whether the issuance of the permit is necessary to meet the state's |
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demand for electric generation capacity. |
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(c) The commission may not grant a permit to operate an |
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electric generating facility under this chapter if the task force |
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determines that the issuance of the permit is not necessary to meet |
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the state's demand for electric generation capacity. |
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SECTION 3. Section 382.05171, Health and Safety Code, as |
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added by this Act, applies only to an application for a permit to |
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operate an electric generating facility for which the Texas |
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Commission on Environmental Quality has not issued a permit before |
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the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 4. Not later than October 1, 2009, the electric |
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energy and environmental impact task force established under |
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Section 31.006, Utilities Code, as added by this Act, shall conduct |
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an organizational meeting. |
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SECTION 5. 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, 2009. |