Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HB3778 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1		89R24081 CS-D
2		-	By: Louderback, Darby, Garcia of Bexar, H.B. No. 3778
3		-	Lalani
	2	+	By: Louderback, Darby H.B. No. 3778
	3	+	Substitute the following for H.B. No. 3778:
	4	+	By: King C.S.H.B. No. 3778
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8	9		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
9	10		AN ACT
10	11		relating to the use of geothermal energy as a dispatchable
11	12		generation resource.
12	13		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
13	14		SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 34, Utilities Code, is
14	15		amended by adding Section 34.01015 to read as follows:
15	16		Sec. 34.01015. APPLICABILITY. For the purposes of this
16	17		chapter:
17	18		(1) a generating facility is considered to be
18	19		dispatchable if the facility's output can be controlled primarily
19	20		by forces under human control; and
20	21		(2) a geothermal energy generation facility is
21	22		considered to be dispatchable.
22	23		SECTION 2. Section 34.0104, Utilities Code, is amended by
23	24		amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as
24	25		follows:
25	26		(a) The commission may use money in the fund without further
26	27		appropriation to provide loans to finance upgrades to existing
27	28		dispatchable electric generating facilities providing power for
28	29		the ERCOT power region that result in a net increase of at least 100
29	30		megawatts of capacity for each facility or the construction of
30	31		dispatchable electric generating facilities providing power for
31	32		the ERCOT power region that each have a generation capacity of at
32	33		least 100 megawatts. [For the purposes of this section, a
33	34		generating facility is considered to be dispatchable if the
34	35		facility's output can be controlled primarily by forces under human
35	36		control.] An electric energy storage facility, other than a
36	37		geothermal energy conservation well, is not eligible for a loan
37	38		under this section.
38	39		(a-1) Notwithstanding Subsections (a) and (b)(1), the
39	40		commission may use money in the fund, without further
40	41		appropriation, to provide loans to finance the construction of
41	42		geothermal energy generation facilities and geothermal energy
42	43		conservation wells in the ERCOT power region that have a generation
43	44		capacity of at least 10 megawatts.
44	45		SECTION 3. Sections 34.0105(a) and (c), Utilities Code, are
45	46		amended to read as follows:
46	47		(a) The commission shall provide, using money available in
47	48		the fund for the purpose without further appropriation, a
48	49		completion bonus grant for the construction of dispatchable
49	50		electric generating facilities in the ERCOT power region. [For the
50	51		purposes of this section, a generating facility is considered to be
51	52		dispatchable if the facility's output can be controlled primarily
52	53		by forces under human control.] An electric energy storage
53	54		facility, other than a geothermal energy conservation well, is not
54	55		eligible for a grant under this section.
55	56		(c) The commission may provide a grant under this section
56	57		only for construction of a facility that:
57	58		(1) will have a generation capacity of at least 100
58	59		megawatts or at least 10 megawatts for a geothermal energy
59	60		generation facility or geothermal energy conservation well; and
60	61		(2) does not meet the planning model requirements
61	62		necessary to be included in the Capacity Demand and Reserves Report
62	63		of the independent organization certified under Section 39.151 for
63	64		the ERCOT power region before June 1, 2023.
64	65		SECTION 4. Section 39.159(a), Utilities Code, is amended to
65	66		read as follows:
66	67		(a) For the purposes of this section:
67	68		(1)[,] a generation facility is considered to be
68	69		dispatchable if the facility's output can be controlled primarily
69	70		by forces under human control; and
70	71		(2) a geothermal energy generation facility and a
71	72		geothermal energy conservation well are considered to be
72	73		dispatchable [non-dispatchable if the facility's output is
73	74		controlled primarily by forces outside of human control].
74	75		SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.