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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of the Texas geothermal energy |
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production policy council. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 81, Natural Resources |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 81.076 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 81.076. TEXAS GEOTHERMAL ENERGY PRODUCTION POLICY |
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COUNCIL. (a) In this section, "council" means the Texas geothermal |
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energy production policy council. |
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(b) The Texas geothermal energy production policy council |
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is established within the commission to study and make |
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recommendations relating to the commission's policy framework for |
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geothermal energy development. |
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(c) The council is composed of: |
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(1) the chair of the commission or the chair's |
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designee; |
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(2) the director of the Bureau of Economic Geology of |
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The University of Texas at Austin or the director's designee; and |
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(3) not more than 11 members appointed by the |
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commission to represent as many different types of participants as |
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possible, including at least three but not more than five |
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representatives from the geothermal energy industry. |
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(d) The chair of the commission or the chair of the |
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commission's designee is the chair of the council. |
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(e) A member of the council is not entitled to compensation |
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or reimbursement of expenses for service on the council. |
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(f) The council shall: |
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(1) study the development of geothermal energy |
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industries in this state, including the development of facilities |
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for the production, pipeline transportation, and storage of |
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geothermal energy; |
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(2) analyze how tax incentives or cooperation with the |
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Geothermal Technologies Office of the United States Department of |
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Energy could encourage the development of geothermal energy |
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projects in this state; and |
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(3) develop a state plan for geothermal energy |
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production oversight by the commission. |
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(g) The council shall make recommendations to the |
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legislature relating to legislative changes needed for the |
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oversight and regulation of production, pipeline transportation, |
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and storage of geothermal energy. |
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(h) The council is abolished and this section expires |
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January 1, 2032. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |