Amend CSHB 2000 (house committee printing) by adding the following appropriately numbered SECTION to the bill and renumbering subsequent SECTIONS of the bill accordingly:
SECTION ____. Chapter 447, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 447.014 to read as follows:
Sec. 447.014. ENERGY EFFICIENCY, NATURAL GAS CONSERVATION, AND WATER CONSERVATION LOAN PROGRAM. (a) Using money available from the state utilities reliability fund established under Chapter 202, Utilities Code, the comptroller and the State Energy Conservation Office jointly by rule shall establish and administer a program that issues or guarantees loans to be used for improvements that increase the energy efficiency of and promote conservation of natural gas and water by residences and businesses that are not newly constructed.
(b) The rules adopted under this section must establish eligibility requirements for receipt of a loan issued or guaranteed under the program, including emissions reduction cost-effectiveness criteria.
(c) The State Energy Conservation Office annually shall submit to the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Energy Systems Laboratory of the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station a report that:
(1) evaluates the effectiveness of the program; and
(2) quantifies energy savings and emissions reductions that result from the program for consideration in the state implementation plan, as described by Section 382.0173, Health and Safety Code, for emissions reduction credits.