Tuesday, March 24th is Solar Day in the 81st Session
This coming week could be very sunny for the Texas Legislature-the one when Texas starts working with the sun to solve our energy problems. This session, twelve bills call for a new Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) for emerging energy technology in Texas. This is the same type of legislation that jumpstarted the wind industry in our state. The new RPS will promote solar, biomass, geothermal, and small scale wind energy. With the right support, Texas could become the world leader in solar power. Many of these bills will be heard in House and Senate committees this Tuesday March 24th.
It is essential that Texas lawmakers hear from people all over the state who support clean energy this week. There are several approaches to emerging renewable technology goals among the bills in the Legislature; each approach will firmly place Texas on the path to a cleaner and healthier energy future. The fact sheet Bills on Emerging Renewable Technology Goals on the 81st Texas State Legislature (pdf) provides a look at each of the bills under consideration.
What can you do?
- Call your Representative and your Senator and tell her or him that you support the adoption of a new RPS for emerging renewable technology including solar energy.
Not sure who represents you? You can find your representative and senator here.
Representatives’ and senators’ office phone numbers are available through the Texas Legislature website. - Sign ACT’s online petition calling for a 4,000 MW RPS by 2020–the highest level of support for solar, geothermal, biomass, and small-scale wind energy.
- Come to the Capitol and visit your representative and your senator in person. Making a legislative visit is the most powerful way to add your voice to the call for a cleaner, healthier Texas. Tell your representative and your senator that you want solar power to be the next great energy industry in Texas. If you are interested in working with a group, all ACT citizen activists are invited to join ReEnergize Texas next Monday, March 30th at their lobby day in association with their weekend youth summit.
2011 ACT Legislative Agenda
ACT's 2011 Legislative Agenda is now available online. In 2011, ACT calls on the Texas Legislature to safeguard our health and our environment by adopting key recommendations in air, clean energy, land, waste & recycling, water and reform of our state government.
