Bill Text: TX HB1362 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to implementation of a pilot program under the loanstar revolving loan program to promote the use of energy efficiency measures and renewable energy technology by certain nonprofit organizations.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-02-26 - Referred to Energy Resources [HB1362 Detail]
Download: Texas-2013-HB1362-Introduced.html
By: Rodriguez of Travis | H.B. No. 1362 |
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relating to implementation of a pilot program under the loanstar | ||
revolving loan program to promote the use of energy efficiency | ||
measures and renewable energy technology by certain nonprofit | ||
organizations. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Section 2305.0322, Government Code, is amended | ||
to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 2305.0322. PILOT REVOLVING LOAN PROGRAM FOR ENERGY | ||
EFFICIENCY MEASURES AND RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGY BY CERTAIN | ||
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. (a) The legislature finds that promoting | ||
the implementation of energy efficiency measures and renewable | ||
energy technology is necessary to protect the public health and | ||
environment of this state and that the up-front cost of | ||
implementing those improvements often prevents some in the private | ||
sector, especially certain nonprofit organizations, from making | ||
the improvements. To make the implementation of energy efficiency | ||
measures and renewable energy technology by certain nonprofit | ||
organizations more affordable, it is necessary to provide | ||
alternative means of financing those improvements. Therefore, the | ||
legislature finds that a public purpose will be served by | ||
establishing a pilot program that provides loans to community-based | ||
organizations and houses of worship to finance the implementation | ||
of energy efficiency measures and renewable energy technology in | ||
the buildings owned and operated by those organizations. | ||
(b) In this section: | ||
(1) "Community-based organization" has the meaning | ||
assigned by Section 535.001. | ||
(2) "Energy efficiency" means a measure that is aimed | ||
at reducing the rate at which energy is used by equipment or | ||
processes and may be achieved by: | ||
(A) substituting more advanced equipment to | ||
produce the same or a higher level of end-use services with less | ||
energy; | ||
(B) adopting technology and processes that | ||
reduce heat or other energy losses; | ||
(C) installing materials, including | ||
weatherization materials, or equipment that reduces or facilitates | ||
a reduction in heat or other energy loss; or | ||
(D) reorganizing processes to make use of waste | ||
heat. | ||
(3) "House of worship" means a nonprofit corporation | ||
or association that: | ||
(A) is operated through a religious or | ||
denominational organization, including an organization that is | ||
operated for religious, educational, or charitable purposes and | ||
that is operated, supervised, or controlled, wholly or partly, by | ||
or in connection with a religious organization; or | ||
(B) clearly demonstrates through the | ||
organization's mission statement, policies, or practices that the | ||
organization is guided or motivated by religion. | ||
(4) "Pilot program" means the pilot program | ||
established under this section to provide loans to houses of | ||
worship and community-based organizations to finance the | ||
implementation of energy efficiency measures and renewable energy | ||
technology in buildings owned or operated by those organizations. | ||
(5) "Renewable energy technology" has the meaning | ||
assigned by Section 39.904(d), Utilities Code. | ||
(c) Notwithstanding the requirement that the energy office | ||
provide loans under the loanstar revolving loan program to finance | ||
energy and water efficiency measures for public facilities, the | ||
energy office shall establish and administer a pilot program under | ||
the loanstar revolving loan program established under Section | ||
2305.032 to provide loans to houses of worship and community-based | ||
organizations to finance the implementation of energy efficiency | ||
measures and renewable energy technology in buildings owned or | ||
operated by those organizations. | ||
(d) Not later than January 1 of each year, the energy office | ||
shall submit a report to the legislature that includes: | ||
(1) a brief description of: | ||
(A) the implementation and status of the pilot | ||
program; | ||
(B) the energy efficiency measures or renewable | ||
energy technologies financed under the pilot program; and | ||
(C) the energy saved and clean energy produced as | ||
a result of implementing energy efficiency measures or renewable | ||
energy technologies financed under the program; | ||
(2) recommendations for addressing any challenges or | ||
obstacles encountered in financing the implementation of energy | ||
efficiency measures and renewable energy technologies under the | ||
pilot program; and | ||
(3) any additional information the office determines | ||
necessary. | ||
(e) Not later than September 1, 2013, the energy office | ||
shall establish an advisory committee composed of at least five | ||
representatives from faith and community-based organizations to | ||
assist the office in implementing the pilot program. The energy | ||
office shall work with statewide faith and community-based | ||
organizations to recruit advisory committee members. The advisory | ||
committee shall elect a chair and the chair shall call their | ||
meetings. They shall meet as often as needed to: | ||
(1) make recommendations to the energy office | ||
regarding the application process and documents; | ||
(2) develop a faith and community-based outreach and | ||
education plan for the pilot project; and | ||
(3) write a report to the Legislature before the | ||
beginning of each legislative session identifying challenges and | ||
successes of the pilot program and recommendations for future | ||
efforts to bring energy efficiency to the nonprofit sector. | ||
(f) [ |
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SECTION 2. 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, 2013. |