82R7467 JTS-F
By: Carona S.B. No. 979
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to energy efficiency market emission reduction credit
programs established by emission reduction credit organizations.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 384.001, Health and Safety Code, is
amended by adding Subdivision (2-a) to read as follows:
(2-a) "Laboratory" means the Energy Systems Laboratory
at the Texas Engineering Experiment Station of The Texas A&M
University System.
SECTION 2. Section 384.002, Health and Safety Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 384.002. PURPOSE. (a) The purpose of an area emission
reduction credit organization shall be to promote the coexistence
of the improvement of air quality and economic development within
the region through the acquisition and distribution of emission
reduction credits. Its activities may include the use of emission
reduction credits to help meet federal reasonable further progress
requirements as well as using emission reduction credits to
facilitate the issuance of permits.
(b) An organization may establish an energy efficiency
market emission reduction credit program through which a utility,
municipal utility, electric cooperative, state or local
government, or energy service company that has a program of energy
efficiency measures established in a nonattainment or near
nonattainment area may register savings from that entity's energy
efficiency measures as emission reduction credits and sell or trade
the credits in an effort to reduce emissions of air pollutants in
urban areas of this state. Emission reduction credits gained
through energy efficiency measures must be certified by the
laboratory as having achieved the actual emission reduction.
SECTION 3. Section 384.014, Health and Safety Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 384.014. ANNUAL REPORT. By March 1 of each year each
area organization shall file with the commission, the laboratory,
and the regional council of governments an annual report for the
preceding calendar year. The annual report shall contain:
(1) a financial accounting;
(2)[,] an accounting of emission reduction credits;[,]
and
(3) a listing of all emission reduction credit
transactions entered into by the organization, including any
transactions related to the creation of an energy efficiency market
emission reduction credit program.
SECTION 4. 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, 2011.