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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the use of geothermal energy as a dispatchable |
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generation resource. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 34, Utilities Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 34.01015 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 34.01015. APPLICABILITY. For the purposes of this |
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chapter: |
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(1) a generating facility is considered to be |
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dispatchable if the facility's output can be controlled primarily |
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by forces under human control; and |
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(2) a geothermal energy generation facility is |
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considered to be dispatchable. |
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SECTION 2. Section 34.0104, Utilities Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a) The commission may use money in the fund without further |
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appropriation to provide loans to finance upgrades to existing |
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dispatchable electric generating facilities providing power for |
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the ERCOT power region that result in a net increase of at least 100 |
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megawatts of capacity for each facility or the construction of |
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dispatchable electric generating facilities providing power for |
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the ERCOT power region that each have a generation capacity of at |
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least 100 megawatts. [For the purposes of this section, a |
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generating facility is considered to be dispatchable if the |
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facility's output can be controlled primarily by forces under human |
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control.] An electric energy storage facility, other than a |
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geothermal energy conservation well, is not eligible for a loan |
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under this section. |
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(a-1) Notwithstanding Subsections (a) and (b)(1), the |
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commission may use money in the fund, without further |
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appropriation, to provide loans to finance the construction of |
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geothermal energy generation facilities and geothermal energy |
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conservation wells in the ERCOT power region that have a generation |
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capacity of at least 10 megawatts. |
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SECTION 3. Sections 34.0105(a) and (c), Utilities Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The commission shall provide, using money available in |
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the fund for the purpose without further appropriation, a |
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completion bonus grant for the construction of dispatchable |
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electric generating facilities in the ERCOT power region. [For the |
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purposes of this section, a generating facility is considered to be |
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dispatchable if the facility's output can be controlled primarily |
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by forces under human control.] An electric energy storage |
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facility, other than a geothermal energy conservation well, is not |
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eligible for a grant under this section. |
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(c) The commission may provide a grant under this section |
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only for construction of a facility that: |
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(1) will have a generation capacity of at least 100 |
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megawatts or at least 10 megawatts for a geothermal energy |
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generation facility or geothermal energy conservation well; and |
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(2) does not meet the planning model requirements |
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necessary to be included in the Capacity Demand and Reserves Report |
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of the independent organization certified under Section 39.151 for |
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the ERCOT power region before June 1, 2023. |
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SECTION 4. Section 39.159(a), Utilities Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) For the purposes of this section: |
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(1)[,] a generation facility is considered to be |
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dispatchable if the facility's output can be controlled primarily |
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by forces under human control; and |
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(2) a geothermal energy generation facility and a |
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geothermal energy conservation well are considered to be |
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dispatchable [non-dispatchable if the facility's output is |
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controlled primarily by forces outside of human control]. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |