EDUCATION PARTNERS:

During the 88th Legislative Session, Power Up Texas fought hard to protect the future of renewable energy in Texas and were successful in combating many pieces of legislation that aimed to stop production altogether.

Legislation put forth included provisions that would cost Texas consumers, grow the size of government while shrinking our property rights, raise taxes, and devastate rural communities, among other consequences. In retaliation, renewable energy supporters flooded legislators’ inboxes asking them to stand up for clean energy, and Power Up Texas members issued letters, and media outreach efforts garnered nearly 50 stories written about our issues.

While there were many wins this past session for the renewable energy cause, we must be ready to fight again come 2025 during the 89th Legislative Session, and Power Up Texas needs renewable energy advocates from all corners of Texas to do so!

The road to renewable energy’s success in Texas began in 1999 under the leadership of then Governor George W. Bush and continued with support from Texas leaders over the past two decades.

Most of Texas’ renewable resources are concentrated in West and South Texas, while the majority of the population and power demand lies in the eastern portion of the state. To address this challenge, then Governor Perry signed legislation directing the development of over 2,300 miles of high-voltage new transmission lines that would allow for the efficient movement of energy from West and South Texas to the high demand centers further east and north.

In 2005, the state legislature amended the mandate to require that 5,880 megawatts, or less than 5% of electric consumption, come from renewable sources by 2015. Lawmakers also set a goal of 10,000 megawatts of renewable capacity by 2025. Texas surpassed the 2015 goal in 2005 and the 2025 goal in 2009, almost entirely with wind power. The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) collaborated with ERCOT, Texas’ self-contained electric grid, to establish the Competitive Renewable Energy Zone (CREZ).

Completed in 2013, the $6.9 billion CREZ transmission project transmits more than 18.5 MW of wind, solar and gas generated electricity across Texas. But, development and demand are beginning to overtake bandwidth, and without expansion, potential industry investments that are powering rural communities across the state will stall.

Power Up Texas will advocate for the continuation and expansion of these policies that have supported the industry and allowed for immense growth.

“The state’s investment in adequate transmission capacity was vital as it provided access to wind generation in remote areas of Texas for customers hundreds of miles away in high-density population areas across the state,” Abbott said. “In addition, the unique presence of one electric grid for most of the state—the Electric Reliability Council of Texas region—creates an advantage over other states.”

– Governor Greg Abbott