TBCA PAC is leading a coalition of organizations that is promoting the goal of meeting 20% of Texas' electricity needs from renewable energy and energy efficiency by 2020. To meet this goal, we have devised the following legislative package:

• Appliance standards: There are several appliances for which the federal government has not yet set efficiency standards, but for which other states have a requirement.  We're recommending standards on these products that will save consumers money without compromising performance.

• Building energy codes: Dallas and Houston, along with numerous other cities, have already passed ordinances requiring energy efficiency for new commercial and residential buildings. We propose that the Legislature incorporate similar requirements in the state building code.

• Combined heat and power: This technology takes waste heat from electric generation and re-uses it to generate more power, heat water, and run chillers. Suitable for industrial and commercial applications, it's also a homeland security imperative for facilities like hospitals, prisons, nursing homes and university dormitories that house people 24/7. We propose a policy requiring consideration of CHP in the design stage of buildings that meet certain requirements.

• Increase funding for the LoanSTAR program: This existing program provides low-interest revolving loans for energy efficiency retrofits of public buildings owned by state agencies, school districts, local governments and hospitals. It has already achieved total cumulative energy savings to Texas taxpayers of over $212 million. We're proposing a funding increase so that projects on the waiting list can be implemented more quickly.

• Energy efficiency portfolio standard: Last session the Legislature instructed the Public Utility Commission of Texas to commission a study of the portion of electric load growth that can be met through energy efficiency programs administered by utilities. We support legislation consistent with the findings in that study.

• Renewable energy: Now that wind energy has taken off – Texas is the national leader in wind energy production – we want to revise the Renewable Portfolio Standard to incent growth of other renewable energy resources such as solar and geothermal. We believe this will bring thousands of jobs to Texas, therefore we propose an increase in the MW of total installed renewable energy capacity from non-wind resources. 

• Energy Innovation Fund: Innovation in the areas of energy storage and renewable energy technology will help identify solutions and attract technology manufacturers to Texas. We propose dedicating a portion of the existing Emerging Technologies Fund to energy innovation.
  
  
• Cracking down on fraudulent vehicle inspections:  A large part of Texas' air pollution problem comes from the small percentage of vehicles that are on the road despite their failure to pass emissions tests.  We support legislation that would impose civil penalties against inspectors who issue inspection stickers under fraudulent circumstances and the stations that employ them.
  
  

The growing embrace by business leaders and policy makers of the vision of Texas as a clean energy leader gives us reason to be optimistic about the success of these proposals. Find out how you can help.