.The Texas Energy Report

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.The Texas Energy Report

PUC Allowed Outside Help In Appearances Before Regional Operators In Bill Sent to Governor

May 25, 2019

 

A bill has been sent to the Governor allowing the Public Utility Commission of Texas to use outside consultants not only in appearances before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, as is already allowed, but extends it to include appearances before regional transmission organizations if Texas interests are involved….
 

Conference Committee Working Out Eminent Domain Notice Bill After Senate Adds Details of Condemnation

May 25, 2019

 

A Texas House bill to extend the ways to give notice to property owners in eminent domain cases is being worked out by a conference committee, after the Senate added amendments that set details of how eminent domain procedures should be handled, including details on easements and handling of landowner compensation….
 

Pre-Final Permit Air Quality Facility Modifications Bill Goes to Conference Committee

May 23, 2019

 

If a company wants to proceed with paying for minor facilities changes related to air emissions,such as construction (or modifications), even though the company has not yet been issued a full TCEQ permit it can do so under a bill that has passed the Texas Legislature, but there will be more changes before the bill can go to the Governor….
 

Republican Trailblazer Rep. Tom Craddick and Wife Nadine Honored by Texas House

May 23, 2019

 

With their 50th wedding anniversary on the horizon, members of the Texas House of Representatives on Thursday honored long-serving state Rep. Tom Craddick and his wife Nadine, who stood with grandchildren while House Continuing Resolution 180 was read by Sen. Tan Parker on the floor of the Senate floor.

Senators then offered from the floor their memories of time spent with Rep. Craddick over the years.

The resolution:

 

WHEREAS, September 6, 2019, marks the 50th wedding anniversary of Representative Tom Craddick and Nadine Craddick, and this joyous event provides a fitting opportunity to reflect on their remarkable journey together as husband and wife; and

WHEREAS, Tom Craddick and the former Nadine Nayfa met in the library at Texas Tech University, where they both were students; Tom earned his bachelor ’s degree in business and his MBA from Texas Tech, and Nadine completed her bachelor ’s degree in education at the university; in 1969, Nadine began teaching while Tom began his first term in the Texas House, and as the pair looked forward to their September wedding date, they found that the obligations of the Texas Legislature can interfere with the best-laid plans; the governor called two consecutive special sessions that summer, the second of which didn ’t end until three days after their wedding date, and although the ceremony proceeded, their honeymoon was delayed; so began their rewarding marriage, and in the years that followed, the Craddicks welcomed the arrival of two children, Christi and Thomas, while working tirelessly together in behalf of their community and the Lone Star State; and…
 

Texas Legislature Honors Dallas Wind Energy Pioneer Tri Global Energy: News Release

May 23, 2019

 

The Texas 86th Legislature has passed Bill TX HR1069, officially recognizing Tri Global Energy, the Dallas-based company that has become a national leader in the development of clean, renewable wind energy. Tri Global Energy is celebrating its 10thanniversary in 2019, and in that time, the company has grown to become the fourth largest developer of utility-scale wind projects in the U.S.

Tri Global Energy (TGE) also has ranked consistently as the top developer of wind power in Texas and in 2018, achieved company records for projects beginning construction (1,000 MW) and projects achieving commercial operations (over 228 MW). Texas is the number one wind energy generator in the country, producing one-quarter of the national total and nearly 17% percent of all in-state electricity generation. If Texas were a country, it would rank number four in the world in total wind energy generation….
 

King’s Increased Electric Car Registration Fee Dies In Committee But Chronicle Notes Notion Is Alive In Other States

May 23, 2019

 

A bill intended to use increased fees for registering electric and hybrid vehicles — since such vehicles pay less or nothing in fuel taxes but still use the same roads funded by gas-powered vehicles — has died in committee….
 

Postcards from the Lege: What’s In a Name?

May 22, 2019

 

In the rush of the business day, haven’t most people accidentally called someone by the wrong name?

And on some of those occasions hasn’t it been awkward when the two names confused turned out to be people who looked alike, or both were recent hires or both similar in some way?

Or like, both were of the more outspoken conservative political persuasion?

Name confusion caused a particularly awkward moment on the floor of the Texas House on Wednesday, however, when Rep. Joe Moody, standing in for Speaker of the House Dennis Bonnen during the naming of one bill’s conferees, called on state Rep. Briscoe Cain by saying, “Mr. Stickland for what purpose?”

Rep. Cain exclaimed, “Wow, that’s…pretty painful.”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Cain, for what purpose?”

Rep. Cain bit his lower lip and looked at the House while laughter filled the room for a moment, then smiled and conjured more laughter by deadpanning, “Is there any way Mr. Speaker, Mr. Bonnen, Speaker Bonnen, is there any way to change the names of the conferees?”

 

For those who don’t get the humor, it’s a “looks” thing, though both are notably right of center.

Rep. Cain is not tall and is clean-shaven.

Rep. Stickland is tall and, well, resembles Rep. John Bucy III.

 

— Mike Shiloh