MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS & COMMERCE

Thursday, February 25, 2021

9:00 AM

Senate Chamber

 

*****

 

Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.10 and 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Business & Commerce was held on Thursday, February 25, 2021, in the Senate Chamber.

 

*****

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Kelly Hancock, Chair

 

None

Senator Robert Nichols, Vice Chair

 

 

Senator Donna Campbell

 

 

Senator Brandon Creighton

 

 

Senator Nathan Johnson

 

 

Senator José Menéndez

 

 

Senator Angela Paxton

 

 

Senator Charles Schwertner

 

 

Senator John Whitmire

 

 

 

*****

 

The chair called the meeting to order at 9:00 AM. Other members in attendance: Senator Carol Alvarado, Senator Paul Bettencourt, Senator Brian Birdwell, Senator Cesar Blanco, Senator Sarah Eckhardt, Senator Roland Gutierrez, Senator Bob Hall, Senator Lois Kolkhorst, Senator Eddie Lucio, Senator Borris Miles, Senator Jane Nelson, Senator Charles Perry, Senator Beverly Powell, Senator Drew Springer, and Senator Royce West.

 

There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

 

Senator Nichols moved adoption of the committee rules. There being no objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Hancock discussed the intent and logistics of the hearings.

 

Senator Hancock made an opening statement and lead the members in a prayer.

 

The Chair opened invited testimony on the following purpose:

 

The purpose of this hearing is to examine extreme weather condition preparedness and circumstances that led to the power outages as directed by Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT). The committee will also review generator preparedness and performance, utility outage practices, natural gas supply, and the reliability of renewable generation, as well as overall ERCOT system resilience.

 

Witnesses testifying and registering are shown on the attached list.

 

There being no further business, at 10:54 PM Senator Hancock moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

 

 

__________________________________________

Senator Kelly Hancock, Chair

 

 

__________________________________________

Kennedy Calvo, Clerk