LRL Home - Committees - Committee overview
Committee Members
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Troy Fraser, Chair
Craig Estes, Vice Chair Bob Deuell Robert Duncan Kevin Eltife Glenn Hegar |
Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa
Mike Jackson Robert Nichols Kel Seliger Carlos Uresti |
Charges
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• Study the impact of drought, regulatory changes proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency, and changing market conditions on Texas' electrical market. Make recommendations, if needed to ensure continued access to reliable and affordable electricity. | |
• Review water resources and conservation measures included in the State Water Plan. | |
• Evaluate methods to enhance existing water resources and promote water conservation across the state at all times, not just in case of severe drought conditions | |
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Monitor the effects of recent and anticipated Environmental Protection Agency rules on (1) electric reliability in Texas, (2) affordability of electricity in Texas, and (3) competitiveness of energy intensive sectors of the Texas economy, and make recommendations to reduce the regulatory burden and maintain a business-friendly climate. Specifically, study the following:
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• Monitor federal permitting and/or federal legislation authorizing construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline. Include an assessment of the impact on the Texas economy, including jobs created, the impact on private property rights, and state and local tax revenues. | |
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Study the impediments to implementation of the State Water Plan, and make recommendations to ensure that Texas has access to sufficient water for future generations. Specifically, consider the following:
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• Evaluate alternatives to using surface or groundwater in the generation of electricity and extraction of fuels, including hydraulic fracturing, dry-cooling, and the potential for desalinization and other technologies for the reuse of brackish water. Examine the cost of alternatives in comparison to the continued use of ground and surface water including energy costs as well as the cost of water transport and treatment. Examine the risks of continued future drought to the integrity of Texas' electricity generation and fossil fuel extraction. | |
• Study the impact of current, pending, and reasonably foreseeable federal environmental regulations that may affect electric generation capacity. Identify the 10% of electrical generation capacity that will be most impacted by compliance with these regulations. Estimate the amount of electric generation capacity that is likely to voluntarily be retired rather than incur the additional expense of complying with federal environmental regulations. Identify additional barriers to the retirements of the identified generation capacity and provide recommendations on how to cost-effectively encourage the affected generation capacity to be voluntarily retired. Identify and consider types, costs, and effects of incentives to promote the goals of this section, including the effect such incentives may have on electricity rates. Consult with relevant agencies to forecast coal and natural gas fuel prices for the next 15 years. | |
• Monitor the inclusion of the dunes sagebrush lizard on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service endangered species list and the negative implications such action would have on the oil and gas industry. | |
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Study and make recommendations on the management of groundwater resources. Specifically, consider the following:
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Review and study the bundling of small water and sewer systems by a single investor-owned utility and consider the causes and regulatory issues associated with rapidly escalating water and sewer rates for Texans who live in unincorporated and rural areas of the state. Specifically, consider the following:
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• Evaluate the effectiveness of the Texas renewable portfolio standard. Consider whether and what types of renewable energy generation are competitive with fossil fuel generation, and make recommendations to encourage efficient and cost-competitive renewable energy generation while limiting distortions in the Texas electrical market. | |
• Evaluate the regulatory conditions surrounding jurisdictional propane systems, and determine whether the current conditions adequately protect consumer interests. Study the appeals, safety, and pricing mechanisms associated with these systems. | |
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Review the Texas Emissions Reduction Program to determine where current funds are allocated, and assess the future of the program, taking into consideration upcoming changes to National Ambient Air Quality Standards, with particular emphasis on where funds could be most efficiently and effectively used. Consider alternative uses for the funds, including those to encourage the use of cleaner burning domestic fuels, to enhance the impact
of the funding on air quality, and make policy recommendations as needed. |
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Evaluate and monitor the production and the development of science and best management practices in the Barnett Shale and Eagle Ford shale plays. Specifically, consider the following:
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• Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on Natural Resources, 82nd Legislature, Regular and Called Sessions, and make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, and/or complete implementation. | |
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