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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of an energy efficiency loan guarantee |
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program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. 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 to issue or guarantee |
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loans for energy audits, upgrades, or retrofits to increase the |
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energy efficiency of commercial buildings and residences that are |
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not newly constructed. |
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(b) Rules adopted under this section must establish |
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eligibility requirements to receive a loan or loan guarantee under |
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this section. The requirements must include emissions reduction |
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cost-effectiveness criteria. |
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(c) The State Energy Conservation Office shall: |
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(1) use money from federal grants available through |
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the United States Department of Energy to begin the program |
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established under this section and leverage private capital or |
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state resources, if money available under the grants is |
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appropriated for that purpose; and |
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(2) establish policies for the use of federal grants |
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that are compatible with requirements associated with the issuance |
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of those grants. |
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(d) The State Energy Conservation Office may use a portion |
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of the money or other resources described by Subsection (c) for |
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grants, technical assistance, or administrative expenses. |
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(e) The State Energy Conservation Office annually shall |
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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 2. 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 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |