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11 Document(s) [ Subject: Wind%20energy ]

Committee:	Senate Business and Commerce
Title:	Interim Report
Library Catalog Title:	Report to the 82nd Legislature
Subjects:	Alternative energy | Career preparedness | Electric Reliability Council of Texas | Electric utilities | Electric utility rates and charges | Electricity transmission and distribution | Energy conservation | Homeowners insurance | Job training programs | Liens | Mortgages | Municipally-owned utilities | Natural disasters | Texas Windstorm Insurance Association | Unemployment benefits | Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund | Wind energy | Workforce |
Library Call Number:	L1836.81 B963
Session:	81st R.S. (2009)
Online version:	View report [84 pages  File size: 2,897 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Study the implementation of H.B. 4409 enacted by the 81st Legislature pertaining to the financing of insured losses in excess of premium and other revenue of the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA). Assess the coverage and affordability of TWIA policies. Review the claims and payments processes and make recommendations to improve the stability of TWIA while enhancing services to clients.
2.	Study options for reducing demand for electricity, including innovative pricing options relating to the use of smart meters, programmable thermostats, and other demand side management and behavioral response strategies. Review current consumer education programs to reduce demand, decrease energy prices, and improve air quality. Consider benefits and costs of alternative energy sources such as geothermal and solar, and current incentives for electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. The study should include recommendations on improving consumer knowledge and usage of these strategies in lowering overall electric usage, promoting energy efficiency, and improving the reliability of the ERCOT grid.
3.	Study and make recommendations relating to the development and implementation of wind energy. Assess the total impact of wind energy, including additional costs to consumers, if any, buy-back provisions and pricing, the need for alternative energy sources at times when wind does not generate electricity, impact on the ERCOT grid, development of battery storage and other storage methods, and economic development impacts.
4.	Study the generation costs of municipally owned electric utilities' planned generation portfolios. Consider the impact of planned generation costs on electric rates for residential and commercial customers. Solicit input on the impact of future electric rates on charitable and non-profit organizations, and the impact on such organizations' cash assistance programs to indigent customers. Consider the merits of a justifiable planned generation cost standard, and whether a deviation above the standard should be subject to approval by a vote of all customers of a municipally owned utility's service area.
5.	Study and make recommendations relating to the Texas Unemployment Compensation Insurance system, including, but not limited to, the following: The capacity and efficiency of the claims filing and benefits delivery system as well as the ability of the agency to meet the needs of the clients it serves given the transition to call centers and web based filing; The current financing scheme for the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund, and any options to improve the long term financial health and stability of the Fund; The use of debit cards for delivery of UI benefits, including ways to limit user fees to access payments; and Improving public access to local and statewide data on current and historical UI claims.
6.	Study and make recommendations regarding career-focused education and workforce training programs in Texas to insure that such programs meet business and worker needs. Specifically, study whether such programs: meet the current and future workforce needs of health care, skilled trades, construction, manufacturing, aerospace, information technology and green jobs; help retain workers in such trades and fields; retrain and update the skills and education of workers in such trades and fields; and foster and encourage collaboration between the State, education, labor and business to provide education and training.
7.	Study the effectiveness of Chapter 557 of the Insurance Code, relating to insured property subject to a security interest, in setting forth the obligations of a lender and a residential real property insured resulting from an insurer's payment of a claim for damage to the residential real property caused by a natural disaster. Consider the legislation's requirements for release of the insurance proceeds, lienholder's approval of payment of the insurance proceeds, accrual and payment of interest on such proceeds and penalties provided by the statute. Make recommendations for any needed refinements of the legislation.
8.	Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on Business & Commerce, 81st Legislature, Regular and Called Sessions, and make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, and/or complete implementation.
Committee:	Senate Business and Commerce
Title:	Interim Report - Wind Turbines
Library Catalog Title:	Industry practice and regulation of wind turbines : interim report to the 81st Texas Legislature
Subjects:	Electric power plants | Wind energy |
Library Call Number:	L1836.80 B963wt
Session:	80th R.S. (2007)
Online version:	View report [15 pages  File size: 3,382 kb]
Charge:	This report should address the charge below.
1.	Study current industry practice and regulation associated with the siting of wind turbines. Compare the wind turbine siting process to processes associated with other forms of electric generation and the siting of facilities in other industries. Determine the advantages and disadvantages of additional siting regulation for wind turbines.
Committee:	House Land and Resource Management
Title:	Interim Report
Library Catalog Title:	House Committee on Land and Resource Management, Texas House of Representatives interim report, 2008 : a report to the House of Representatives, 81st Texas Legislature
Subjects:	Eminent domain | General Land Office, Texas | Land use regulations | Municipal annexation | Municipalities | Property rights | Real property | School Land Board | Wind energy |
Library Call Number:	L1836.80 L229
Session:	80th R.S. (2007)
Online version:	View report [191 pages  File size: 20,998 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Examine the authority of the General Land Office, the School Land Board, and similar state agencies to engage in various types of real estate transactions, and determine the appropriateness of this authority.
2.	Observe and study ongoing litigation and actions by condemning authorities in light of the Kelo decision and make recommendations for changes in eminent domain law needed to protect private property rights. Specifically, examine the body of law used to determine the amount of compensation property owners receive when their land is condemned, in whole or part, and determine the appropriateness of this scheme as compared to others.
3.	Research annexation practices in the state to determine whether municipalities are abiding by both the spirit and the letter of the state's annexation laws, thereby maintaining a proper balance between municipal governments and individual residents.
4.	Examine the effectiveness of the Private Real Property Rights Preservation Act (Chapter 2007, Government Code).
5.	Study and evaluate policies held by other states in relation to how they treat wind resources as a property right.
6.	Examine recent attempts by municipalities to exert regulatory authority beyond city limits and extraterritorial jurisdiction. Evaluate the current relationship between and possible conflicts related to regulatory authority expressly given to state agencies by the legislature and regulatory authority delegated to home-rule municipalities. (Joint Interim Charge with the House Committee on County Affairs.)
7.	Monitor the agencies and programs under the committee's jurisdiction.
Committee:	Senate Business and Commerce
Title:	Interim Report - Electric Utility Restructuring and Renewables
Library Catalog Title:	Electric utility restructuring and renewables : interim report to the 79th Texas Legislature
Subjects:	Alternative energy | Electric Reliability Council of Texas | Electric utility deregulation | Wind energy |
Library Call Number:	L1836.78 B963er
Session:	78th R.S. (2003)
Online version:	View report [42 pages  File size: 1,132 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Study and make recommendations on improving the on-going implementation of SB7, 76th R.S., with particular emphasis on evaluation of the following: "price to beat," and the implementation of claw-back provisions for residential and small commercial customers, including on-going requests to adjust fuel factors; adequacy and effectiveness of Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and its management structure; cost-effectiveness and fairness of congestion management mechanisms; delivery of power in areas outside of the ERCOT network; stability of the System Benefit Fund; and final calculation of stranded costs under the "true-up" provisions.
2.	Study and make recommendations relating to improving the potential for further renewable energy development in Texas and the effectiveness of current policies encouraging the use of renewable energy sources. This study should focus on the State's capacity for wind generation, current efforts by the General Land Office to commercialize wind generation on state lands, and solutions to the constraints on utilizing wind potential to its fullest. Include an analysis of state and federal mandates, federal tax credits, wind potential, transmission constraints, economics of electricity production and delivery, and environmental considerations.
Committee:	House Regulated Industries
Title:	Interim Report
Library Catalog Title:	Report to the Texas House of Representatives, 79th Legislature
Subjects:	Air pollution control technology | Alternative energy | Broadband infrastructure | Electric Reliability Council of Texas | Electric utility deregulation | Fuel cells | Rights of way | State government reorganization | Telecommunications infrastructure | Wind energy |
Library Call Number:	L1836.78 R265
Session:	78th R.S. (2003)
Online version:	View report [64 pages  File size: 533 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Gather and review information on the overall status of the telecommunications market in Texas, including the effects of inter-modal competition and emerging technologies. Recommend changes to Texas law to encourage new investment and technological innovation consistent with market-oriented public policies and the interests of Texas families and businesses. Gather and review information on the Federal Communications Commission Triennial Review and recommend adjustments to Texas law.
2.	Study broadband service deployment, including other state's models used to transition to a fully competitive communications marketplace and any new technologies of competitive providers.
3.	Study the process of economic dispatch and determine possible methods to improve the competitive electric utilities market and reduce costs and pollution caused by inefficient power plants.
4.	Examine issues related to access to rights-of-way and easements to ensure state laws encourage non-discriminatory access for all broadband service providers regardless of technology used to offer the service or the regulatory status of the provider.
5.	Examine the reliability of electric utility service and review authority and structure of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas.
6.	Study the size and scope of the various broadband infrastructure platforms (e.g. cable, satellite, fixed wireless, DSL) in the state and how each are regulated under both state and federal law.
7.	Determine how investment in broadband networks by both competitive local exchange carriers and incumbent local exchange providers can be encouraged through public policy changes.
8.	Examine the benefits and challenges associated with alternative forms of energy generation technologies, such as wind and hydrogen fuel cells, and what if any state government involvement should be considered. (Joint interim charge with Energy Resources Committee)
9.	Monitor agencies and programs under the committee's jurisdiction, including identifying possible ways to merge or streamline agency functions to produce long-term financial benefit to the state and better efficiency of the agencies.
Committee:	Senate Electric Utility Restructuring, Interim
Title:	Interim report
Library Catalog Title:	Report to the 76th Legislature.
Subjects:	Air quality | Alternative energy | Electric Reliability Council of Texas | Electric utility deregulation | Electric utility rates and charges | Electric utility stranded costs and refunds | Electricity transmission and distribution | Environmental protection | Providers of last resort | Public Utility Regulatory Act | Renewable energy | Wind energy |
Library Call Number:	L1836.75 el25
Session:	75th R.S. (1997)
Online version:	View report [213 pages  File size: 8,279 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Study and determine any needed changes in the Public Utility Regulatory Act and related statutes to create a competitive Texas electric market that is open to all classes of retail customers. Such review shall include but not be limited to the following issues:
2.	An appropriate date for opening the market to direct end-use customer access, and whether a phase-in program for public schools or other governmental units is warranted
3.	Methods for quantification of a utility's investments that would be uneconomic in a fully competitive market (stranded costs) and appropriate methods for recovery of costs (including rate freezes, adjustments to depreciation, transition charges, securitization);
4.	Balancing rate reductions with recovery of stranded costs during the transition to a competitive market;
5.	The basic structural requirements for the competitive market to serve as an effective and efficient replacement for traditional regulation;
6.	Provisions for municipal and cooperative utilities recognizing the importance of maintaining local control of community-owned systems and protecting the financial integrity of cooperative and municipal utilities;
7.	Safeguards necessary for customer protection in a fully competitive marketplace (including designation of a provider of last resort, protections for low-income customers, obligations to be imposed on all providers, ability of providers to serve customers on an aggregated basis, and fair marketing and sales practices);
8.	System reliability and service quality standards needed to ensure safe and reliable power and the role of the independent system operator in a fully competitive market;
9.	Environmental issues relating to a competitive marketplace;
10.	Development of renewable energy resources such as windpower in a competitive marketplace; and
11.	Scope and nature of the continuing role of regulation in a deregulated electric power industry including oversight of market power.
12.	Make recommendations for legislative and regulatory action, if necessary.
Supporting documents
Committee:	Senate Electric Utility Restructuring, Interim
Title:	Interim report - Market-based methods
Library Catalog Title:	Market-based methods of providing revewable energy and energy efficiencey programs: report to the Texas Senate Interim Committee on Electric Utility Restructuring.
Library Call Number:	L1836.75 el25ma
Session:	75th R.S. (1997)
Online version:	View document [88 pages  File size: 509 kb]
Committee:	Senate Electric Utility Restructuring, Interim
Title:	Interim report - PUC comments
Library Catalog Title:	Public Utility Commission of Texas project no. 14789 : comments on low income and environmental program funding workshop for the requested studies by the Senate Interim Committee on Electric Utility Restructuring.
Library Call Number:	L1836.75 el25c
Session:	75th R.S. (1997)
Committee:	Senate Electric Utility Restructuring, Interim
Title:	Interim report - Revenues
Library Catalog Title:	Report to the Texas Senate Interim Committee on Electric Utility Restructuring: revenues supporting low-income, energy efficiency, and environmental programs.
Library Call Number:	L1836.75 el25r
Session:	75th R.S. (1997)
Online version:	View document [63 pages  File size: 2,668 kb]
Committee:	Senate Natural Resources
Title:	Interim Report
Library Catalog Title:	Interim report to the 67th Legislature / Senate Natural Resources Committee.
Subjects:	Agriculture | Alternative energy | Automobiles | Electric utility rates and charges | Energy conservation | Energy policy | Fuel conservation | Hazardous waste | Natural disasters | Natural gas utility rates and charges | Ports | Radioactive waste | Ships and shipping | Solid waste disposal | Wind energy |
Library Call Number:	L1836.66 n219s
Session:	66th R.S. (1979)
Online version:	View report [262 pages  File size: 9,858 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Study hazardous waste and toxic waste disposal in Texas; access the risk that existing toxic waste sites pose; review current waste disposal and waste management laws, and make recommendations. *
2.	Study all aspects of the regulation of the disposal of uranium mill tailings; the problem of the disposal of low-level radioactive waste and problems concerning the disposal of toxic industrial waste.
3.	Study the hazards affecting the Texas coastal areas and the Gulf of Mexico, including hazards such as hurricanes, tropical storms, tornadoes, subsidence, erosion and ground faults. *
4.	Investigate ways to reduce the risk of maritime accidents, and better manage shipping in or near Texas ports. *
5.	Investigate ways in which the state can encourage energy conservation and energy efficient construction practices. *
6.	Study the obstacles to developing solar energy and wind energy resources, and suggest possible legal or regulatory changes which would promote the use of solar and wind energy sources.
7.	Review the methods used for rate design, and the impact of rate structure on energy production and energy use.
8.	Suggest ways that the state could reduce use of gasoline and other fuel for transportation. *
9.	Investigate future demands of agriculture, and suggest legislative alternatives to encourage the growth of agricultural production. *
10.	Analyze Texas laws' impact on small-scale hydroelectric development and recommend possible legislative action. *
Supporting documents
Committee:	Senate Natural Resources
Title:	Bills Referred to Committee
Library Catalog Title:	Minutes
Library Call Number:	L1803.9 N219 66
Session:	66th R.S. (1979)
Online version:	View document [25 pages]

* This represents an abstract of the report contents. Charge text is incomplete or unavailable.

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