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Momentum for clean energy
It's a
beautiful, sunny day in Austin today and time for a quick update.
We're now in day 37 of the Texas legislative session and momentum continues to
build for clean energy!
Federal Economic Recovery Bill Means Billions for
Texas
Of course the
biggest news is President Obama's signing of the economic recovery bill, which
includes $78.6 billion for clean energy, energy efficiency, and green
transportation. These provisions will reduce pollution and save energy while
creating jobs. When fully implemented, these provisions will prevent
approximately 68 million tons of global warming pollution annually, reduce oil
consumption by 15 million barrels per year, and create more than 1.5 million
jobs. You can read an analysis of these provisions here. We're still sorting out the impacts for
Texas, but we are likely to see billions for projects such as the expansion of
the Houston light rail, the Texas LoanSTAR program (which provides low cost
loans for energy efficiency projects in public buildings), wind energy
transmission investments and renewable energy manufacturing. Environment Texas
staffers Alejandro Savransky and Stephen Grace traveled to capitol Hill to join
our DC-based staff in a final
lobby blitz of the Texas Congressional delegation just days before the final
vote.
Sen. Averitt
Files Major Energy Efficiency Bill
We've also seen
progress at the state level. On January 29, Sen. Kip Averitt, Chairman of the Senate
natural resources committee, filed
an omnibus clean air bill which includes new requirements for energy
efficient homes and appliances (see SB
16). New homes would be required to meet the 2009 international model building
codes and six appliances (including DVD players and swimming pool pumps)
would have to meet minimum efficiency standards in place in other states.
According
an analysis by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, by
2023 those two standards would save enough electricity to power more than one
million homes for a year.
Lawmakers
Forecast Sunny Session for Solar Power
On February 2, a group
of legislators and business and environmental leaders stood together to show
support for state action on solar power. Led by Sen. Troy Fraser, Chairman of
the Senate Business and Commerce committee, the group announced that more than
18 bills had been filed to support solar power and renewable energy (we're now
up to 33 filed!). Fraser pledged to hold a "solar day" in his committee to craft
a sound solar policy for Texas. Fraser was joined by Senators Watson, Ellis and
Van de Putte, Representative Rafael Anchia and Representative Mark Strama, the
new chairman of the House committee on Technology, Economic Development and
Workforce. At the press conference, Environment Texas, Public Citizen and Vote
Solar released a new report, Wildcatting
the Sun outlining a roadmap for building a solar market in Texas. The report
was based on presentations made by more than forty business leaders at last
spring's Texas Solar Forum. The Austin press conference was
followed by events in Houston, Fort Worth,
Waco, Abilene,
and San
Antonio.
Texas Energy
Future conference
Kudos to the
organizers of the Texas Energy Future conference held
today at the Texas Capitol. More than 400 people registered for the conference,
which included talks by green jobs advocate Van Jones, Sen. Rodney Ellis (author
of several clean energy and green jobs bills), Congressman Lloyd Doggett (who
played a key role in winning some of the tax provisions included in the economic
recovery bill), and the CEOs of two of the world's largest solar companies,
SunPower and SunTech.
Solar Video
Contest and Town Hall Meeting
To help get the word
out about Texas' opportunity to become a solar power leader, Environment Texas
Research and Policy Center is holding a video contest with a $2000 grand prize.
Contest rules are here. Finally, On February 28,
Environment Texas is hosting a town hall meeting with Congressman Charlie
Gonzalez of San Antonio, a key member of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce
committee, to discuss clean energy and climate policy. The meeting will take
place at 3 PM at the Esperanza Center at 922 San Pedro
Ave in San Antonio.
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