SB16, SB 545 and SB 541 are on the House Major State Calendar today. As we’ve said on this site repeatedly, this is great news. However, midnight tonight is the deadline for the House to pass Senate bills on second reading. The Alliance for a Clean Texas asks all Texans who want clean air and clean energy to call their representatives immediately and ask them to vote for these three crucial bills.

In the final six days of the 81st Session, the Alliance for a Clean Texas urges all Texas lawmakers to take up clean air, renewable energy, green jobs and other important environmental issues that will make our state healthier and more sustainable. There are still many opportunities for the Texas Legislature to act on behalf of all Texans. It’s time to put the health and future welfare of our state first and make the commitment to clean air and clean energy by passing these three bills.

The challenge: not only is time short (there are only seven days left in the session and 36 hours until all Senate Bills must pass 2nd reading in the House) – the Texas House has come to a virtual standstill over the last four days. The time has come for all Texans to ask their representatives to put aside the partisan issues that are keeping them from taking up the business of our state. There are many extremely important issues that remain undecided at this time. The Alliance for a Clean Texas believes that clean energy is one of the crucial issues that the House must take up before the midnight deadline tomorrow.

Texans want to breathe cleaner air. They want their water to be used sustainably. They want their state to remain a world leader in energy innovation and production. They want their children to grow up to in a state where the jobs of the 21st century economy are plentiful. They want to be proud of their state – for its historic leadership in energy, for its great gifts of natural resources, and for its unique ability to lead our nation (and our world) into a cleaner, healthier future.

Call your representative right now. Ask her or him to vote for both solar bills. To stop stalling. To take action. This person is your representative in Austin. It’s time for all of us to act on behalf of our state. As we all know, what we do in Texas matters. Let’s show the world that Texas is ready to lead the way.

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?

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.