General Information & Links
A. Multiple sectors, energy conservation, efficiency
This section provides information relevant to energy conservation, energy efficiency and multiple sectors of renewable energy that may be potential sources of information. For specific sector information, look below.
EnergyFactCheck.org - A resource of the American Council on Renewable Energy, this site sets the record straight on various claims made about renewable energy.
Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC) Federal Laws and Incentives page
TxREIncentives.com - A list of participating utilities, details about program eligibility, as well as incentives and available budgets for 2013
Solar Thermal Energy: The Time is Now - William T.Guiney, Director, Solar Heating & Cooling Business, Johnson Controls Inc., also co-chair of TREIA Solar Water Heating Policy Subcommittee - PDF format, 577 KB
American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE) Summary Report of Renewable Energy in Texas - February 2011 - PDF format, 67 KB
In Texas Deep Freeze, Texas Helps Keep the Heat On - Background on Texas Blackouts - courtesy of AWEA, February 2, 2011
Texas Economic Development Council 2011 Legislative Agenda - Texas Economic Development Council - PDF format, 7 MB, 7 pages of content
Scope of Competition in Electric Markets in Texas - Public Utility Commission of Texas - January 2011 - PDF format, 2.5 MB
ERCOT 2010 Report - ERCOT - January 2011 - Excel format, 303 KB
Improve the Administration of the Texas Economic Development Act - Legislative Budget Board Staff - January 2011 -
PDF format, 101 KB
Texas Economic Development Act Report 2010 - Texas State Comptroller Susan Combs - December 15, 2010 - PDF format, 1.2 MB - coming shortly
Project 35792 Rulemaking Proceeding to Amend Rules Related to the Goal for Renewable Energy - Staff Recommendation - Proposal For Publication of Amendments to 25.109, 25.173, and 25.211 for Consideration at the Dec. 16 Open Meeting - PDF format, 2.4 MB
Interim Report to the 82nd Texas Legislature - Senate Committee on Business and Commerce - December 2010 - PDF format, 2.9 MB
TREIA Legislative Policy Objectives for 2011 Legislative Session - adopted by TREIA Board of Directors on Oct. 8, 2010 - PDF Format, 294 KB
Local Governments and Federal Agency Clash over Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Programs - Distributed Energy Financial Group study - September 2010 - PDF format, 579 KB
TREIA President Steve Wiese Testifies Before Senate Business and Commerce Committee - testimony regarding Interim Charge #2, specifically the “costs and benefits of alternative energy.”
President's Testimony - PDF format, 612 KB - August 24, 2010
Texas' Clean Energy Economy Report, Mitchell Foundation, aka The Hamilton Report.
Executive Summary (PDF Format, 929 KB), August 2010
Full Report (PDF Format, 4.2 MB), August 2010
Here is an overview excerpted from the report:
"This report examines the factors that affect our state’s energy economy – rising demand for electricity, continued volatility in global energy markets, declining costs for clean energy sources such as wind, solar and biomass, the possibility of a regulatory price on carbon dioxide emissions, competition with other states and the concerns of average Texans over their electric bills -- and presents three possible scenarios for our state’s clean energy economy over the next decade. With state policies that incentivize the development of a diversified clean energy economy, as Texas has done in the past to promote high technology, bio-medical research and other cutting edge industries, we can build a strong clean energy sector and maintain our leadership in the race for a new energy economy."
Texas Tax Code 313 Article, "New Rules for Property Tax Value Limitation
Agreements", (PDF Format, 81 Kb), July 22, 2010
Texas House Research Organization Report, Solar Energy in Texas Focus Report, (PDF format, 776 KB), July 20, 2010
TREIA Testimony by Steve Wiese, President - PUC Workshop, Proj. 35792, 500 MW Non-Wind RPS Testimony, - (PDF format, 753 Kb), June 30, 2010
TREIA/CEA Report, Licensing Requirements for Solar PV Installers in Texas: Frequently Asked Questions, (PDF Format, 135 KB), November 11, 2009, Steve Wiese, Director and Co-Chair, TREIA Solar Electric and Distributed Generation Subcommittee, and others.
6 Million + Elec. Meters Access Utility PV Incentive Programs In Texas
b. Biomass/Biofuels
USDA - Support for Biofuels on the Fast Track - June 10, 2009
Details and links to Programs and Grants
December 2008 - A U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) report shows Texas realizes from $1.9 to $3.77 billion in fuel cost savings annually as a result of the use of ethanol blends in gasoline. These savings are second only to the state of California among all fifty states. Only Florida at $1.26 to $2.5 billion comes close to gaining the level of benefits enjoyed by Texas.
Letter from (at the time) Agriculture Secretary Edward T. Schafer to U.S. Rep. Bruce Brailey (Iowa) on the subject
And here is the Ethanol Blend $ Savings Chart itself.
C. GEOTHERMAL
No sector specific links at this time.
D. HYDROKINETIC
No sector specific links at this time.
e. Solar
Solar Licensing Database - hosted and maintained by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council [IREC] - uses the ISPQ international framework to assess content, quality, and resources across a range of renewable energy, energy efficiency and weatherization training programs - September 5, 2012
"Texas Utility PV Incentive Programs", a report by Clean Energy Associates, shows 6 million plus electric meters access Utility PV Incentive Programs in Texas, (PDF format, 497 KB), August 4, 2009
F. Wind
ASES Primer on Small, Distributed, and Community Wind - PDF format, 622 KB - Nov. 8, 2012
"Winds of Prosperity" Study on The Impact of the Competitive Renewable Energy Zone (CREZ)
Investment in Transmission Infrastructure and the Potential Effects on Renewable Generation,
Electricity Cost Savings, and Economic Development, The Perryman Group (PDF Format, 1.6 MB), May 20, 2010
2008 DOE report on Wind Technologies Market (1.9 MB), issued July 2009
American Wind Energy Association www.awea.org
Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency www.dsireusa.org
Department of Agriculture, Rural Energy for America Program’ http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/Energy.html
Distributed Wind Energy Association www.distributedwind.org
Distributed Wind Policy Comparison Tool www.windpolicytool.org
Home Power Magazine http://homepower.com/home/
Interstate Renewable Energy Council www.irecusa.org
Interstate Turbine Advisory Council http://www.cleanenergystates.org/projects/ITAC/
National Electric Code http://www.wind-nec.net/
National Renewable Energy Laboratory www.nrel.gov
North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners http://www.nabcep.org
Renewable energy certificates http://apps3.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/markets/certificates.shtml?page=0
Small Wind Certification Council www.smallwindcertification.org
Wind Powering America www.windpoweringamerica.gov
Windustry www.windustry.org
Texas Operational Wind Plants
Here are three resources for reasonably current information.
a. American Wind Energy Association web site
b. Wind Farm Plant map from the Texas General Land Office - Jan. 2010 update - PDF Format, 15 MB - Note: This file is rather large and may need a couple of minutes to download.
c. Alternative Energy Institute
G. Tax Code
The following sections of the Texas Tax Code are of special interest to many in the renewable energy industry:
a. Franchise Tax Exemption
Texas Tax Code, Sec. 171.056. Exemption - Corporation with Business Interest in Solar Energy Devices.; and Sec. 171.107. Deduction of Cost of Solar Energy Device from Taxable Capital Apportioned to this State.
b. Property Tax Exemption
Texas Tax Code, Sec. 11.27. Solar and Wind-Powered Energy Devices. (a) - (c)(2).
Federal Government Items of Interest
The American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA)
City of Austin's Climate Protection Plan
Elements of the ACPP will help drive up the level of renewable energy activity in Austin.
TREIA members may access more Laws, Regulatory Rules, and TREIA Regulatory filings by accessing the Member' Only Area.
TREIA 2009 Legislative Agenda
For the list of Legislative objectives for TREIA for the 2009 Texas Legislature session, click here. Adopted by the TREIA Board of Directors on July 18, 2008, updated October 13, 2008, and last updated and approved February 6, 2009.
To facilitate research that advances public purposes and assist you in finding information relevant to energy conservation, energy efficiency and renewable energy we are providing you links to Texas Organizations, Government Agencies, Education and Research Organizations.
Other Links
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