Alliance for a Clean Texas » HB 1391

Important Bills on House Calendar Today – May 12

Lize Burr — Tue, 12 May 2009 14:18:57 +0000

Most of the bills on ACT’s list from yesterday are back on the list today. (The Austin American Statesman reports that the House made it through 6.5 pages of a 24-page calendar). The good news: HB 1182 by Representative Turner passed to engrossment.

Representative Anchia’s trio of energy efficiency bills remain a top priority. By passing these, the House will enable Texas to adopt a set of efficiency measures that will help lower emissions by decreasing the overall demand for electricity.

Energy Efficiency:

HB 280	Anchia	Relating to energy efficiency goals and programs and demand reduction targets; creating an office of energy efficiency deployment in the state energy conservation office.
HB 2210	Anchia	Relating to efficiency standards for certain appliances; providing a civil penalty.
HB 2783	Anchia	Relating to the adoption of energy efficient building standards.

Renewable Energy:

HB 1391

Strama

Relating to the promotion and use of renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements; authorizing the issuance of revenue bonds.

Clean Air:

HB 4208

Patrick, Diane

Relating to idling the diesel engine of a school bus while the bus is parked at a public school or school event.

To receive updates on the debate and votes, follow ACT on Twitter. To receive action alerts on ACT priority legislation, join our mailing list.

Important Bills on House Calendar Today – May 11

Lize Burr — Mon, 11 May 2009 17:17:03 +0000

The following bills are on the General State Calendar today for second reading. Each of the bills addresses an ACT 2009 legislative recommendation.

Energy Efficiency:

HB 280	Anchia	Relating to energy efficiency goals and programs and demand reduction targets; creating an office of energy efficiency deployment in the state energy conservation office.
HB 2210	Anchia	Relating to efficiency standards for certain appliances; providing a civil penalty.
HB 2783	Anchia	Relating to the adoption of energy efficient building standards.
HB 1192	Turner	Relating to the administration and purposes of the system benefit fund and the eligibility of customers for benefits under certain programs financed by the system benefit fund and other programs.

Renewable Energy:

HB 1391

Strama

Relating to the promotion and use of renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements; authorizing the issuance of revenue bonds.

Clean Air:

HB 4208

Patrick, Diane

Relating to idling the diesel engine of a school bus while the bus is parked at a public school or school event.

To receive updates on the debate and votes, follow ACT on Twitter. To receive action alerts on ACT priority legislation, join our mailing list.

Energy Efficiency Update – April 16

Lize Burr — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 03:18:35 +0000

Tuesday April 14 was a big day for energy efficiency legislation in the Capitol. Senator Averitt’s SB 16 passed through the Senate on a final vote of 22-8 (with one absence). Often referred to as the omnibus clean air bill of the 81st Session, SB 16 is also among the most important energy efficiency bills filed this year. Senator Averitt’s bill includes upgrading state-wide building codes, energy efficiency standards for appliances, and the Energy Star appliance rebate program.

On Tuesday, the Senate Committee on Business and Industry unanimously passed another major energy efficiency bill out of committee. SB 546 by Senator Fraser sets an aggressive goal for energy efficiency for the state: a 50% reduction in growth by 2015. This bill now moves to the full Senate.

Not to be left out, Tuesday saw activity on energy efficiency on the House side as well, but this time, it was in the form of a press conference. Representative Anchia and Representative Strama, joined by members of ACT’s energy efficiency team, called for the Texas House to pass energy efficiency legislation this session.

Representative Anchia’s omnibus efficiency bill HB 280 and Representative Strama’s HB 1391 provide the programs and financial incentives that will help Texas realize its potential in the cleanest energy source of all – the watt you never use. ACT urges the Chairman Keffer and the House Committee on Energy Resources to move these two bills (among many others) out of committee and onto the House floor in the coming week.