Senator Kolkhorst presented SB819, similar to previous SB624, with small changes.
126 people registered to testify, illustrating wide interest and controversy.
Bill highlights conservation versus environmental group divides.
High lobbyist presence noted, reflecting intensity of issue.
Bill impacted by local anecdote of unsuccessful proposed wind project in Fayette County.
Addresses setbacks for wind and solar installations: solar (200 feet from residences, 100 feet from property lines), wind (3,000 feet from property lines).
Public meetings required for projects, along with decommissioning sureties.
Elimination of certain tax abatements to prevent inter-county competition.
Feedback during the interim mainly from solar, with limited input from wind energy stakeholders.
Comparison with Ohio allowing counties to decide siting, highlighting Texas' lack of similar regulations outside cities.
Mentions of significant clearcutting for solar installations in East Texas.
Feedback encouraged during testimonies, with emphasis on sensitivity to Texas' landscapes like Devils River and state parks.
▶️Senator Menéndez to Senator Kolkhorst, SB819 - Question
Setback for oil and gas industry pump jacks is 200 feet from a residence.
Discussion on property rights related to solar installations on private properties, especially on ranches.
Concern was raised about a 3,000-foot setback potentially infringing on property rights.
Setbacks mentioned were compared to a wind turbine distance for safety concerns.
Recalling a past bill by Drew Springer addressing constituent concerns about wind turbines near their ranch.
The importance of good public policy that does not infringe property rights was emphasized.
Acknowledgment of the benefits of wind and solar energy as supplemental income for ranchers.
Mention of the encroachment of wind turbines in areas not traditionally high in wind or smaller land holdings.
Observation that Texas doesn't have strict siting regulations for wind and solar, unlike Ohio and California.
Clarification that setbacks only apply to solar projects of 10 megawatts or larger, not smaller installations.
Senior Director at American Clean Power Association (ACP).
ACP represents the clean energy industry, including solar, wind, energy storage, and clean hydrogen.
Texas is a leader in both oil and gas and clean energy (wind and solar capacity).
Clean power industry has invested over $137 billion in Texas, creating nearly 50,000 jobs and contributing a quarter of America’s clean power capacity.
SB819 proposes restrictive statewide siting requirements for solar and wind facilities, which would hinder investment and development in Texas.
New permit requirements would slow down solar and wind deployment, critical for meeting growing energy demand (expected to double by 2030).
Urges the committee to reject SB819 and maintain Texas' diverse energy approach.
Jeff Clark, president and CEO of Advanced Power Alliance, expressed concerns about a bill that he claims will harm renewable energy in Texas.
Clark highlighted that various stakeholders, including landowners, environmentalists, school districts, companies, and economic developers, oppose the bill.
Emphasized the positive economic impact of renewable energy projects on rural communities, including financial support for schools.
Mentioned stringent decommissioning requirements for energy projects in Texas, ensuring land is returned to families post-project.
Stressed the importance of not pitting different energy resources against each other, highlighting the necessity for all types of energy to support Texas's economic growth.
Warned that reducing the use of current affordable energy resources would infringe on private property rights and undermine the state's policy.
Expressed appreciation for the opportunity to communicate these points during the meeting.
▶️Senator Johnson to Jeff Clark, SB819 - Setback Requirements
Setback requirements exist for various industries, such as a 600-foot setback in Fort Worth for oil and gas drilling.
Federal law governs natural gas pipeline setbacks, typically requiring a 25 to 50-foot easement.
There are no known setback requirements for electric transmission lines or natural gas power plants.
▶️Senator Nichols to Jeff Clark, SB819 - Renewables
Jeff Clark from the Advanced Power Alliance discusses the role of renewables, specifically solar and wind, in the Texas energy market.
Discussion about the intermittency of renewable energy, citing instances where wind energy leads to negative pricing, benefiting consumers.
The conversation focused heavily on the federal production tax credit for renewables and its temporary nature.
Senator Nichols inquired about the profitability of renewable projects if subsidies were cut off. Clark indicated profitability would depend on the market.
Mark Stover, Executive Director of the Texas Solar and Storage Association, testified against SB819.
Stover highlighted the conclusion of a report by TCEQ, Texas and Texas A&M on the life cycle impacts of solar, energy storage, and wind power.
The report indicated that Texas has an established regulatory framework to manage the environmental impacts of clean energy.
Identified areas for improvement included recycling, decommissioning, and fire safety for energy storage.
SB819 could slow or halt solar power development, affecting grid reliability and consumer power prices.
▶️Senator Kolkhorst to Mark Stover, SB819 - Agrivoltaics
Lack of data on potential dual use of land for solar generation facilities and agriculture, known as agrivoltaics, in Texas.
Growth of solar energy in Texas is relatively new, with over 90% of installed utility-scale capacity coming online since 2020.
Landowners in Texas have significant control over energy development on their property, through private contracts.
Emerging agriculture practices include using sheep for vegetation management and shade-grown crops, benefiting the environment and lowering operational costs.
Limited data due to the newness of agrivoltaics as a trend.
Concerns over the depth required for wind turbine pilings, especially given wind pressure.
Community opposition to energy projects, with examples from Fayette County, expressing support for setback regulations.
Barrett Thomas, representing Apex Clean Energy and himself, expressed strong opposition to SB819, citing its potential negative impact on employment opportunities for veterans in the renewable energy sector.
Fort Cavazos offers a program for soldiers transitioning to careers in renewable energy, which could be affected by SB819.
Emphasized energy security as crucial for national security and warned against over-reliance on external energy sources.
Matt Boms, executive director of TAEBA, testified in strong opposition to SB819, arguing it contradicts Texas's free market approach and poses barriers for wind and solar energy development.
Boms highlighted potential financial losses for Texas landowners and counties if SB819 were to pass, notably $30 billion in lease payments and over $20 billion in local tax revenue.
He emphasized that the bill doesn't strengthen the power grid but undermines key renewable resources that ERCOT relies on.
Boms urged the rejection of SB819 to allow the market to operate freely, emphasize property rights, and continue building a future-focused energy system.
