Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HB5617 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

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1	1		By: Morales of Maverick H.B. No. 5617
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4	6		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
5	7		AN ACT
6	8		relating to the utilization of the Texas Energy Fund to support
7	9		dispatchable electric generation using treated fluid oil and gas
8	10		waste.
9	11		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
10	12		SECTION 1. Chapter 34, Utilities Code, is amended to add the
11	13		following subchapter:
12	14		SUBCHAPTER C. TEXAS ENERGY FUND UTILIZATION
13	15		DEFINITIONS(a) "Treated fluid oil and gas waste" has the meaning
14	16		assigned by Section 121.001(2), Natural Resources Code.
15	17		(b) "Dispatchable electric generation" means power
16	18		generation resources that can be dispatched on demand to ensure
17	19		grid reliability and stability, as referenced in Section 34.002,
18	20		Utilities Code.
19	21		(c) "High renewable energy generation areas" refer to
20	22		regions where renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar,
21	23		constitute a significant portion of the energy mix, creating
22	24		economic challenges for dispatchable generation, as identified by
23	25		the Public Utility Commission of Texas under Section 34.010,
24	26		Utilities Code.
25	27		TEXAS ENERGY FUND UTILIZATION: (a) Section 34.007,
26	28		Utilities Code, is amended to authorize the Texas Energy Fund
27	29		Administrator to allocate funds for projects that:
28	30		(1) Utilize treated fluid oil and gas waste as the
29	31		primary water source for dispatchable electric generation; and
30	32		(2) Are located in high renewable energy generation
31	33		areas to mitigate economic challenges faced by dispatchable power
32	34		plants competing with renewable energy sources.
33	35		(b) Chapter 481, Government Code, is amended to include the
34	36		following provision under Section 481.078:
35	37		(1) The Texas Energy Fund shall consider projects
36	38		meeting the criteria outlined in Subsection (a) when evaluating
37	39		economic incentives for new energy infrastructure investments.
38	40		SECTION 3. FUNDING MECHANISM AND PROJECT APPROVAL: (a) The
39	41		Public Utility Commission of Texas shall oversee the integration of
40	42		these criteria into the administration of the Texas Energy Fund
41	43		under Chapter 34, Utilities Code.
42	44		(b) The Texas Energy Fund Administrator, in coordination
43	45		with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Railroad
44	46		Commission of Texas, shall establish project application
45	47		guidelines within 180 days of the effective date of this Act.
46	48		(c) Funds allocated under this Act shall be used for
47	49		infrastructure development, operational incentives, and
48	50		feasibility studies for eligible projects.
49	51		SECTION 4. IMPLEMENTATION AND REGULATORY OVERSIGHT: (a) The
50	52		Public Utility Commission of Texas shall develop guidelines and
51	53		evaluation metrics to assess project eligibility under this Act.
52	54		(b) Within 180 days of enactment, the Texas Energy Fund
53	55		Administrator shall establish procedures to consider applications
54	56		for projects that meet the criteria outlined in Section 2.
55	57		(c) The Public Utility Commission shall conduct an annual
56	58		review to assess the impact of these incentives on dispatchable
57	59		generation investments and report findings to the legislature.
58	60		SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE: This Act takes effect
59	61		immediately upon passage by a two-thirds majority vote of both
60	62		houses, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.
61	63		If this Act does not receive the necessary votes, it takes effect
62	64		September 1, 2025.