Texas is a national leader in renewable energy, with wind and solar powering millions of homes and businesses while creating jobs and strengthening local economies. However, several proposed bills - SB 819, HB 553, and SB 388 - threaten to undermine this progress by imposing unnecessary regulations and fees on renewable energy projects.
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Unfair Barriers for Wind and Solar: SB 819 & HB 553
SB 819 (Sen. Lois Kolkhorst) and HB 553 (Rep. Jared Patterson) impose additional permitting requirements and environmental impact assessments exclusively on renewable energy projects. These bills would:
- Require renewable energy projects to secure a permit from the Public Utilities Commission of Texas and conduct an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) with Texas Parks & Wildlife - requirements not imposed on fossil fuel plants.
- Mandate unrealistic buffer zones, restricting wind farms from being within 3,000 feet of a habitable structure and solar farms within 200 feet, unless property owners grant permission. HB 553 proposes a 1,000-foot buffer for both.
- Create new annual fees for wind and solar projects, despite existing financial assurance requirements for decommissioning facilities.
These bills discriminate against clean energy by imposing unique restrictions that do not apply to fossil fuel projects, even those receiving taxpayer subsidies. They also create bureaucratic roadblocks that could slow renewable energy development and limit private property rights.
SB 388: A Costly and Unnecessary Market Manipulation
SB 388 (Sen. Phil King) seeks to manipulate the electricity market by mandating that 50% of all new power generation be "dispatchable" (i.e., gas or nuclear), regardless of actual grid needs. This bill would:
- Require municipal utilities, electric cooperatives, and renewable developers to either build gas or nuclear plants or purchase expensive "dispatchable energy credits."
- Exclude battery storage from dispatchable energy eligibility, despite its ability to dispatch and provide critical grid reliability.
- Hand out double credit to nuclear power, even though Texas hasn’t built a new nuclear plant in decades and new projects remain costly and years away.
These restrictions would drive up costs for consumers, slow down clean energy development, and create uncertainty in Texas’s competitive energy market. Rather than improving grid reliability, SB 388 would make it harder to build new generation and raise electricity prices.
Renewable Energy Is Essential for Texas's Future
Texas’s renewable energy sector has played a crucial role in keeping energy prices low and meeting growing demand. Recent ERCOT data shows record-breaking contributions from wind, solar, and battery storage this year.
Instead of undermining clean energy, Texas should embrace policies that enhance grid reliability, promote innovation, and keep electricity affordable. Legislators should reject SB 819, HB 553, and SB 388 to ensure Texas remains a leader in energy without stifling the growth of renewables.
Take Action
Tell your representatives to oppose these harmful bills and support policies that foster a diverse, reliable, and affordable energy future for Texas. Clean energy is vital to our economy, environment, and energy security - let’s defend it together.
Defend Renewable Energy in Texas
We strongly oppose SB 819 / HB 553 and SB 388 because renewables lower costs and keep homes and businesses powered. Keep Texas a leader in renewable energy!