Texas House Bill HB2623

Texas 2011 - 82nd Regular

• Out of House Committee: 4/15/11
• Introduced: 3/9/11
• Voted on by House: 4/27/11
• Refer: 3/15/11
• Report Pass: 4/11/11
• Engrossed: 4/27/11
• Refer: 5/3/11

Caption

Relating to certain energy security technologies for critical governmental facilities.

Impact

The legislation mandates that when constructing or significantly renovating these facilities, authorities must evaluate the feasibility of incorporating combined heating and power systems. It suggests that if the expected energy savings over a 20-year period surpass the costs of installation and maintenance, facilities are permitted to implement these systems. This approach aims to optimize energy use, potentially leading to significant savings for state resources while ensuring that critical services remain functional during power outages.

Summary

House Bill 2623 focuses on enhancing energy security for critical governmental facilities in Texas by promoting the adoption of combined heating and power systems. These systems are designed to provide both electricity and thermal energy, specifically catering to facilities that play an essential role during emergencies such as natural disasters, aiming to ensure continuity of operations when typical power sources may fail. The bill outlines the criteria for what constitutes a critical governmental facility, emphasizing the need for these establishments to be operational under extreme conditions.

Contention

While the bill presents substantial energy efficiency benefits, discussions around it may touch upon the financial implications and the initial costs associated with setting up such sophisticated energy systems. Stakeholders might debate the balance between energy efficiency and budget constraints, especially in the context of state funding and whether investments in these systems are justified. There could also be discussions around the criteria for what qualifies as a 'critical governmental facility' and how this designation impacts funding and resources.

Notable_points

Overall, HB2623 is positioned as a proactive measure to bolster the resilience of governmental operations against power-related emergencies. It reflects broader trends towards sustainability and energy independence within state policies, signaling a move towards utilizing technology to enhance operational reliability in critical sectors.