Beneath the brand new invoice, current initiatives could possibly be eliminated retroactively if the brand new allow necessities are usually not met. New photo voltaic and wind farms should win approval from the Public Utility Fee of Texas, whereas being topic to annual charges, strict siting necessities and extra.
From pv journal USA
The Texas state senate voted in favor of SB 624, which might impose vital allowing restrictions and fines on photo voltaic and wind power initiatives. A companion invoice now heads to the state home for approval.
Texas is main the nation in wind power growth and can quickly take over as No. 1 state within the US for photo voltaic, leapfrogging California. The Photo voltaic Power Industries Affiliation (SEIA) expects the state so as to add 36 GW of photo voltaic within the subsequent 5 years, constructing on the 16 GW energetic to date, and making it instance within the nation of utilizing power in day.
This development spurt got here because the $369 billion spending package deal inside the US Inflation Discount Act was enacted and rolled out, a legislation that additional drives the power transition towards carbon-free era in electrical energy.
The Superior Energy Alliance plans that by 2024, renewable era beneath the Electrical Reliability Council of Texas devour $6 billion in internet system working price financial savings and greater than 18,000 MW of dependable capability contribution. Nonetheless, state lawmakers have targeted on the trade, regardless of the financial development that comes with it. Texas lawmakers have proven their help SB 624 in late April.
The legislation singles out photo voltaic and wind amenities, requiring them to acquire a allow from the Public Utility Fee (PUC) of Texas, whereas not requiring fossil fuels. governor Greg Abbottwho has lengthy proven ties to fossil fuels, instructed all members of the PUC, who will now function gatekeepers for any renewable power challenge.
As well as, SB 624 supplies for a brand new annual price to be paid by renewable power builders. It additionally requires builders to acquire a allow any time they should make vital adjustments to current initiatives. Beneath the legislation, each new challenge should bear a brand new environmental affect research.
The legislation places current renewable power initiatives in danger by retroactively making use of allow necessities to those websites. It offers the fee the facility to enter challenge websites and take away put in clear power capability if it doesn’t meet newly established restricted permits.
“The onerous proposal would infringe on the non-public property rights of Texans and scale back the worth of their properties, denying them the flexibility to develop their land’s power assets,” the Superior Energy Alliance mentioned in a press release. . “The invoice will elevate power prices for each Texan and put each energy buy settlement (PPA) in place with company prospects in danger.”
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