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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of a residential energy efficiency |
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loan program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 386.252(a), Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Money in the fund may be used only to implement and |
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administer programs established under the plan. Money |
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appropriated to the commission to be used for the programs under |
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Section 386.051(b) shall be allocated as follows: |
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(1) not more than four percent may be used for the |
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clean school bus program under Chapter 390; |
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(2) not more than three percent may be used for the new |
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technology implementation grant program under Chapter 391, from |
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which at least $1 million will be set aside for electricity storage |
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projects related to renewable energy; |
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(3) five percent shall be used for the clean fleet |
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program under Chapter 392; |
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(4) not more than $3 million may be used by the |
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commission to fund a regional air monitoring program in commission |
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Regions 3 and 4 to be implemented under the commission's oversight, |
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including direction regarding the type, number, location, and |
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operation of, and data validation practices for, monitors funded by |
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the program through a regional nonprofit entity located in North |
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Texas having representation from counties, municipalities, higher |
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education institutions, and private sector interests across the |
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area; |
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(5) not less than 16 percent shall be used for the |
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Texas natural gas vehicle grant program under Chapter 394; |
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(6) not more than five percent may be used to provide |
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grants for natural gas fueling stations under the clean |
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transportation triangle program under Section 394.010; |
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(7) not more than five percent may be used for the |
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Texas alternative fueling facilities program under Chapter 393; |
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(8) a specified amount may be used each year to support |
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research related to air quality as provided by Chapter 387; |
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(9) not more than $200,000 may be used for a health |
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effects study; |
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(10) $500,000 is to be deposited in the state treasury |
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to the credit of the clean air account created under Section |
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382.0622 to supplement funding for air quality planning activities |
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in affected counties; |
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(11) at least $4 million and up to four percent to a |
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maximum of $7 million, whichever is greater, is allocated to the |
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commission for administrative costs; |
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(12) at least two percent and up to five percent of the |
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fund is to be used by the commission for the drayage truck incentive |
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program established under Subchapter D-1; |
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(13) not more than five percent may be used for the |
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light-duty motor vehicle purchase or lease incentive program |
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established under Subchapter D; |
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(14) not more than $216,000 is allocated to the |
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commission to contract with the Energy Systems Laboratory at the |
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Texas Engineering Experiment Station annually for the development |
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and annual computation of creditable statewide emissions |
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reductions obtained through wind and other renewable energy |
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resources for the state implementation plan; |
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(15) 1.5 percent of the money in the fund is allocated |
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for administrative costs incurred by the laboratory; [and] |
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(15-a) not less than $3 million shall be used for the |
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energy efficiency loan guarantee program under Section 388.013; and |
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(16) the balance is to be used by the commission for |
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the diesel emissions reduction incentive program under Subchapter C |
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as determined by the commission. |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 388, Health and Safety Code, is amended |
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by adding Section 388.013 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 388.013. ENERGY EFFICIENCY LOAN GUARANTEE PROGRAM. |
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(a) The comptroller and the State Energy Conservation Office by |
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rule shall establish and administer a program that issues or |
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guarantees loans to be used for improvements that increase the |
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energy efficiency of residences that are not newly constructed. |
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(b) Rules adopted under this section must establish |
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eligibility requirements for receipt of a loan issued or guaranteed |
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under this section, including emissions reduction |
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cost-effectiveness criteria. |
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(c) The State Energy Conservation Office shall annually |
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submit to the commission and the laboratory a report that: |
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(1) evaluates the effectiveness of the program |
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established under this section; and |
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(2) quantifies energy savings and emissions |
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reductions as a result of this program for consideration in the |
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state implementation plan for emissions reduction credit. |
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SECTION 3. Section 389.002, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 389.002. USE OF CERTAIN INFORMATION FOR FEDERAL |
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RECOGNITION OF EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS. The commission, using |
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information derived from the reports to the commission under |
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Sections 386.205, 388.003(e), [and] 388.006, and 388.013, shall |
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take all appropriate and necessary actions so that emissions |
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reductions achieved by means of activities under Chapters 386 and |
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388 are credited by the United States Environmental Protection |
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Agency to the appropriate emissions reduction objectives in the |
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state implementation plan. |
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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, 2015. |