Texas energy bills face very different fates in state legislature
Two bills in the Texas legislature this session would have big effects on the energy industry in the state — and the outcomes of the two bills ended up very differently.
Senate Bill (SB) 931 would have repealed the state’s renewable portfolio standard (RPS) and frozen the state’s Competitive Renewable Energy Zones (CREZ). The bill was a contentious one between policymakers, industry, and renewable advocates. It was passed by the state Senate in April, but the bill was not advanced out of the House.
“Texas has welcomed a variety of energy industries with investment-friendly policies,” said Susan Williams Sloan, vice president of State Policy with the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), in a statement. “The number one state in wind energy, Texas has shown that a long-term, pragmatic approach to renewable energy has worked. By rejecting the bill, Texas legislators have recognized that wind energy is an important part of the local economy. We encourage other states to follow Texas’ lead and reject attempts to roll back successful RPS laws.”
