88R8256 TBO-D
 
  By: Guerra, Darby, Anchía, H.C.R. No. 30
      Morales of Maverick, et al.
 
 
 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
         WHEREAS, In February 2021, Winter Storm Uri provided a harsh
  reminder of the fragility of the Texas power grid; and
         WHEREAS, Record low temperatures created a catastrophic
  energy shortage as weather-related failures took down natural gas,
  nuclear, coal, wind, and solar generation; natural gas-fired power
  plants, which supply 42 percent of the state's electricity, ran out
  of fuel as pipelines and related equipment froze; and
         WHEREAS, The geographical characteristics of Texas have
  created untapped geothermal resources that can increase energy
  options; geothermal, which generates energy using heat from the
  Earth's interior, is a reliable and flexible source that runs
  consistently regardless of weather conditions and can quickly
  adjust to the changing needs of the power system; it is clean,
  producing 95 percent fewer emissions than coal and 92 percent less
  than gas; moreover, it is endlessly renewable, as the superheated
  water can be injected back into the ground to run in a constant
  loop; and
         WHEREAS, Texas has a long history with geothermal; the State
  Capitol was originally heated by geothermal water, and in the
  1970s, the U.S. Department of Energy funded geothermal projects to
  provide space heating for the Falls Community Hospital in Marlin
  and Cotulla High School in the Eagle Ford Shale; geothermal
  resources along the Gulf Coast were catalogued and proven
  extractable in the 1970s and '80s, but such initiatives languished
  once oil prices sank; and
         WHEREAS, Every oil and gas well brings geothermal heat to the
  surface as a byproduct; preliminary data collected by Southern
  Methodist University over 15 years ago indicated that up to 2,000
  megawatts of geothermal energy could be available just from the
  state's then-extant oil and gas wells, and the subsequent fracking
  boom likely means that even more geothermal energy is available;
  more recent research has identified abundant geothermal energy
  reserves across Texas, and new technologies have made it possible
  to extract geothermal energy from deep below the Earth's surface;
  geothermal technology can repurpose end-of-life oil and gas wells,
  alleviating the need for plugging, abandonment, or decommissioning
  while also supporting clean energy generation; and
         WHEREAS, Geothermal energy development can also repurpose
  the skills and expertise of the state's oil and gas workers, which
  are readily transferable; in Canada, many former oil workers have
  already made this transition; geothermal applications will create
  independent energy resources and jobs in a rapidly changing
  industry, and with its well-trained workforce, as well as its
  geological advantages, Texas is poised to realize tremendous
  economic development through geothermal expansion; and
         WHEREAS, Texas must diversify its energy portfolio in order
  to create a more resilient, responsive power grid and maintain its
  energy leadership and independence, and geothermal energy is a
  resource that can provide thousands of good jobs and attract
  millions in investments while achieving these goals; now,
  therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the 88th Legislature of the State of Texas
  hereby express support for geothermal energy production.