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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of certain energy efficiency programs. |
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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 designating Sections 388.001 through 388.012 as Subchapter A and |
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adding a subchapter heading to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER A. BUILDING ENERGY PERFORMANCE STANDARDS |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 388, Health and Safety Code, is amended |
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by adding Subchapter B to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER B. ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS |
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Sec. 388.051. 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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Sec. 388.052. HOME REBATE PROGRAM. (a) The comptroller and |
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the State Energy Conservation Office shall establish a home rebate |
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program for whole-house energy savings retrofit programs that will |
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make rebates available to eligible third-party aggregators and |
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households, including single-family and multifamily residences, to |
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make existing residences more energy efficient. |
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(b) The State Energy Conservation Office shall establish |
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program requirements that are compatible with federal standards and |
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beneficial to the state. |
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(c) The State Energy Conservation Office may use money |
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available to the office for purposes of this section for grants, |
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technical assistance, and administrative expenses, including |
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appropriate contracts. |
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(d) The State Energy Conservation Office may coordinate |
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with the Public Utility Commission of Texas and electric utility |
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providers, including electric cooperatives and municipally owned |
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utilities, to maximize the benefits of the program established |
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under this section by combining the benefits of the program with |
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other programs. |
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Sec. 388.053. HIGH-EFFICIENCY ELECTRIC HOME REBATE |
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PROGRAM. (a) The comptroller and the State Energy Conservation |
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Office shall establish a high-efficiency electric home rebate |
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program for electric appliances that have an overall energy benefit |
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to the state when installed in households, including single-family |
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and multifamily residences. |
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(b) The State Energy Conservation Office shall establish |
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program requirements that are compatible with federal standards and |
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beneficial to the state. |
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(c) The State Energy Conservation Office may use money |
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available to the office for purposes of this section for grants, |
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technical assistance, and administrative expenses, including |
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appropriate contracts. |
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Sec. 388.054. IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM. (a) The comptroller |
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and the State Energy Conservation Office shall establish a program |
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to foster sustained, cost-effective implementation of |
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international codes, including the International Energy |
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Conservation Code and its subsequent revisions, to the extent |
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allowed by state law. The program must provide for training, |
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grants, and other assistance as necessary. |
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(b) The State Energy Conservation Office shall establish |
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program requirements that are compatible with federal standards and |
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beneficial to the state. |
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(c) The State Energy Conservation Office may use money |
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available to the office for purposes of this section for grants, |
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technical assistance, and administrative expenses. |
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Sec. 388.055. REQUIRED REPORTS. The State Energy |
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Conservation Office annually shall submit to the commission and the |
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laboratory a report that: |
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(1) evaluates the effectiveness of the programs |
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established under this subchapter; and |
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(2) quantifies energy savings and emissions |
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reductions as a result of programs established under this |
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subchapter for consideration in the state implementation plan for |
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emissions reduction credit. |
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Sec. 388.056. EXPIRATION. This subchapter expires December |
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31, 2031. |
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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 388.055, 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 September 1, 2023. |