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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to energy efficiency market emission reduction credit |
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programs established by emission reduction credit organizations. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 384.001, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended by adding Subdivision (2-a) to read as follows: |
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(2-a) "Laboratory" means the Energy Systems Laboratory |
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at the Texas Engineering Experiment Station of The Texas A&M |
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University System. |
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SECTION 2. Section 384.002, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 384.002. PURPOSE. (a) The purpose of an area emission |
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reduction credit organization shall be to promote the coexistence |
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of the improvement of air quality and economic development within |
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the region through the acquisition and distribution of emission |
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reduction credits. Its activities may include the use of emission |
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reduction credits to help meet federal reasonable further progress |
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requirements as well as using emission reduction credits to |
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facilitate the issuance of permits. |
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(b) An organization may establish an energy efficiency |
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market emission reduction credit program through which a utility, |
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municipal utility, electric cooperative, state or local |
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government, or energy service company that has a program of energy |
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efficiency measures established in a nonattainment or near |
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nonattainment area may register savings from that entity's energy |
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efficiency measures as emission reduction credits and sell or trade |
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the credits in an effort to reduce emissions of air pollutants in |
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urban areas of this state. Emission reduction credits gained |
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through energy efficiency measures must be certified by the |
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laboratory as having achieved the actual emission reduction. |
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SECTION 3. Section 384.014, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 384.014. ANNUAL REPORT. By March 1 of each year each |
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area organization shall file with the commission, the laboratory, |
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and the regional council of governments an annual report for the |
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preceding calendar year. The annual report shall contain: |
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(1) a financial accounting; |
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(2)[,] an accounting of emission reduction credits;[,] |
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and |
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(3) a listing of all emission reduction credit |
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transactions entered into by the organization, including any |
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transactions related to the creation of an energy efficiency market |
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emission reduction credit program. |
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SECTION 4. 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, 2011. |