| 1 | 1 | | By: Fraser S.B. No. 1821 |
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| 2 | 2 | | |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 5 | 5 | | AN ACT |
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| 6 | 6 | | relating to a study and a pilot project with regard to, and the |
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| 7 | 7 | | implementation of policies to promote, the adoption of plug-in |
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| 8 | 8 | | hybrid electric vehicles. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 39, Utilities Code, is |
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| 11 | 11 | | amended by adding Section 39.917 to read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | Sec. 39.917. EVALUATION OF POLICIES REGARDING PLUG-IN |
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| 13 | 13 | | HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLES; PILOT PROJECT. (a) In this section, |
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| 14 | 14 | | "plug-in hybrid electric vehicle" means a vehicle that: |
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| 15 | 15 | | (1) draws motive power from a battery with a capacity |
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| 16 | 16 | | of at least four kilowatt-hours; |
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| 17 | 17 | | (2) can be recharged from an external source of |
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| 18 | 18 | | electricity for motive power; and |
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| 19 | 19 | | (3) is a light-duty motor vehicle as defined by |
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| 20 | 20 | | Section 386.151, Health and Safety Code. |
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| 21 | 21 | | (b) The commission shall study the potential for wide-scale |
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| 22 | 22 | | adoption of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and shall submit a |
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| 23 | 23 | | report to the 82nd Legislature regarding the commission's findings. |
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| 24 | 24 | | The report shall include: |
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| 25 | 25 | | (1) a summary and evaluation of studies by other |
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| 26 | 26 | | organizations relating to the sufficiency of the transmission and |
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| 27 | 27 | | distribution grid and existing generation capacity to charge |
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| 28 | 28 | | vehicles; |
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| 29 | 29 | | (2) a summary and evaluation of studies quantifying |
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| 30 | 30 | | the air quality benefits of the adoption of plug-in hybrid electric |
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| 31 | 31 | | vehicles, particularly in areas that are, or are likely to be, |
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| 32 | 32 | | nonattainment areas; |
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| 33 | 33 | | (3) an evaluation of the sufficiency of existing and |
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| 34 | 34 | | planned metering infrastructure, settlement policies, and retail |
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| 35 | 35 | | pricing offers to provide adequate incentives for customers to |
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| 36 | 36 | | charge vehicles during off-peak hours; |
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| 37 | 37 | | (4) an evaluation by transmission and distribution |
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| 38 | 38 | | utilities of the potential impact of increased loading on |
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| 39 | 39 | | distribution transformers due to increased use of plug-in hybrid |
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| 40 | 40 | | electric vehicles; and |
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| 41 | 41 | | (5) recommendations to the legislature relating to |
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| 42 | 42 | | legislation that the commission finds necessary to support the |
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| 43 | 43 | | adoption of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles while maintaining a |
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| 44 | 44 | | reliable transmission and distribution grid. |
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| 45 | 45 | | (c) Based on the results of the study required by this |
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| 46 | 46 | | section, the commission may adopt rules as necessary to ensure that |
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| 47 | 47 | | adequate electric infrastructure and policies are in place to |
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| 48 | 48 | | support the adoption of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. |
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| 49 | 49 | | (d) The commission shall consult with the Electric |
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| 50 | 50 | | Reliability Council of Texas, transmission and distribution |
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| 51 | 51 | | utilities, and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, as |
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| 52 | 52 | | appropriate, to conduct the study. |
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| 53 | 53 | | (e) The commission shall develop a pilot project, in |
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| 54 | 54 | | consultation with local electric utilities or private contractors, |
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| 55 | 55 | | for the establishment and operation of charging stations for |
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| 56 | 56 | | plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in state-owned parking lots and |
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| 57 | 57 | | garages, including lots and garages in the Capitol Complex, as |
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| 58 | 58 | | defined by Section 411.061, Government Code. |
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| 59 | 59 | | (f) The pilot project must also include: |
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| 60 | 60 | | (1) demonstrations on the use of charging stations for |
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| 61 | 61 | | plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in the Capitol Complex; |
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| 62 | 62 | | (2) the solicitation of demonstrations of plug-in |
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| 63 | 63 | | hybrid electric vehicles, including pickup trucks, delivery |
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| 64 | 64 | | vehicles, and buses, for use in the state vehicle fleet; and |
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| 65 | 65 | | (3) facilitation of the use of ride-sharing or |
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| 66 | 66 | | car-pooling programs that use plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and |
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| 67 | 67 | | are sponsored or promoted by local governments. |
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| 68 | 68 | | (g) The commission may solicit and accept grants, gifts, and |
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| 69 | 69 | | donations from any public or private source for the purposes of this |
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| 70 | 70 | | section. |
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| 71 | 71 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |
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