Renewable Energy

Texas has the technological prowess and vast reserves of renewable energy from the sun, wind and crops that can power the nation, create thousands of high-paying manufacturing jobs, protect our environment and renew Texas’ role as the energy capital of the world. The Texas Legislature helped create a boom for wind power that has pumped billions of dollars into the economy and reduce pollution. Now it’s time for Texas to further develop our renewable energy resource portfolio, including solar, geothermal and biomass energy.

ACT 2009 Legislative Recommendations:

Diversifying our Renewable Energy Mix: The Legislature should build upon our successful renewable portfolio standard and establish an additional goal of developing 4000 megawatts of emerging renewable energy technologies by 2020.
Diversify Our Renewable Energy Mix (pdf)

Solar Roofs and Other On-site Renewables: The Legislature should also set a goal of developing 2000 megawatts of on-site renewable energy, such as rooftop solar panels, small-scale wind turbines and geothermal heat pumps, by 2020. Electric utilities should provide incentives, including rebates and fair net metering policies, the state should waive sales taxes on purchase and installation, and homeowners associations should be prevented from blocking solar installations.
Incentives for Solar Roofs and other Distributed Renewable Energy Technologies (pdf)

Remove Barriers for Solar: Prohibit homeowners associations from blocking solar installations and ensure utilities offer consumers a fair price for surplus generation.

ACT 2009 Clean Energy Team

Luke Metzger, Environment Texas (lead)
luke@environmenttexas.org

Colin Meehan, Environmental Defense Fund

Cyrus Reed, Sierra Club, Lone Star Chapter

Tom “Smitty” Smith, Public Citizen

Additional Resources on Clean Energy

Wildcatting the Sun: A Texas Solar Roadmap
February 2009 report on the potential for solar power in Texas. Prepared by Environment Texas and Public Citizen, this report has attracted wide attention in the Texas press. Outlines the potential for solar power, steps that the 81st Legislature can take to become the nation’s leader in both solar generation and production.

Texas Solar Roadmap (pdf)

Texas Renewable Energy Resource Assessment

Report on renewable energy potential in the state of Texas prepared by the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO). The first energy resource assessment for Texas since 1995.

March 18th Press Conference on Emerging Renewable Energy Technology Legislation in the 81st Legislature
On Wednesday, March 18th, Senator Lucio and Representative Gallego led a press conference introducing bills that will grow the emerging renewable technologies market. The press release is available on the Lone Star Sierra Club website. In addition to Wildcatting the Sun and the executive summary from the SECO report, the following materials were included in the press packet: