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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to energy resources planning for electric generation in |
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ERCOT. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 39, Utilities Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 39.004 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 39.004. TEXAS ENERGY PLAN. (a) In consultation with |
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the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the Railroad |
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Commission of Texas, the independent organization certified under |
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Section 39.151, the Texas Water Development Board, and |
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representatives of the academic community involved with state |
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university energy programs, the commission shall develop a plan to |
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maximize the use of energy resources of this state for the |
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generation of electricity in the ERCOT region. |
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(b) The plan must: |
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(1) recognize and encourage the competitive market |
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structure in ERCOT; |
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(2) encourage investments in energy resources and |
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development of jobs in this state; |
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(3) encourage the development of a diverse portfolio |
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of clean, reliable, and competitively priced energy sources in this |
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state; |
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(4) promote research, pilot projects, and |
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market-based incentives to explore and expand long-term energy |
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options; and |
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(5) account for the statewide and regional water |
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planning process and means to reduce the use of water resources in |
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electric generation. |
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(c) The agencies and entities identified by Subsection (a) |
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shall use existing available resources to develop the plan. |
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(d) The commission shall submit the plan to the legislature |
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not later than December 31, 2018. |
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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, 2017. |