| Vote Recommendation | Economic Freedom | Property Rights | Personal Responsibility | Limited Government | Individual Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | Positive | Neutral | Neutral | Positive | Neutral |
Relating to the goal for renewable energy and competitive
renewable energy zones.
SB 931 aims to eliminate or phase out those components of
the code which are associated with the Competitive Renewable Energy Zones (CREZ)
and the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) adopted in 1999. These goals were
put into place to encourage renewable energy generation in Texas and have since
been met or exceeded.
SB 931, if passed, would make multiple changes to the
Utilities Code, the most notable of which would terminate the goals and targets
associated with CREZs and RPS on December 31st 2015. The bill would
also prohibit the Public Utility Commission from designating a new CREZ after
this date, and removes CREZ information requirements from transmission reports.
SB 931 would also authorize the Public Utility Commission to establish an
alternative compliance payment mechanism to meet certain transmission goals
(listed in subsection a).
SB 931 would remove those components of code associated with
CREZs and RPSs. Given that these programs constituted government preference for
one set of industries over another (renewable energy over traditional energy)
and given that all of the goals established under these programs have been met,
there is no reason that they should be retained. SB 931 is an effective way to
remove these programs, limit the government, and remove market distortions. We
support SB 931.