Texans and Their Pocketbooks Win as Bills To Slow Renewable Energy Appear to Fail at the TX Legislature
Renewables are an ‘indispensable’ part of the TX electric grid, saving money for ratepayers
AUSTIN, Texas — Three bills singling out renewable energy for targeted regulations failed to meet a Saturday deadline, likely guaranteeing they will fail to become law as the Texas Legislature’s session nears its end.
The three bills — SB 388, SB 715 and SB 819 – had received approval in the Texas Senate. However, failing to meet the Saturday deadline for Senate-passed bills to clear a Texas House committee vote, all three pieces of legislation appear dead for this year’s legislative session, which must conclude by June 2.
“The failure of these three bills is a victory for ratepayers,” said Adrian Shelley, Texas director of Public Citizen. “It is also a tacit recognition by a legislature that is too friendly to fossil fuels that renewable energy sources are an indispensable part of powering the state. Signing these bills into law would have meant higher energy prices and slowed the growth of energy sources that keep the Texas electric grid stable. When lawmakers return for their next session, the attacks on renewables must end in favor of legislation that will slow or reduce the state’s fast-rising demand for electricity.”
A summary of each bill:
- SB 388: Would have required 50% of new energy generation to be “dispatchable,” meaning energy available when needed. However, the bill unfairly excluded battery storage as a form of dispatchable energy.
- SB 715: Would have imposed a retroactive mandate that existing renewable energy installations install a backup energy source.
- SB 819: Would have imposed several onerous regulations, including requiring that renewable energy installations be built at a distance from a property line that is approximately five times the distance required for fossil fuel installations.