Bill Text: TX HB4574 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the creation of an interim committee to study large-scale battery storage.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-04-12 - Left pending in committee [HB4574 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HB4574-Introduced.html
| 88R13858 DIO-D | ||
| By: Murr | H.B. No. 4574 | |
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| relating to the creation of an interim committee to study | ||
| large-scale battery storage. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. DEFINITION. In this Act, "large-scale battery | ||
| storage" includes: | ||
| (1) utility-scale or grid-scale storage of electric | ||
| energy using batteries for connection to electric power generation | ||
| or transmission and distribution networks to provide for | ||
| flexibility in electric power systems and optimal use of electric | ||
| energy resources; | ||
| (2) storage of electric energy using batteries to | ||
| provide electric power to large industrial, office, or other | ||
| facilities or to residential communities; and | ||
| (3) electric energy storage using equipment or | ||
| facilities described by Subchapter E, Chapter 35, Utilities Code, | ||
| to the extent the facilities employ battery technology. | ||
| SECTION 2. INTERIM COMMITTEE; STUDY AND REPORT. (a) An | ||
| interim committee is established to study large-scale battery | ||
| storage. | ||
| (b) The study must consider: | ||
| (1) current statutes, regulations, and ordinances | ||
| regarding large-scale battery storage in this state; | ||
| (2) the status of state oversight and regulation of | ||
| large-scale battery storage, including by the Public Utility | ||
| Commission of Texas, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, | ||
| the Texas Division of Emergency Management, and other state | ||
| agencies; | ||
| (3) fire safety standards for large-scale battery | ||
| storage; and | ||
| (4) building code standards for large-scale battery | ||
| storage. | ||
| (c) The interim committee shall be composed of members | ||
| appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives. The | ||
| members must include: | ||
| (1) members of the house of representatives; | ||
| (2) two individuals to represent the large-scale | ||
| battery storage industry; and | ||
| (3) two members of the general public. | ||
| (d) The speaker of the house of representatives shall | ||
| designate a member of the interim committee to serve as the chair of | ||
| the committee. | ||
| (e) The interim committee has all other powers and duties | ||
| provided to a special committee by the rules of the house of | ||
| representatives, by Subchapter B, Chapter 301, Government Code, and | ||
| by policies of the House Committee on Administration. | ||
| (f) Not later than January 1, 2025, the joint interim | ||
| committee shall report the committee's findings and | ||
| recommendations to the governor and the members of the legislature. | ||
| The report must include recommendations for best practices to | ||
| address public safety concerns regarding the location and operation | ||
| of large-scale battery storage. | ||
| SECTION 3. EXPIRATION; ABOLITION OF COMMITTEE. The interim | ||
| committee established by Section 2 of this Act is abolished and this | ||
| Act expires January 10, 2025. | ||
| SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect | ||
| immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members | ||
| elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas | ||
| Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for | ||
| immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2023. | ||
