Renewable Texas Energy

Lawmakers seek surge for renewable energy

By TY MEIGHAN
Scripps Howard Austin Bureau
San Angelo Standard-Times
March 6, 2005

AUSTIN - About 8 percent of electric generating capacity in Texas would come from renewable energy sources by 2015 under legislation filed Wednesday in the House and Senate.

Currently, Texans receive less than 2 percent of their energy from renewable sources.

The bills by state Sen. Robert Duncan, a Lubbock Republican who also represents San Angelo, and Rep. David Swinford, R-Amarillo, would increase Texas' Renewable Portfolio Standard to 10,880 megawatts by 2015.

Lawmakers created the standard in 1999 with a goal of 2,880 megawatts by 2009.

More than 2,000 megawatts are currently generated by renewable sources in Texas, including 1,200 from wind energy, officials said.

Various environmental and consumer groups have been calling on lawmakers to increase the standard significantly.

"Passage of this measure will grow our renewable industries, draw more money into the Texas economy through increased revenues from school and local taxes and lower electricity costs," Duncan said.

The legislation also calls on the Public Utility Commission of Texas to work with authorities and stakeholders to plan the construction of transmission lines for renewable energy development.

Renewable energy includes sources such as wind, solar, geothermal, hydroelectric, wave or tidal energy, and biomass products.

Wednesday's legislation is among several renewable energy bills that lawmakers will deal with during the current legislative session, which ends in May.

Two weeks ago, Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay, filed a bill requiring installation of an additional 5,000 megawatts of renewable energy in Texas by 2015. Fraser's legislation also sets a goal of 10,000 megawatts of generating capacity from renewable energy technologies by 2025.

Rep. Bob Hunter, R-Abilene, filed an identical version in the House. Hunter is chairman of the House Regulated Industries Subcommittee on Renewable Energy.

Fraser and Hunter's bill stems from a recommendation by the Texas Energy Planning Council, which Gov. Rick Perry created in 2003 to devise a plan for the state to meet future energy demands.

Texas' energy demand is expected to grow more than 30 percent by 2025, according to the council.

Environmental and consumer groups say the Fraser-Hunter legislation isn't aggressive enough and won't make Texas a leader in renewable energy use in the future.

Victor Carrillo, chairman of the Texas Railroad Commission and the planning council, has defended the measure, saying it calls for the most practical and achievable renewable energy standard. He said many states are setting high goals for renewable energy that are not realistic or attainable.

When he filed his bill, Fraser said he would discuss a more aggressive renewable energy standard but wanted to make sure transmission and reliability issues are worked out.

One group that promotes wind power in Texas and other states supports the bills filed by Duncan and Swinford.

"This legislation tells the wind industry that Texas is open for business," said Ward Marshall, president of the Wind Coalition. "Wind power is among the lowest cost electric generation sources on the market and Texas has great potential to again lead the way in developing this abundant natural resource."

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