84R7704 JAM-F
By: Anchia H.B. No. 2392
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of a residential energy efficiency
loan program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 386.252(a), Health and Safety Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) Money in the fund may be used only to implement and
administer programs established under the plan. Money
appropriated to the commission to be used for the programs under
Section 386.051(b) shall be allocated as follows:
(1) not more than four percent may be used for the
clean school bus program under Chapter 390;
(2) not more than three percent may be used for the new
technology implementation grant program under Chapter 391, from
which at least $1 million will be set aside for electricity storage
projects related to renewable energy;
(3) five percent shall be used for the clean fleet
program under Chapter 392;
(4) not more than $3 million may be used by the
commission to fund a regional air monitoring program in commission
Regions 3 and 4 to be implemented under the commission's oversight,
including direction regarding the type, number, location, and
operation of, and data validation practices for, monitors funded by
the program through a regional nonprofit entity located in North
Texas having representation from counties, municipalities, higher
education institutions, and private sector interests across the
area;
(5) not less than 16 percent shall be used for the
Texas natural gas vehicle grant program under Chapter 394;
(6) not more than five percent may be used to provide
grants for natural gas fueling stations under the clean
transportation triangle program under Section 394.010;
(7) not more than five percent may be used for the
Texas alternative fueling facilities program under Chapter 393;
(8) a specified amount may be used each year to support
research related to air quality as provided by Chapter 387;
(9) not more than $200,000 may be used for a health
effects study;
(10) $500,000 is to be deposited in the state treasury
to the credit of the clean air account created under Section
382.0622 to supplement funding for air quality planning activities
in affected counties;
(11) at least $4 million and up to four percent to a
maximum of $7 million, whichever is greater, is allocated to the
commission for administrative costs;
(12) at least two percent and up to five percent of the
fund is to be used by the commission for the drayage truck incentive
program established under Subchapter D-1;
(13) not more than five percent may be used for the
light-duty motor vehicle purchase or lease incentive program
established under Subchapter D;
(14) not more than $216,000 is allocated to the
commission to contract with the Energy Systems Laboratory at the
Texas Engineering Experiment Station annually for the development
and annual computation of creditable statewide emissions
reductions obtained through wind and other renewable energy
resources for the state implementation plan;
(15) 1.5 percent of the money in the fund is allocated
for administrative costs incurred by the laboratory; [and]
(15-a) not less than $3 million shall be used for the
energy efficiency loan guarantee program under Section 388.013; and
(16) the balance is to be used by the commission for
the diesel emissions reduction incentive program under Subchapter C
as determined by the commission.
SECTION 2. Chapter 388, Health and Safety Code, is amended
by adding Section 388.013 to read as follows:
Sec. 388.013. ENERGY EFFICIENCY LOAN GUARANTEE PROGRAM.
(a) The comptroller and the State Energy Conservation Office by
rule shall establish and administer a program that issues or
guarantees loans to be used for improvements that increase the
energy efficiency of residences that are not newly constructed.
(b) Rules adopted under this section must establish
eligibility requirements for receipt of a loan issued or guaranteed
under this section, including emissions reduction
cost-effectiveness criteria.
(c) The State Energy Conservation Office shall annually
submit to the commission and the laboratory a report that:
(1) evaluates the effectiveness of the program
established under this section; and
(2) quantifies energy savings and emissions
reductions as a result of this program for consideration in the
state implementation plan for emissions reduction credit.
SECTION 3. Section 389.002, Health and Safety Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 389.002. USE OF CERTAIN INFORMATION FOR FEDERAL
RECOGNITION OF EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS. The commission, using
information derived from the reports to the commission under
Sections 386.205, 388.003(e), [and] 388.006, and 388.013, shall
take all appropriate and necessary actions so that emissions
reductions achieved by means of activities under Chapters 386 and
388 are credited by the United States Environmental Protection
Agency to the appropriate emissions reduction objectives in the
state implementation plan.
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, 2015.