88R10520 CXP-D
By: Hunter H.B. No. 4836
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the legislature's goals for natural gas generating
capacity.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 39.9044(a) and (c), Utilities Code, are
amended to read as follows:
(a) It is the intent of the legislature that 50 percent of
the megawatts of generating capacity installed in this state after
January 1, 2000, use natural gas. To the extent permitted by law,
the commission shall establish a program to encourage utilities to
comply with this section by using natural gas produced in this state
as the preferential fuel. [This section does not apply to
generating capacity for renewable energy technologies.]
(c) The [Not later than January 1, 2000, the] commission
shall adopt rules necessary to administer and enforce this section
and to perform any necessary studies in cooperation with the
Railroad Commission of Texas. At a minimum, the rules shall:
(1) establish the minimum annual natural gas
generation requirement for each power generation company,
municipally owned utility, and electric cooperative operating in
this state in a manner reasonably calculated by the commission to
produce, on a statewide basis, compliance with the requirement
prescribed by Subsection (a); and
(2) specify reasonable performance standards that all
natural gas capacity additions must meet to count against the
requirement prescribed by Subsection (a) and that:
(A) are designed and operated so as to maximize
the energy output from the capacity additions in accordance with
then-current industry standards and best industry standards; and
(B) encourage the development, construction, and
operation of new natural gas energy projects at those sites in this
state that have the greatest economic potential for capture and
development of this state's environmentally beneficial natural gas
resources.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.