Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HB3278 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	89R13084 ANG-D
2	2	By: McLaughlin H.B. No. 3278
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7	7	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
8	8	AN ACT
9	9	relating to the study of and incentives for the use of solar and
10	10	wind energy.
11	11	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
12	12	SECTION 1. STUDY ON SOLAR AND WIND ENERGY AND RELATED
13	13	FACILITIES. (a) In this Act, "commission" means the Texas
14	14	Commission on Environmental Quality.
15	15	(b) The commission, in consultation with the Public Utility
16	16	Commission of Texas, the Parks and Wildlife Department, and any
17	17	other relevant state agency, shall conduct a study on the effects of
18	18	solar generation facilities and wind generation facilities on the
19	19	environment, the economy, and infrastructure in this state.
20	20	(c) In conducting the study, the commission shall examine:
21	21	(1) land use and habitat disruption, including the
22	22	impact of large solar and wind generation facilities on
23	23	agricultural land, native ecosystems, and wildlife habitats;
24	24	(2) decommissioning and disposal challenges related
25	25	to solar and wind generation facilities, including a consideration
26	26	of the life cycle of solar panels and wind turbines, hazardous waste
27	27	risks, sustainability of recycling methods, and the disposal of
28	28	components;
29	29	(3) grid reliability and energy security, including
30	30	any effects of an increased reliance on solar and wind energy on
31	31	electric grid stability, energy storage needs, and grid reliability
32	32	during periods of peak demand;
33	33	(4) the economic impact of solar and wind generation
34	34	facilities on rural communities, including changes in land value,
35	35	tax revenue, or agricultural productivity in areas where solar
36	36	generation facilities or wind generation facilities are
37	37	established;
38	38	(5) potential fire risks associated with lithium-ion
39	39	battery storage and the capability of rural emergency services to
40	40	effectively respond to a fire at a battery facility;
41	41	(6) risks of soil and water contamination from solar
42	42	generation facilities, including risks associated with water
43	43	usage, long-term soil degradation, and the disposal of solar panel
44	44	materials;
45	45	(7) wildlife and avian mortality related to the
46	46	production of wind energy, including the effects of wind turbines
47	47	on migratory birds, bats, and other wildlife populations; and
48	48	(8) the noise created by and potential health effects
49	49	of wind generation facilities, including the potential effects of
50	50	wind turbine noise, infrasound, and shadow flicker on nearby
51	51	communities.
52	52	(d) The commission shall hold public hearings in rural
53	53	counties and counties in which solar or wind generation facilities
54	54	are located to collect input relevant to the study from landowners,
55	55	energy industry representatives, environmental experts, and local
56	56	officials.
57	57	(e) Not later than September 1, 2026, the commission shall
58	58	submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the
59	59	house of representatives, and the chair of the standing committee
60	60	of each house of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over
61	61	energy production an interim report that includes the initial
62	62	results of the study conducted under this section.
63	63	(f) Not later than January 31, 2027, the commission shall
64	64	submit a final report to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the
65	65	speaker of the house of representatives, and the chair of the
66	66	standing committee of each house of the legislature with primary
67	67	jurisdiction over energy production a written report that includes
68	68	the results of the study conducted under this section and any
69	69	recommendations for the legislature.
70	70	(g) The commission shall begin the interim study required by
71	71	this section not later than September 1, 2025.
72	72	SECTION 2. MORATORIUM ON STATE ECONOMIC INCENTIVES. (a)
73	73	Notwithstanding any other law and except as otherwise provided by
74	74	this section, during the period that begins on the effective date of
75	75	this Act and ends on the last day of the 90th Legislature, Regular
76	76	Session, a solar energy project, wind energy project, solar
77	77	generation facility, or wind generation facility is not eligible to
78	78	receive a state economic incentive, including a state tax
79	79	incentive.
80	80	(b) Subsection (a) of this section does not apply to a state
81	81	economic incentive the application for which was submitted on or
82	82	before the effective date of this Act.
83	83	(c) The members of the 90th Legislature, Regular Session, by
84	84	adoption of a concurrent resolution approved by a record vote of a
85	85	majority of the members of each house of the legislature may
86	86	terminate the moratorium imposed under Subsection (a) of this
87	87	section before the date the moratorium would otherwise expire under
88	88	that subsection.
89	89	SECTION 3. EXPIRATION. This Act expires September 1, 2027.
90	90	SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect
91	91	immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members
92	92	elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas
93	93	Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for
94	94	immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.