AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
A recent Texas Legislature enacted legislation requiring a combined heating and power system evaluation to be performed prior to new construction or substantial renovation of certain critical government buildings and facilities. One purpose of the combined heating and power-on-site energy system is to maintain electricity during and after a disaster or power outage.
H.B. 2623 seeks to clarify the applicability of requirements relating to certain energy security technologies for critical governmental facilities and simplify compliance with the requirements by authorizing the State Energy Conservation Office to establish guidelines for combined heating and power system evaluations. Official guidelines will help the affected entities perform the evaluation more effectively.
H.B. 2623 amends current law relating to certain energy security technologies for critical governmental facilities.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Reenacts Chapter 2311, Government Code, as added by Chapters 1280 (H.B. 1831) and 1408 (H.B. 4409), Acts of the 81st Legislature, Regular Session, 2009, and amends it as follows:
CHAPTER 2311. ENERGY SECURITY TECHNOLOGIES FOR CRITICAL GOVERNMENTAL FACILITIES
Sec. 2311.001. DEFINITIONS. Redefines, in this chapter, "critical governmental facility" to include an institution of higher education.
Sec. 2311.002. COMBINED HEATING AND POWER SYSTEMS. (a) Creates this subsection from existing text. Makes no further changes to this subsection.
(b) Requires the State Energy Conservation Office to establish guidelines for the evaluation under Subsection (a).
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2011.