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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to this state's goal for renewable energy. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 39.904(a) and (o), Utilities Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) It is the intent of the legislature that by January 1, |
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2020, at least 35 percent of the generating capacity in this state |
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will be from renewable energy technologies, with at least 2 percent |
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of the generating capacity in this state from solar energy |
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technologies [2015, an additional 5,000 megawatts of generating
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capacity from renewable energy technologies will have been
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installed in this state. The cumulative installed renewable
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capacity in this state shall total 5,880 megawatts by January 1,
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2015, and the commission shall establish a target of 10,000
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megawatts of installed renewable capacity by January 1, 2025. The
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cumulative installed renewable capacity in this state shall total
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2,280 megawatts by January 1, 2007, 3,272 megawatts by January 1,
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2009, 4,264 megawatts by January 1, 2011, 5,256 megawatts by
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January 1, 2013, and 5,880 megawatts by January 1, 2015. Of the
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renewable energy technology generating capacity installed to meet
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the goal of this subsection after September 1, 2005, the commission
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shall establish a target of having at least 500 megawatts of
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capacity from a renewable energy technology other than a source
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using wind energy]. |
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(o) The commission may establish an alternative compliance |
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payment. An entity that has a renewable energy purchase |
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requirement under this section may elect to pay the alternative |
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compliance payment instead of applying renewable energy credits |
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toward the satisfaction of the entity's obligation under this |
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section. [The commission may establish a separate alternative
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compliance payment for the goal of 500 megawatts of capacity from
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renewable energy technologies other than wind energy. The
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alternative compliance payment for a renewable energy purchase
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requirement that could be satisfied with a renewable energy credit
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from wind energy may not be less than $2.50 per credit or greater
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than $20 per credit. Prior to September 1, 2009, an alternative
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compliance payment under this subsection may not be set above $5 per
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credit.] In implementing this subsection, the commission shall |
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consider: |
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(1) the effect of renewable energy credit prices on |
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retail competition; |
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(2) the effect of renewable energy credit prices on |
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electric rates; |
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(3) the effect of the alternative compliance payment |
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level on the renewable energy credit market; and |
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(4) any other factors necessary to ensure the |
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continued development of the renewable energy industry in this |
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state while protecting ratepayers from unnecessary rate increases. |
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SECTION 2. 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, 2013. |