News – Page 115 – .The Texas Energy Report

Texas Wind Turbine Removal and Cleanup Clauses Go Into Landowners Contracts

June 17, 2019

New legislation aimed at ensuring that wind power facility operators properly handle the disposal of turbines when they’re no longer useful will go into effect on September 1st…..

Explaining the New Law Against Deliberate Destruction of Critical Infrastructure Such As Pipelines

Bill signed by governor will protect power transmission infrastructure and telecommunications as well as pipelines…punishment is not equivalent with punishment for murder…law will depend on violators trespassing…”if you’re protesting on adjacent land, that would not bring you under this law”…clarifying the terms “destruction” versus “defaced” and “damaged”

June 17, 2019

A controversial bill to protect critical infrastructure such as pipelines, electrical lines and telecommunications in now law, effective later this year……..

Tax Abatement Zones Backed by Solar Power Groups Extended

June 17, 2019

There’ll be increased public transparency for tax abatement zones under new Texas legislation to go into effect later this year, but after some concern the zones wouldn’t be allowed to continue, a bill signed by the governor gives them new life….

Funding for Texas Roads Included In Budget Bills

June 17, 2019

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDot) will be getting about a-quarter of a billion dollars to help counties where roads have been damaged by large trucks in connection with oil and gas drilling, production and transportation…..

Increased Inspections of “Aggregate Production Operations” Dies In the House

June 17, 2019

A bill to increase the number of inspections at sand pits, quarries, gravel pits and other aggregate production operations never made it out of the Texas House of Representatives….

Increased Safety Inspections for Some Power Lines Are On the Way

June 17, 2019

Some power lines will see Increased safety inspections under legislation signed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott and filed in response to the deaths of three Boy Scouts….

Texas Port Improvements To Be Funded Through Transportation Commission, Bonds

June 17, 2019

New deepening and widening efforts for Texas ports to accommodate the latest generations of oil and gas transportation will begin gearing up later this year under just-signed legislation authorizing the Texas Transportation Commission to issue new revenue bonds……

TERP Program Goes to Trust Fund, TCEQ Control

June 17, 2019

Money for the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP) will go from the state General Fund account to a new trust fund outside the state treasury to be administered by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

TERP is intended to provide financial incentives to “eligible individuals, businesses, or local governments” to reduce emissions from polluting vehicles and equipment by providing monetary grants under nine programs for the purchase of newer equipment, cars along rail relocation and seaport revamping in order to reduce air pollution (see TERP Diesel Program to Expand, The Texas Energy Report)….

TXOGA Statement on Governor Abbott’s Signing of Legislation Related to County Road Funding, Critical Infrastructure, Chapter 312, and Water Regulation

June 17, 2019

New legislation aimed at ensuring that wind power facility operators properly handle the disposal of turbines when they’re no longer useful will go into effect on September 1st…..

Port of Houston Bills Signed by Governor

June 17, 2019

Bills calling for adjusted safety standards for pilots and vessels along the Port of Houston, as well as separating the pilot board from the port commission, were signed on Saturday by Governor Greg Abbott….

Texas Electricity Plan Brokers Going Under PUC Control

June 17, 2019

Electricity energy brokers in Texas will now be under the registration requirements of the Public Utility Commission has passed the state legislature….

Gas Utilities Salary Incentives Legislation Signed By Governor

June 17, 2019

A bill aimed at lessening the number of lawsuits over how people are paid at natural gas utilities was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on Saturday….

PUC Now Allowed Outside Help In Appearances Before Regional Operators

June 17, 2019

The Public Utility Commission of Texas can use outside consultants not only in appearances before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, as is already allowed, but a new law extends that to include appearances before regional transmission organizations if Texas interests are involved….

Texas O&G Produced Water Discharge Bill Signed By Governor

June 17, 2019

While allowing the discharge of oil and gas produced water, hydrostatic test water, and gas plant effluent water into rivers and streams, new powers are given to the TCEQ to regulate such produced water runoff under new legislation signed by the governor….