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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the study of and incentives for the use of solar and |
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wind energy. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. STUDY ON SOLAR AND WIND ENERGY AND RELATED |
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FACILITIES. (a) In this Act, "commission" means the Texas |
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Commission on Environmental Quality. |
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(b) The commission, in consultation with the Public Utility |
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Commission of Texas, the Parks and Wildlife Department, and any |
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other relevant state agency, shall conduct a study on the effects of |
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solar generation facilities and wind generation facilities on the |
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environment, the economy, and infrastructure in this state. |
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(c) In conducting the study, the commission shall examine: |
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(1) land use and habitat disruption, including the |
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impact of large solar and wind generation facilities on |
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agricultural land, native ecosystems, and wildlife habitats; |
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(2) decommissioning and disposal challenges related |
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to solar and wind generation facilities, including a consideration |
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of the life cycle of solar panels and wind turbines, hazardous waste |
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risks, sustainability of recycling methods, and the disposal of |
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components; |
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(3) grid reliability and energy security, including |
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any effects of an increased reliance on solar and wind energy on |
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electric grid stability, energy storage needs, and grid reliability |
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during periods of peak demand; |
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(4) the economic impact of solar and wind generation |
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facilities on rural communities, including changes in land value, |
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tax revenue, or agricultural productivity in areas where solar |
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generation facilities or wind generation facilities are |
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established; |
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(5) potential fire risks associated with lithium-ion |
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battery storage and the capability of rural emergency services to |
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effectively respond to a fire at a battery facility; |
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(6) risks of soil and water contamination from solar |
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generation facilities, including risks associated with water |
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usage, long-term soil degradation, and the disposal of solar panel |
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materials; |
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(7) wildlife and avian mortality related to the |
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production of wind energy, including the effects of wind turbines |
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on migratory birds, bats, and other wildlife populations; and |
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(8) the noise created by and potential health effects |
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of wind generation facilities, including the potential effects of |
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wind turbine noise, infrasound, and shadow flicker on nearby |
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communities. |
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(d) The commission shall hold public hearings in rural |
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counties and counties in which solar or wind generation facilities |
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are located to collect input relevant to the study from landowners, |
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energy industry representatives, environmental experts, and local |
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officials. |
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(e) Not later than September 1, 2026, the commission shall |
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submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the |
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house of representatives, and the chair of the standing committee |
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of each house of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over |
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energy production an interim report that includes the initial |
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results of the study conducted under this section. |
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(f) Not later than January 31, 2027, the commission shall |
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submit a final report to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the |
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speaker of the house of representatives, and the chair of the |
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standing committee of each house of the legislature with primary |
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jurisdiction over energy production a written report that includes |
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the results of the study conducted under this section and any |
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recommendations for the legislature. |
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(g) The commission shall begin the interim study required by |
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this section not later than September 1, 2025. |
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SECTION 2. MORATORIUM ON STATE ECONOMIC INCENTIVES. (a) |
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Notwithstanding any other law and except as otherwise provided by |
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this section, during the period that begins on the effective date of |
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this Act and ends on the last day of the 90th Legislature, Regular |
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Session, a solar energy project, wind energy project, solar |
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generation facility, or wind generation facility is not eligible to |
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receive a state economic incentive, including a state tax |
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incentive. |
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(b) Subsection (a) of this section does not apply to a state |
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economic incentive the application for which was submitted on or |
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before the effective date of this Act. |
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(c) The members of the 90th Legislature, Regular Session, by |
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adoption of a concurrent resolution approved by a record vote of a |
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majority of the members of each house of the legislature may |
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terminate the moratorium imposed under Subsection (a) of this |
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section before the date the moratorium would otherwise expire under |
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that subsection. |
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SECTION 3. EXPIRATION. This Act expires September 1, 2027. |
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SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect |
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immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members |
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elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas |
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Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
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immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |