87th Texas Legislative Priorities: environment, energy and ethics
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Take on Climate Change
Texas is the most vulnerable state to the impacts of climate change. Since 1980, Texas has experienced 121of the nation’s 279 weather or climate disasters costing more than $1 billion. To do our part to preserve a livable climate and prepare for this new reality, Texas must:
- Commit to the goals in the Paris Climate Accord and prepare a statewide climate action plan.
- Direct state agencies to account for climate impacts in resource allocation and resilience planning.
- Update data and assumptions about the frequency of extreme rainfall events, average rainfall and extreme heat.
We support these bills to address climate change:
- HB 1044 by Rep. Anchia – creating the Texas Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission.
- SB 125 by Sen. Johnson – phasing out hydrofluorocarbons.
- SB 306 by Sen. Eckhardt/HB 1949 by Rep. Crockett/HB 2017 by Rep. Thierry/HB 3246 by Rep. Reynolds/HB 4178 by Rep. Fierro – agency planning for climate variability.
Support Clean Energy
The clean energy industries are creating jobs, keeping electric bills low and reducing pollution. Supportive legislation could expand these benefits.
- Increase energy efficiency and renewable energy goals.
- Solar customer protection measures to support residential and commercial solar use.
- Enable the use of distributed energy storage and solar and demand response to reduce the need for new transmission infrastructure.
Public Citizen supports these clean energy bills:
- HB 4090 by Rep. Talarico – creating a grant and loan program to promote the installation of on-site solar energy and energy storage for resilience
- SB 243 by Sen. Eckhardt – creating an energy efficiency savings target of 1% by 2025.
- SB 398 by Sen. Menéndez – establishing consumer protections for solar customers and preventing cities from banning solar
- SB 170 by Sen. Blanco – studying the feasibility of renewable energy goals of 50% by 2030 and 100% by 2050.
- HB 1533 by Rep. Reynolds – energy efficiency loan guarantee program.
- HB 2221 by Rep. Canales – mobile source emissions reductions and transportation electrification.
TCEQ Must Invest in Public Protections
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has an annual operating budget of $378 million. TCEQ must prioritize public safety by investing in strategies to protect people from pollution. The TCEQ’s budget should include the following:
- Equipment and staff to place mobile monitoring vehicles on the Gulf Coast for rapid response to chemical disasters caused by tropical storms and hurricanes and in oil and gas extraction fields to identify dangerous leaks.
- Funding for an Office of Environmental Justice to account for and minimize racially disparate and cumulative impacts to low-income communities of color.
- Investment in compliance and enforcement staff.
- Creation of an environmental cleanup fund similar to the Railroad Commission’s oilfield cleanup fund, to be financed by industry fees and fines.
Prevent Chemical Accidents and Minimize Harm
A string of incidents at chemical facilities highlights the need for reform. These include the ITC fire in Deer Park, the TPC Group explosion in Port Neches, the widespread failure of petroleum storage tanks after Hurricane Harvey, and even the West, Texas fertilizer plant explosion in 2013. Industry reform is needed to uncover the root causes of these accidents and prevent them from happening again. We recommend:
- Mandatory fines for significant releases of dangerous pollutants.
- Information sharing with neighbors about chemical stockpiles and emergency response plans.
- Above ground tanks need specific standards for those in areas prone to flooding, storm surges and hurricanes.
- Consider cumulative impacts from multiple pollution sources when permitting.
Public Citizen supports these chemical safety bills:
- SB 126 by Sen. Johnson/HB 711 by Rep. Perez – developing best management practices for above ground storage tanks.
TERP Reduces Pollution & Drives Electrification
TERP is the most cost-effective way to reduce air pollution in Texas. TERP is a voluntary program that provides financial incentives to remove old, polluting vehicles form our roads. The newly created TERP fund directs more than $200 million toward clean transportation each year, The program money should be spent on electric vehicle technology and infrastructure. Updates to TERP could apply this additional revenue to:
- Increase investment in electric vehicles and electrification infrastructure.
- Invest in low emissions technologies for seaports and railyards.
Public Citizen supports the following bills regarding TERP:
Regulate the Concrete and Aggregate Industry
The concrete and aggregate industry include sand and gravel mining, rock crushing, and concrete batch plants. These facilities burden neighboring communities with dangerous air pollution, water contamination, increased truck traffic, and noise. People need protection from this industry which has grown rapidly in Texas in recent years. Legislation should include:
- In Houston, local officials need the right to deny air permits for facilities that present unacceptable risks to people and communities.
- Reduce the burden on environmental justice communities by increasing setbacks, preventing clustering of facilities, and accounting for cumulative impacts on facilities.
- Aggregate Production Operations needs comprehensive reforms modeled after the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA).
- Expand public participation opportunities to include schools, places of worship, daycare facilities, hospitals, and other medical facilities.
Public Citizen supports the following bills for the concrete and aggregate industry:
- HB 50 by Rep. J. Johnson – “enhanced controls” permit in municipalities without zoning.
- HB 56 by Rep. J. Johnson – 880 yd. setback for certain concrete batch plants & crushers.
- HB 65 by Rep. J. Johnson – requiring notice within 880 yards of a facility.
- HB 289 by Rep. Collier – expanding the right to request a contested case hearing.
- HB 291 by Rep. Murr – reclamation plans for APOs.
- HB 416 by Rep. Walle – requiring more detail in map attached to a permit application.
- HB 767 by Rep. Huberty – best management practices for APOs.
- HB 1627 by Reps. Thompson, Reynolds, Johnson, and Moody/SB 1350 by Sen. Miles – issuance of air quality permits for concrete plants.
- HB 1912 by Rep. Wilson/SB 1209 Sen. Schwertner – air and noise monitoring at aggregate production facilities.
- SB 368 by Sen. Miles – municipal approval of concrete plants required in large counties or cities without zoning (Houston)
Eliminate Waste in Texas Oil Fields
Texas wasted $750 million worth of natural gas through flaring in 2018. The Railroad Commission must end the routine granting of exceptions to flaring rules. The agency should:
- Tax flared or wasted gas at a level that discourages waste. This measure could generate millions in revenue for the state.
- Phase-out flaring by 2025.
Public Citizen supports these bills to improve Texas’ oil and gas industry:
- SB127 by Sen. Johnson/HB 878 by Rep. Hinojosa – phasing out tax break for certain high-cost gas.
- HB 896/897 by Rep. Reynolds – inspection & maintenance to reduce flaring.
- HB 1452 by Rep. Rosenthal – end routine flaring.
- HB 1494 by Rep. Goodwin/SB 1293 by Sen. Eckhardt – tax flared gas.
- HB 1521 by Rep. Hinojosa/SB 388 by Sen. Eckhardt – end flaring on university lands.
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