Bill Text: TX HB3278 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the study of and incentives for the use of solar and wind energy.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2025-04-23 - Failed to receive affirmative vote in comm. [HB3278 Detail]
Download: Texas-2025-HB3278-Introduced.html
| 89R13084 ANG-D | ||
| By: McLaughlin | H.B. No. 3278 | |
|
|
||
|
|
||
| relating to the study of and incentives for the use of solar and | ||
| wind energy. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. STUDY ON SOLAR AND WIND ENERGY AND RELATED | ||
| FACILITIES. (a) In this Act, "commission" means the Texas | ||
| Commission on Environmental Quality. | ||
| (b) The commission, in consultation with the Public Utility | ||
| Commission of Texas, the Parks and Wildlife Department, and any | ||
| other relevant state agency, shall conduct a study on the effects of | ||
| solar generation facilities and wind generation facilities on the | ||
| environment, the economy, and infrastructure in this state. | ||
| (c) In conducting the study, the commission shall examine: | ||
| (1) land use and habitat disruption, including the | ||
| impact of large solar and wind generation facilities on | ||
| agricultural land, native ecosystems, and wildlife habitats; | ||
| (2) decommissioning and disposal challenges related | ||
| to solar and wind generation facilities, including a consideration | ||
| of the life cycle of solar panels and wind turbines, hazardous waste | ||
| risks, sustainability of recycling methods, and the disposal of | ||
| components; | ||
| (3) grid reliability and energy security, including | ||
| any effects of an increased reliance on solar and wind energy on | ||
| electric grid stability, energy storage needs, and grid reliability | ||
| during periods of peak demand; | ||
| (4) the economic impact of solar and wind generation | ||
| facilities on rural communities, including changes in land value, | ||
| tax revenue, or agricultural productivity in areas where solar | ||
| generation facilities or wind generation facilities are | ||
| established; | ||
| (5) potential fire risks associated with lithium-ion | ||
| battery storage and the capability of rural emergency services to | ||
| effectively respond to a fire at a battery facility; | ||
| (6) risks of soil and water contamination from solar | ||
| generation facilities, including risks associated with water | ||
| usage, long-term soil degradation, and the disposal of solar panel | ||
| materials; | ||
| (7) wildlife and avian mortality related to the | ||
| production of wind energy, including the effects of wind turbines | ||
| on migratory birds, bats, and other wildlife populations; and | ||
| (8) the noise created by and potential health effects | ||
| of wind generation facilities, including the potential effects of | ||
| wind turbine noise, infrasound, and shadow flicker on nearby | ||
| communities. | ||
| (d) The commission shall hold public hearings in rural | ||
| counties and counties in which solar or wind generation facilities | ||
| are located to collect input relevant to the study from landowners, | ||
| energy industry representatives, environmental experts, and local | ||
| officials. | ||
| (e) Not later than September 1, 2026, the commission shall | ||
| submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the | ||
| house of representatives, and the chair of the standing committee | ||
| of each house of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over | ||
| energy production an interim report that includes the initial | ||
| results of the study conducted under this section. | ||
| (f) Not later than January 31, 2027, the commission shall | ||
| submit a final report to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the | ||
| speaker of the house of representatives, and the chair of the | ||
| standing committee of each house of the legislature with primary | ||
| jurisdiction over energy production a written report that includes | ||
| the results of the study conducted under this section and any | ||
| recommendations for the legislature. | ||
| (g) The commission shall begin the interim study required by | ||
| this section not later than September 1, 2025. | ||
| SECTION 2. MORATORIUM ON STATE ECONOMIC INCENTIVES. (a) | ||
| Notwithstanding any other law and except as otherwise provided by | ||
| this section, during the period that begins on the effective date of | ||
| this Act and ends on the last day of the 90th Legislature, Regular | ||
| Session, a solar energy project, wind energy project, solar | ||
| generation facility, or wind generation facility is not eligible to | ||
| receive a state economic incentive, including a state tax | ||
| incentive. | ||
| (b) Subsection (a) of this section does not apply to a state | ||
| economic incentive the application for which was submitted on or | ||
| before the effective date of this Act. | ||
| (c) The members of the 90th Legislature, Regular Session, by | ||
| adoption of a concurrent resolution approved by a record vote of a | ||
| majority of the members of each house of the legislature may | ||
| terminate the moratorium imposed under Subsection (a) of this | ||
| section before the date the moratorium would otherwise expire under | ||
| that subsection. | ||
| SECTION 3. EXPIRATION. This Act expires September 1, 2027. | ||
| 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, 2025. | ||
