AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Interested parties contend that energy-efficient buildings are vital in the effort to reduce both energy usage and utility costs. The parties assert that incorporating proven, cutting-edge energy efficiency techniques from the private sector into state-owned buildings will decrease the state's utility burden and allow taxpayer funds from the savings to be redirected to other state services, such as education and health care. H.B. 2919 seeks to address this issue.
H.B. 2919 amends current law relating to an energy efficiency pilot program for state-owned buildings operated by the Texas Facilities Commission.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter I, Chapter 2166, Government Code, by adding Section 2166.410, as follows:
Sec. 2166.410. ENERGY EFFICIENCY PILOT PROGRAM. (a) Requires the Energy Systems Laboratory at the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, in consultation with the Texas Facilities Commission (TFC) and the State Energy Conservation Office, to establish and implement a pilot program in which:
(1) the State Energy Conservation Office makes or guarantees loans used to finance improvements that will increase the energy efficiency of state-owned buildings;
(2) the savings in utility costs resulting from the improvements made under Subdivision (1) generate a 30 percent return on the costs of the improvements; and
(3) not fewer than two companies selected by TFC are authorized to participate.
(b) Requires that a loan made or guaranteed under this section have an amortization period twice as long as the projected period in which the loan could be repaid with utility cost savings attributable to the improvements made under this section.
(c) Provides that money attributable to utility cost savings resulting from improvements made to a building under the program may be appropriated only to the governmental entity that owns the building in which the utility cost savings occur.
(d) Provides that this section expires August 31, 2020.
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2015.