87R29517 BPG-D
By: Guerra H.R. No. 1779
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, In February 2021, Winter Storm Uri provided a harsh
reminder of the fragility of the Texas power grid; and
WHEREAS, Record low temperatures created a catastrophic
energy shortage as weather-related failures took down natural gas,
nuclear, coal, wind, and solar generation; natural gas-fired power
plants, which supply 46 percent of the state's electricity, ran out
of fuel as pipelines and related equipment froze; and
WHEREAS, The geographical characteristics of Texas have
created untapped geothermal resources that can increase energy
options; geothermal, which generates energy using heat from the
Earth's interior, is a reliable source that runs consistently
regardless of weather conditions; it is clean, producing 95 percent
fewer emissions than coal and 92 percent less than gas; moreover, it
is endlessly renewable, as the superheated water can be injected
back into the ground to run in a constant loop; and
WHEREAS, Texas has a long history with geothermal; the State
Capitol was originally heated by geothermal water, and in the
1970s, the U.S. Department of Energy funded geothermal projects to
provide space heating for the Falls Community Hospital in Marlin
and Cotulla High School in the Eagle Ford Shale; geothermal
resources along the Gulf Coast were catalogued and proven
extractable in the 1970s and '80s, but such initiatives languished
once oil prices sank; and
WHEREAS, Every oil and gas well brings geothermal heat to the
surface as a byproduct; preliminary data collected by Southern
Methodist University over 15 years ago indicated that up to 2,000
megawatts of geothermal energy could be available just from the
state's then-extant oil and gas wells, and the subsequent fracking
boom likely means that even more geothermal energy is available;
geothermal technology can repurpose end-of-life oil and gas wells,
alleviating the need for plugging, abandonment, or decommissioning
while also supporting clean energy generation; and
WHEREAS, Geothermal energy development can also repurpose
the skills and expertise of the state's oil and gas workers, which
are readily transferable; in Canada, many former oil workers have
already made this transition; geothermal applications will create
independent energy resources and jobs in a rapidly changing
industry, and with its well-trained workforce, as well as its
geological advantages, Texas is poised to realize tremendous
economic development through geothermal expansion; and
WHEREAS, Texas must diversify its energy portfolio in order
to create a more resilient, responsive power grid and maintain its
energy leadership and independence, and geothermal energy is a
resource that can provide thousands of good jobs and attract
millions in investments while achieving these goals; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas
Legislature hereby express support for geothermal energy
production.