| 13 | | - | SUBCHAPTER E. GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES |
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| 14 | | - | Sec. 141.151. STUDY. The commission may study the |
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| 15 | | - | geothermal energy potential and associated resources in this state |
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| 16 | | - | to: |
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| 17 | | - | (1) examine the potential for utilizing inactive or |
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| 18 | | - | abandoned wells for their geothermal potential; |
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| 19 | | - | (2) review areas of the state with high geothermal |
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| 20 | | - | activity; |
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| 21 | | - | (3) consider alternative uses of wells listed in the |
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| 22 | | - | State Managed Plugging program; and |
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| 23 | | - | (4) ways to encourage the production of geothermal |
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| 24 | | - | energy and associated resources in this state. |
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| 25 | | - | Sec. 141.152. PARTNERSHIPS. (a) The commission may enter a |
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| 26 | | - | partnership with the University of Texas Bureau of Economic Geology |
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| 27 | | - | and the Southern Methodist University Geothermal Lab to facilitate |
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| 28 | | - | their study; and |
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| 29 | | - | (b) expend funds received in Sec. 141.153. |
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| 30 | | - | Sec. 141.153. FEDERAL FUNDS. The commission may accept |
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| 31 | | - | federal funds for the purpose of this chapter. |
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| 13 | + | SUBCHAPTER E. GEOTHERMAL PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS |
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| 14 | + | Sec. 141.151. DUTY OF THE RAILROAD COMMISSION. The |
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| 15 | + | commission shall establish a program to enter into partnerships |
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| 16 | + | with producers of geothermal energy and associated resources in |
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| 17 | + | this state to: |
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| 18 | + | (1) encourage the production of geothermal energy and |
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| 19 | + | associated resources in this state; and |
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| 20 | + | (2) earn a return on investment for the state. |
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| 21 | + | Sec. 141.152. PROGRAM CRITERIA AND OPERATION. (a) The |
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| 22 | + | commission may enter into a partnership under this subchapter only |
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| 23 | + | with a producer of geothermal energy and associated resources that: |
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| 24 | + | (1) has at least $10 million in capital investment; |
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| 25 | + | and |
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| 26 | + | (2) has its headquarters in this state. |
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| 27 | + | (b) When the commission enters into a partnership with a |
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| 28 | + | producer under this subchapter, the commission may make a capital |
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| 29 | + | investment in the producer. The amount of the investment may not |
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| 30 | + | exceed the aggregate amount of the private capital investments made |
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| 31 | + | in the producer. |
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| 32 | + | (c) The commission may make capital investments in |
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| 33 | + | producers under this subchapter only in a manner that allows the |
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| 34 | + | state to make a return on its investment. |
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| 35 | + | Sec. 141.153. GEOTHERMAL INVESTMENT FUND. (a) The |
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| 36 | + | geothermal investment fund is a dedicated account in the general |
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| 37 | + | revenue fund. |
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| 38 | + | (b) The geothermal investment fund consists of: |
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| 39 | + | (1) appropriations of money to the fund by the |
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| 40 | + | legislature; |
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| 41 | + | (2) gifts, grants, including grants from the federal |
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| 42 | + | government, and other donations received for the fund; and |
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| 43 | + | (3) interest earned on the investment of money in the |
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| 44 | + | fund. |
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| 45 | + | (c) The fund may be used only for: |
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| 46 | + | (1) capital investments under Section 141.152; and |
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| 47 | + | (2) administrative costs of administering the |
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| 48 | + | partnership program under this subchapter. |
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