By: Van de Putte S.B. No. 598
(In the Senate - Filed January 30, 2009; February 23, 2009,
read first time and referred to Committee on Natural Resources;
April 14, 2009, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 8,
Nays 0; April 14, 2009, sent to printer.)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a pilot revolving loan program for retrofitting public
school buildings with photovoltaic solar panels and associated
energy efficiency improvements.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 2305, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 2305.0321 to read as follows:
Sec. 2305.0321. PILOT REVOLVING LOAN PROGRAM FOR SOLAR
ENERGY FOR SCHOOL BUILDINGS. (a) The energy office shall
establish a pilot program under the loanstar revolving loan program
to provide loans to pay the cost of installing photovoltaic solar
panels on public school buildings and the cost of associated energy
efficiency improvements to the buildings. The energy office shall
allocate to the pilot program at least $4 million from the funds
available to the loanstar revolving loan program.
(b) The energy office by rule shall establish the terms
under which a loan may be made under the pilot program, including
the interest rate for repayment of pilot program loans.
(c) Through the pilot program, the energy office shall offer
to each school district the opportunity to apply for a loan to pay
the cost of installing photovoltaic solar panels on at least one
school building of the school district's choice and the cost of
associated energy efficiency improvements to that building. The
energy office by rule shall establish a procedure for determining
which school districts qualify for a loan under the pilot program,
including rules for selecting the school districts that will
receive a loan if there is not sufficient money set aside for pilot
program improvements at all school districts.
(d) Each school district that receives a loan shall pay for
the principal of and interest on the loan for each school building
improvement primarily from the amount budgeted for the energy costs
of the school at which the solar panels are installed. The school
district may make additional payments of the principal of or
interest on a loan from money rebated to it as compensation for
electric energy generated by the solar panels or money received as a
gift or grant for the purpose of paying the loan.
(e) This section expires September 1, 2011, and the pilot
program established under this section is dissolved on that date.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
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