Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HB560 Compare Versions

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

Old	New	Differences
1	1	89R581 ANG-D
2	2	By: Patterson H.B. No. 560
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7	7	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
8	8	AN ACT
9	9	relating to light pollution mitigation for wind turbine generators.
10	10	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
11	11	SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 35, Utilities Code, is
12	12	amended by adding Section 35.0023 to read as follows:
13	13	Sec. 35.0023. WIND TURBINE LIGHT POLLUTION MITIGATION. (a)
14	14	This section applies only to an electric utility, power generation
15	15	company, or exempt wholesale generator that:
16	16	(1) is required by the Federal Aviation Administration
17	17	to use aviation obstruction lighting; and
18	18	(2) sells at wholesale electric energy produced by a
19	19	wind turbine generator.
20	20	(b) The commission by rule shall require an electric
21	21	utility, power generation company, or exempt wholesale generator to
22	22	apply to the Federal Aviation Administration, or another applicable
23	23	federal entity, for authorization to install and operate technology
24	24	to mitigate light pollution from the wind turbine generator using a
25	25	light mitigation technology system.
26	26	(c) The rules adopted under Subsection (b) must require an
27	27	electric utility, power generation company, or exempt wholesale
28	28	generator that:
29	29	(1) installs a wind turbine generator on or after
30	30	December 31, 2026, to:
31	31	(A) submit an application for approval of light
32	32	mitigation technology to the Federal Aviation Administration not
33	33	later than 180 days before the commercial operations date for the
34	34	wind turbine generator;
35	35	(B) install light mitigation technology on all
36	36	wind turbine generators not later than 18 months after receiving
37	37	approval of the technology from the Federal Aviation
38	38	Administration; and
39	39	(C) if installation of the light mitigation
40	40	technology is delayed due to forces outside of the control of the
41	41	utility, company, or generator, make a quarterly report to the
42	42	commission detailing the reasons for the delay; or
43	43	(2) installs a wind turbine generator before December
44	44	31, 2026, to:
45	45	(A) on repowering or not later than the 180th day
46	46	after the execution of a newly signed long-term power purchase
47	47	agreement, submit an application for approval of light mitigation
48	48	technology to the Federal Aviation Administration;
49	49	(B) install light mitigation technology on all
50	50	wind turbine generators not later than 18 months after receiving
51	51	approval of the technology from the Federal Aviation
52	52	Administration; and
53	53	(C) if installation of the light mitigation
54	54	technology is delayed due to forces outside of the control of the
55	55	utility, company, or generator, make a quarterly report to the
56	56	commission detailing the reasons for the delay.
57	57	(d) Subsection (c) applies only to a wind turbine generator
58	58	with a commercial operations date that occurs after December 31,
59	59	2008.
60	60	(e) Notwithstanding Section 15.023(b), the total amount of
61	61	an administrative penalty assessed for a violation continuing or
62	62	occurring on separate days under this section may not exceed $1
63	63	million.
64	64	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.