Bill Text: TX HB2623 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to certain energy security technologies for critical governmental facilities.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2011-05-18 - Left pending in committee [HB2623 Detail]

Download: Texas-2011-HB2623-Introduced.html

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82R10662 EAH-F
By: Beck H.B. No. 2623

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to certain energy security technologies for critical
governmental facilities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 2311, Government Code, as added by
Chapters 1280 (H.B. 1831) and 1408 (H.B. 4409), Acts of the 81st
Legislature, Regular Session, 2009, is reenacted and amended to
read as follows:
CHAPTER 2311. ENERGY SECURITY TECHNOLOGIES FOR CRITICAL
GOVERNMENTAL FACILITIES
Sec. 2311.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Combined heating and power system" means a system
that:
(A) is located on the site of a facility;
(B) is the primary source of both electricity and
thermal energy for the facility;
(C) can provide all of the electricity needed to
power the facility's critical emergency operations for at least 14
days; and
(D) has an overall efficiency of energy use that
exceeds 60 percent.
(2) "Critical governmental facility" means a building
owned by the state or a political subdivision of the state that is
expected to:
(A) be continuously occupied;
(B) maintain operations for at least 6,000 hours
each year;
(C) have a peak electricity demand exceeding 500
kilowatts; and
(D) serve a critical public health or public
safety function during a natural disaster or other emergency
situation that may result in a widespread power outage, including
[a]:
(i) a command and control center;
(ii) a shelter;
(iii) a prison or jail;
(iv) a police or fire station;
(v) a communications or data center;
(vi) a water or wastewater facility;
(vii) a hazardous waste storage facility;
(viii) a biological research facility;
(ix) a hospital; [or]
(x) a food preparation or food storage
facility; or
(xi) an institution of higher education, as
defined by Section 61.003, Education Code.
Sec. 2311.002. COMBINED HEATING AND POWER SYSTEMS. (a)
When constructing or extensively renovating a critical
governmental facility or replacing major heating, ventilation, and
air-conditioning equipment for a critical governmental facility,
the entity with charge and control of the facility shall evaluate
whether equipping the facility with a combined heating and power
system would result in expected energy savings that would exceed
the expected costs of purchasing, operating, and maintaining the
system over a 20-year period. Notwithstanding Chapter 2302, the
entity may equip the facility with a combined heating and power
system if the expected energy savings exceed the expected costs.
(b) The State Energy Conservation Office shall establish
guidelines for the evaluation under Subsection (a).
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.