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Do you care about Energy Efficiency, Water Efficiency and Green Schools?
What does the USGBC Texas Gulf Coast Advocacy Committee do:
6.29.09 Really good news.
You—yes YOU—can change Texas’s residential energy code by writing to the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO). As I mentioned in my last post, SECO actually has the power to upgrade the energy code without further legislative action. And until July 5th, they are accepting comments on upgrading to the International Residential Code (IRC) 2009 for the residential energy code of Texas.
Now as I understand it, there are influential forces that would prefer that the energy code be weak AND that any upgrade be delayed until at least the next geological era. In order to give SECO the power to resist those forces, they need as many letters as possible in favor of a quick upgrade. Letters like the one you will send.
Now USGBC is definitely in favor of a code upgrade, and right away. However, it has come to our attention that the IRC 2009 is less stringent than IECC 2009 for residential construction. (IECC 2009 is the energy code SECO is already considering for commercial buildings-- and for which the comment period has passed, unfortunately). It makes sense that Texas should have just one code, especially since that code is stricter. It also makes sense because $218.7 million dollars in federal stimulus funds to Texas require us to adopt IECC 2009.
I’ve attached to this page a document called BCAP-memo.pdf (scroll to the very bottom to see the attached files). It’s a memo from the Building Codes Assistance Project detailing the differences between IRC and IECC 2009. The important differences are in Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC), cathedral ceiling insulation, and air barrier and insulation tables.
Please write to SECO and ask for the best residential energy code available. I’ve attached a sample memo with text (called IRC-Sample-Comments.doc). Feel free to use this text as a base for your letter-- however, please do add your own comments and perspective. Comments can be emailed to Felix Lopez (felix.lopez at cpa.state.tx.us) or snail mailed to State Energy Conservation Office, Comptroller of Public Accounts, P.O. Box 13528, Austin, TX 78711-3528.
Anyone reading this should be aware that SECO received 3 comments during the comment period on IECC 2009. (We were all busy watching the legislature spin its wheels, and let this important opportunity pass by). Think about that-- only 3 comments on a measure that will make such a huge impact on building energy use in Texas! The lesson from that is that one letter truly does make a difference.
Julie Hendricks
6.24.09 Here's the good news. It turns out that the Texas State Energy Conservation Office has the power, passed in the 2007 legislative session, to upgrade the state commercial and residential energy code. They are required to get an analysis of any new IECC or IRC code from the Texas A&M Energy Systems Lab within 6 months of the release of the code. If the ESL determines the code is more stringent than existing code (which they will), SECO has the power to implement it. They are in this process currently for both IECC 2009 and IRC 2009. So the good news is that the legislature didn’t pass any of the bills related to the building energy code (SB 16, HB 2783), because if they had passed those bills, which had an implementation date of 2012, SECO would have been required to WAIT until 2012 to do what it is empowered to do today. So as fate would have it, the bad news is the same as the good news: the leg didn’t pass much of anything this session.
6.24.09 Now the bad news. Well the legislative session has come and gone and those of us in the green building community don’t have much to cheer about. Read on for the ugly details about all the bills and how each of them met their untimely demise. HB431. I’ll start with this one, because it turned out to be the most successful of all the bills we followed, ultimately turning into an omnibus bill that included pieces of SB 267, HB 3149 and others. It stayed alive until the very last day of the legislative session. This is ironic because initially we were advised that the bill had no future because it mentioned the (apparently blacklisted) word “LEED.” It was authored by Representatives Lucio (D-Brownsville) and Alvarado (D-Houston), who were later joined by Representative Kent (D-Dallas). HB 431 started life as a bill requiring LEED standards for state buildings only. In the House State Affairs committee, it was amended to require “certification under a high performance building standard” (nationally recognized consensus-based process, substantiating documentation, etc; see our original advocacy presentation posted below from March for details) that would be selected by a special advisory committee, instead of requiring LEED. Higher education buildings were added to the bill, requiring a less-well-defined (much weaker) high performance green building standard and requiring that they meet IECC 2009 and a 15% reduction in water use over EPAct 1992 (which is rather low water standard, if you ask me). Finally, they weakened the bill quite a bit by changing the effective date from Sept. 2009 to Sept. 2011. Despite this, we were happy when the bill passed the full House on May 11—118 Yeas, 26 Nays. In the Senate committee, the bill passed on largely unscathed. Then it was read three times and voted on by the full Senate on May 23rd, the last day House committees could record Senate bills-- and that’s when things got exciting. Several bills killed in that process were tacked onto HB 431. These include Watson’s SB 2029 (Energy Conservation Bonds), Van de Putte’s SB 598 (Pilot School Solar Program), Ellis’s SB 1862 (State Purchase of Energy Efficient Appliances) and several others. The bill turned into a repository for every Senators' energy hopes for the session. Even with all the new amendments, it passed without much controversy—27 Yeas, 4 Nays. The Nays were Harris (R-Arlington), Huffman (R-Houston), Ogden (R-Bryan) and Williams (R-Beaumont). Since the Senate added a bunch of stuff to the bill, the bill had to go into conference committee to get differences resolved. (The conference committee members were Hinojosa, Averitt, Williams and Whitmire on the Senate side, and Lucio, Anchia, Keffer and Otto on the House side). What with Anchia being on the conference committee, the bill emerged from committee including Anchia’s original green K-12 schools bill, HB 3149 (as well as all the amendments from the Senate). Unlike HB 3149, however, the addition was without the funding mechanism that went over so poorly in the House committee discussion of the bill (see below 4.9.09) AND made the green building standard voluntary (so it didn’t mean much). The House voted on the conference committee version of HB 431 on May 31st, the second to last day of the session (84 Yeas, 62 Nays). With only hours to go in the session, the Senate had to also vote on the conference committee report in order for the bill to get sent to the Governor’s desk. The Senate never picked it up again. The bill almost certainly would have passed if it had. The Senate spent the last day arguing about reauthorizing TxDOT and other state agencies, and then adjourned without resolving the issue, allowing HB 431 and many other bills to die in the process. HB 516. This was Rep. Strama’s green jobs training bill. Though it seemed very promising, it only succeeded in being passed out of the Technology, Economic Development, and Workforce Committee in the House, and never came up for a full House vote. HB 880. This bill, co-authored by Reps. Strama and Chavez, would have provided an exemption from ad valorem taxation (property taxes) for certain energy efficiency-related improvements to property. It stalled in the House Ways and Means Committee. It’s not clear if it was actually heard on its hearing date—it is not mentioned in the minutes. HB 1391. This bill would have authorized the creation special bond funding districts to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. It passed out of the House Energy Resources Committee, but was never brought to a vote of the full House.
HB 1936. This bill would have allowed municipalities to exempt a portion of the value of a residence homestead from ad valorem taxation (property taxes) if the homestead met certain energy efficiency standards. It passed out of the House Ways and Means Committee, but was never brought to a vote of the full House. HB 2019. Companion bill—identical to SB 127 and SB 267, requiring green building standards for state and public university buildings. This bill didn’t make it out of House State Affairs committee, and was never even given a hearing. HB 431 was the bill they elected to vote out of that same committee, for reasons that remain mysterious to me.
HB 2337. Rep. Villareal authored this bill, which was an amendment to the education code allowing public schools that construct a building using green building standards to be eligible for a greater allotment of school bonds. This was referred to the House Public Education Committee, and never received a hearing. HB 2783. This bill started out as a simple energy code bill, with an upgrade to IRC 2009 and IECC 2009— to take effect right away, just as we would have wanted. It passed out of the House Energy Resources Committee on April 24th, having already been dumbed down to go into effect in 2012. When it was voted on by the full house, the substance of Anchia’s HB 3149 had also been added to it (by proposal of Rep. Villareal) as a voluntary unfunded measure school districts MIGHT consider if they felt like it. It then passed out of the Senate Natural Resources Committee in largely the same form, but never made it to a vote of the full Senate. HB 3149. Ironically, this bill never made it out of the House Energy Resources Committee. When he met with the USGBC statewide Advocacy committee last December, Anchia did tell us he was bound and determined to get his K-12 green school bill passed—I guess that’s why we saw it appear in 3 different bills during the course of the session!
SB 16. (See info at 4.14.09 below) After passing out of the Senate, the bill was delayed in the House Environmental Regulation committee, but was finally placed on the House Major State calendar on May 23. Rep. Ferrar had tried to place an amendment on it changing the implementation date of the state energy code upgrade back to Jan 2010, but this did not succeed. As a result, many of us were hoping it wouldn’t pass. The bill got a tremendous amount of industry push back, and did fail to pass in time for the May 26th deadline. SB 127 and 267. Companion bill—identical to HB 3019 and SB 267, requiring green building standards for state and public university buildings. Both stalled in Senate Natural Resources Committee. This just goes to show what I know about Texas politics, as I had predicted in March that SB 267 would be the green building standards bill to go forward, and that HB 431 would die.
SB 670. Rep. Shapleigh’s green building standards bill, which mentioned LEED by name. Stalled in Senate Natural Resources Committee. SB 701. Sen. Ellis’s green schools bill with a funding mechanism. Stalled in Senate Education Committee. Never even came up for a hearing.
Julie Hendricks
4.24.09 USGBC Texas State Legislative Day Next, thanks to Lora-Marie Bernard and Kristy Gillentine for all their great logistical support for our Houston delegation. Finally, and most importantly, thanks to our terrific advocates who are volunteering for a very, very long day for a good cause: Andy Bergman, Chris Conner, Michael Fjetland, Carrie Gonzales, Alvaro Griseles, Chris Jones, David MacLean, Tim Murray, Ralph Parrott, Ruju Rathod, Keith Reihl, Sandra Strachan, Amanda Tullos, Tania-Rene Valdespino, and Kris Zimmerman.
. After it's third reading in the Senate today, SB 16 was passed with amendments as added in the Natural Resources committee. One of the amendments is unfortunately an implementation date for the energy code upgrade (to IECC 2009 for commercial and IRC 2009 for residential) of 1/1/2012, which we strongly disagree with.Quoting from the Senate journal, “The motion prevailed by the following vote:Yeas 22, Nays 8.Yeas: Averitt, Carona, Davis, Deuell, Duncan, Ellis, Eltife, Gallegos, Hegar,Hinojosa, Lucio, Ogden, Seliger, Shapleigh, Uresti , Van de Putte, Watson,Wentworth, West, Whitmire, Williams, Zaffirini.Nays: Estes, Fraser, Huffman, Jackson, Nelson, Nichols, Patrick, Shapiro.”The bill will likely go to the House Environmental Regulation Committee next. This committee has three Houston area members: Jessica Farrar-D, District 148 (Houston Heights), Ken Legler-R, District 144 (Pasadena), and Randy Weber-R, District 29 (Pearland). , please give them a call and tell them you support SB 16, but only if the building energy code section goes into effect on by 1/1/2010.Farrar: (512) 463-0620Legler: (512) 463-0460Weber: (512) 463-0707Today, , filed by Rafael Anchia (D-Dallas), came up for a hearing in the House Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy subcommittee of the House Energy Resources Committee. I’m happy to report that we had four USGBC members there to testify: Houston’s own Dave McNamara (Director of Sustainability with Faithful and Gould) and Michael Fjetland (with Armour Glass), and Michele Van Hyfte and Dason Whitsett with the USGBC Central Texas Balcones Chapter. The hearing for the bill was postponed until afternoon (though scheduled for 8 am), so many thanks to them for staying around until their testimony could be heard! As you may remember, HB 3149 has three parts: 1) it requires high performance standards for public schools, 2) it rescinds the requirement for a goal of 5% per year increased energy savings by school districts, and 3) it would raise the guaranteed yield level in the IFA and EDA programs from $35 to $50.Our testifiers report that 20 or so people signed in to testify in favor, and one from the Texas Association of School Boards signed in as neutral. By the time testimony was finally heard, only 6 people were left, and all spoke in favor.During testimony, the committee and at least one witness expressed concern with the proposed funding mechanism for the bill. At the close of the hearing, Anchia announced that he was going to revise the bill to NOT to require high performance standards, and to try to fund the bill with federal stimulus dollars, rather than the original funding mechanism he proposed. We’re speculating this means using stimulus monies as an incentive for schools to utilize a high performance standard, but we don’t know at this point. I’ll write more when we do know.One piece of good news for the green building community-- came up for a hearing yesterday in the Senate Government Organization Committee. The bill calls for the following for state buildings and agencies: Energy Star equipment and appliances, alternative fuel lawn equipment, and low-VOC paint and carpets. Michele Van Hyfte with the Balcones USGBC committee was there to testify. She reports that the Senators decided against hearing testimony, after deciding amongst themselves that the bill is a win-win proposition. The bill was unanimously voted out of committee with no amendments.I'd like to invite you to give the Leg a piece of your mind on April 27! On that day, USGBC members from across the state will meet with their representatives in Austin and advocate for green building legislation. Don't worry-- we'll provide you with lunch, training and talking points before your meeting. That evening at 7 pm, we hope to see all of you at a reception with the founder of the Texas Green Schools caucus, Raphael Anchia, D- Dallas. All USGBC members are invited. Contact me for details. (julieh at kirksey.com)The GHP Board of Directors voted in favor of a resolution supporting statewide building energy efficiency performance standards (IECC 2009) as proposed in SB 16 on Wednesday, 4/1. I've attached the resolution at the bottom of this page. In the presentation that the Advocacy Committee and I gave on March 25, I promised to post all the bills we presented, and keep the USGBC membership apprised of how they are doing. (That was certainly dumb!) Everyone reading this should know that just about anything you want to know about the 81st legislative session is located on the website. If you follow the links below, you can find each bill’s current status, and read the text of the bill. I've also attached a PDF of our presentation at the bottom of this page.- Author: Senator Averitt, R-Waco. Relating to the enhancement of air quality, including the capture of carbon dioxide and development of a greenhouse gas registry, the development of emissions reduction technologies, and the improvement of energy efficiency in buildings, vehicles, and appliances; providing civil penalties. - Authors: Senators Hinojosa (D-McAllen), Davis (D-Ft. Worth), Ellis (D- Houston). Requiring certification under a green building standard for state buildings and public university buildings. Author: Senator Shapleigh, D-El Paso. Requires LEED certification for state buildings, K-12 public school facilities, and higher education facilities. Authors: Representatives Lucio (D-Brownsville) and Alvarado (D-Houston). This bill requires LEED certification for state buildings only.- Authors: Representatives Strama (D-Austin) and Anchia (D-Dallas). This bill creates a green job skills training progam.- Author: Representatives Strama (D-Austin) and Chavez (D- El Paso). Relating to the exemption from ad valorem taxation of certain energy efficiency-related improvements to real or personal property. - Author: Representative Strama, D- Austin. Allows for the creation and authority of certain special “Emissions Management Districts,” which may issue bonds, to promote the use of renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements.Author: Representative Villarreal (D-San Antonio). Relating to the authority of the governing body of a municipality to exempt a portion of the value of a residence homestead from ad valorem taxation if the homestead meets certain energy efficiency standards.- Author: Elllis, D- Houston. This bill would increase by 10% the guaranteed yield for bonds in the IFA and EDA programs that are used for school district construction projects, if they achieve certification under a nationally recognized high-performance building standard. The State Energy Conservation Office would be responsible for determining the standard.. Author: Anchia, D-Dallas. This bill does three things: . Author: Representative Villarreal, D- San Antonio. This bill would allow for a higher guaranteed yield of $37 in lieu of $35 for eligible school district bonds in the EDA program if the bond was used for a building that achieves high performance building standards as determined by the State Energy Conservation Office. . After it's third reading in the Senate today, SB 16 was passed with amendments as added in the Natural Resources committee. One of the amendments is unfortunately an implementation date for the energy code upgrade (to IECC 2009 for commercial and IRC 2009 for residential) of 1/1/2012, which we strongly disagree with.Quoting from the Senate journal, “The motion prevailed by the following vote:Yeas 22, Nays 8.Yeas: Averitt, Carona, Davis, Deuell, Duncan, Ellis, Eltife, Gallegos, Hegar,Hinojosa, Lucio, Ogden, Seliger, Shapleigh, Uresti , Van de Putte, Watson,Wentworth, West, Whitmire, Williams, Zaffirini.Nays: Estes, Fraser, Huffman, Jackson, Nelson, Nichols, Patrick, Shapiro.”The bill will likely go to the House Environmental Regulation Committee next. This committee has three Houston area members: Jessica Farrar-D, District 148 (Houston Heights), Ken Legler-R, District 144 (Pasadena), and Randy Weber-R, District 29 (Pearland). , please give them a call and tell them you support SB 16, but only if the building energy code section goes into effect on by 1/1/2010.Farrar: (512) 463-0620Legler: (512) 463-0460Weber: (512) 463-0707Today, , filed by Rafael Anchia (D-Dallas), came up for a hearing in the House Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy subcommittee of the House Energy Resources Committee. I’m happy to report that we had four USGBC members there to testify: Houston’s own Dave McNamara (Director of Sustainability with Faithful and Gould) and Michael Fjetland (with Armour Glass), and Michele Van Hyfte and Dason Whitsett with the USGBC Central Texas Balcones Chapter. The hearing for the bill was postponed until afternoon (though scheduled for 8 am), so many thanks to them for staying around until their testimony could be heard! As you may remember, HB 3149 has three parts: 1) it requires high performance standards for public schools, 2) it rescinds the requirement for a goal of 5% per year increased energy savings by school districts, and 3) it would raise the guaranteed yield level in the IFA and EDA programs from $35 to $50.Our testifiers report that 20 or so people signed in to testify in favor, and one from the Texas Association of School Boards signed in as neutral. By the time testimony was finally heard, only 6 people were left, and all spoke in favor.During testimony, the committee and at least one witness expressed concern with the proposed funding mechanism for the bill. At the close of the hearing, Anchia announced that he was going to revise the bill to NOT to require high performance standards, and to try to fund the bill with federal stimulus dollars, rather than the original funding mechanism he proposed. We’re speculating this means using stimulus monies as an incentive for schools to utilize a high performance standard, but we don’t know at this point. I’ll write more when we do know.One piece of good news for the green building community-- came up for a hearing yesterday in the Senate Government Organization Committee. The bill calls for the following for state buildings and agencies: Energy Star equipment and appliances, alternative fuel lawn equipment, and low-VOC paint and carpets. Michele Van Hyfte with the Balcones USGBC committee was there to testify. She reports that the Senators decided against hearing testimony, after deciding amongst themselves that the bill is a win-win proposition. The bill was unanimously voted out of committee with no amendments.I'd like to invite you to give the Leg a piece of your mind on April 27! On that day, USGBC members from across the state will meet with their representatives in Austin and advocate for green building legislation. Don't worry-- we'll provide you with lunch, training and talking points before your meeting. That evening at 7 pm, we hope to see all of you at a reception with the founder of the Texas Green Schools caucus, Raphael Anchia, D- Dallas. All USGBC members are invited. Contact me for details. (julieh at kirksey.com)The GHP Board of Directors voted in favor of a resolution supporting statewide building energy efficiency performance standards (IECC 2009) as proposed in SB 16 on Wednesday, 4/1. I've attached the resolution at the bottom of this page. In the presentation that the Advocacy Committee and I gave on March 25, I promised to post all the bills we presented, and keep the USGBC membership apprised of how they are doing. (That was certainly dumb!) Everyone reading this should know that just about anything you want to know about the 81st legislative session is located on the website. If you follow the links below, you can find each bill’s current status, and read the text of the bill. I've also attached a PDF of our presentation at the bottom of this page.- Author: Senator Averitt, R-Waco. Relating to the enhancement of air quality, including the capture of carbon dioxide and development of a greenhouse gas registry, the development of emissions reduction technologies, and the improvement of energy efficiency in buildings, vehicles, and appliances; providing civil penalties. - Authors: Senators Hinojosa (D-McAllen), Davis (D-Ft. Worth), Ellis (D- Houston). Requiring certification under a green building standard for state buildings and public university buildings. Author: Senator Shapleigh, D-El Paso. Requires LEED certification for state buildings, K-12 public school facilities, and higher education facilities. Authors: Representatives Lucio (D-Brownsville) and Alvarado (D-Houston). This bill requires LEED certification for state buildings only.- Authors: Representatives Strama (D-Austin) and Anchia (D-Dallas). This bill creates a green job skills training progam.- Author: Representatives Strama (D-Austin) and Chavez (D- El Paso). Relating to the exemption from ad valorem taxation of certain energy efficiency-related improvements to real or personal property. - Author: Representative Strama, D- Austin. Allows for the creation and authority of certain special “Emissions Management Districts,” which may issue bonds, to promote the use of renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements.Author: Representative Villarreal (D-San Antonio). Relating to the authority of the governing body of a municipality to exempt a portion of the value of a residence homestead from ad valorem taxation if the homestead meets certain energy efficiency standards.- Author: Elllis, D- Houston. This bill would increase by 10% the guaranteed yield for bonds in the IFA and EDA programs that are used for school district construction projects, if they achieve certification under a nationally recognized high-performance building standard. The State Energy Conservation Office would be responsible for determining the standard.. Author: Anchia, D-Dallas. This bill does three things: . Author: Representative Villarreal, D- San Antonio. This bill would allow for a higher guaranteed yield of $37 in lieu of $35 for eligible school district bonds in the EDA program if the bond was used for a building that achieves high performance building standards as determined by the State Energy Conservation Office. . After it's third reading in the Senate today, SB 16 was passed with amendments as added in the Natural Resources committee. One of the amendments is unfortunately an implementation date for the energy code upgrade (to IECC 2009 for commercial and IRC 2009 for residential) of 1/1/2012, which we strongly disagree with.Quoting from the Senate journal, “The motion prevailed by the following vote:Yeas 22, Nays 8.Yeas: Averitt, Carona, Davis, Deuell, Duncan, Ellis, Eltife, Gallegos, Hegar,Hinojosa, Lucio, Ogden, Seliger, Shapleigh, Uresti , Van de Putte, Watson,Wentworth, West, Whitmire, Williams, Zaffirini.Nays: Estes, Fraser, Huffman, Jackson, Nelson, Nichols, Patrick, Shapiro.”The bill will likely go to the House Environmental Regulation Committee next. This committee has three Houston area members: Jessica Farrar-D, District 148 (Houston Heights), Ken Legler-R, District 144 (Pasadena), and Randy Weber-R, District 29 (Pearland). , please give them a call and tell them you support SB 16, but only if the building energy code section goes into effect on by 1/1/2010.Farrar: (512) 463-0620Legler: (512) 463-0460Weber: (512) 463-0707Today, , filed by Rafael Anchia (D-Dallas), came up for a hearing in the House Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy subcommittee of the House Energy Resources Committee. I’m happy to report that we had four USGBC members there to testify: Houston’s own Dave McNamara (Director of Sustainability with Faithful and Gould) and Michael Fjetland (with Armour Glass), and Michele Van Hyfte and Dason Whitsett with the USGBC Central Texas Balcones Chapter. The hearing for the bill was postponed until afternoon (though scheduled for 8 am), so many thanks to them for staying around until their testimony could be heard! As you may remember, HB 3149 has three parts: 1) it requires high performance standards for public schools, 2) it rescinds the requirement for a goal of 5% per year increased energy savings by school districts, and 3) it would raise the guaranteed yield level in the IFA and EDA programs from $35 to $50.Our testifiers report that 20 or so people signed in to testify in favor, and one from the Texas Association of School Boards signed in as neutral. By the time testimony was finally heard, only 6 people were left, and all spoke in favor.During testimony, the committee and at least one witness expressed concern with the proposed funding mechanism for the bill. At the close of the hearing, Anchia announced that he was going to revise the bill to NOT to require high performance standards, and to try to fund the bill with federal stimulus dollars, rather than the original funding mechanism he proposed. We’re speculating this means using stimulus monies as an incentive for schools to utilize a high performance standard, but we don’t know at this point. I’ll write more when we do know.One piece of good news for the green building community-- came up for a hearing yesterday in the Senate Government Organization Committee. The bill calls for the following for state buildings and agencies: Energy Star equipment and appliances, alternative fuel lawn equipment, and low-VOC paint and carpets. Michele Van Hyfte with the Balcones USGBC committee was there to testify. She reports that the Senators decided against hearing testimony, after deciding amongst themselves that the bill is a win-win proposition. The bill was unanimously voted out of committee with no amendments.I'd like to invite you to give the Leg a piece of your mind on April 27! On that day, USGBC members from across the state will meet with their representatives in Austin and advocate for green building legislation. Don't worry-- we'll provide you with lunch, training and talking points before your meeting. That evening at 7 pm, we hope to see all of you at a reception with the founder of the Texas Green Schools caucus, Raphael Anchia, D- Dallas. All USGBC members are invited. Contact me for details. (julieh at kirksey.com)The GHP Board of Directors voted in favor of a resolution supporting statewide building energy efficiency performance standards (IECC 2009) as proposed in SB 16 on Wednesday, 4/1. I've attached the resolution at the bottom of this page. In the presentation that the Advocacy Committee and I gave on March 25, I promised to post all the bills we presented, and keep the USGBC membership apprised of how they are doing. (That was certainly dumb!) Everyone reading this should know that just about anything you want to know about the 81st legislative session is located on the website. If you follow the links below, you can find each bill’s current status, and read the text of the bill. I've also attached a PDF of our presentation at the bottom of this page.- Author: Senator Averitt, R-Waco. Relating to the enhancement of air quality, including the capture of carbon dioxide and development of a greenhouse gas registry, the development of emissions reduction technologies, and the improvement of energy efficiency in buildings, vehicles, and appliances; providing civil penalties. - Authors: Senators Hinojosa (D-McAllen), Davis (D-Ft. Worth), Ellis (D- Houston). Requiring certification under a green building standard for state buildings and public university buildings. Author: Senator Shapleigh, D-El Paso. Requires LEED certification for state buildings, K-12 public school facilities, and higher education facilities. Authors: Representatives Lucio (D-Brownsville) and Alvarado (D-Houston). This bill requires LEED certification for state buildings only.- Authors: Representatives Strama (D-Austin) and Anchia (D-Dallas). This bill creates a green job skills training progam.- Author: Representatives Strama (D-Austin) and Chavez (D- El Paso). Relating to the exemption from ad valorem taxation of certain energy efficiency-related improvements to real or personal property. - Author: Representative Strama, D- Austin. Allows for the creation and authority of certain special “Emissions Management Districts,” which may issue bonds, to promote the use of renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements.Author: Representative Villarreal (D-San Antonio). Relating to the authority of the governing body of a municipality to exempt a portion of the value of a residence homestead from ad valorem taxation if the homestead meets certain energy efficiency standards.- Author: Elllis, D- Houston. This bill would increase by 10% the guaranteed yield for bonds in the IFA and EDA programs that are used for school district construction projects, if they achieve certification under a nationally recognized high-performance building standard. The State Energy Conservation Office would be responsible for determining the standard.. Author: Anchia, D-Dallas. This bill does three things: . Author: Representative Villarreal, D- San Antonio. This bill would allow for a higher guaranteed yield of $37 in lieu of $35 for eligible school district bonds in the EDA program if the bond was used for a building that achieves high performance building standards as determined by the State Energy Conservation Office. . After it's third reading in the Senate today, SB 16 was passed with amendments as added in the Natural Resources committee. One of the amendments is unfortunately an implementation date for the energy code upgrade (to IECC 2009 for commercial and IRC 2009 for residential) of 1/1/2012, which we strongly disagree with.Quoting from the Senate journal, “The motion prevailed by the following vote:Yeas 22, Nays 8.Yeas: Averitt, Carona, Davis, Deuell, Duncan, Ellis, Eltife, Gallegos, Hegar,Hinojosa, Lucio, Ogden, Seliger, Shapleigh, Uresti , Van de Putte, Watson,Wentworth, West, Whitmire, Williams, Zaffirini.Nays: Estes, Fraser, Huffman, Jackson, Nelson, Nichols, Patrick, Shapiro.”The bill will likely go to the House Environmental Regulation Committee next. This committee has three Houston area members: Jessica Farrar-D, District 148 (Houston Heights), Ken Legler-R, District 144 (Pasadena), and Randy Weber-R, District 29 (Pearland). , please give them a call and tell them you support SB 16, but only if the building energy code section goes into effect on by 1/1/2010.Farrar: (512) 463-0620Legler: (512) 463-0460Weber: (512) 463-0707Today, , filed by Rafael Anchia (D-Dallas), came up for a hearing in the House Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy subcommittee of the House Energy Resources Committee. I’m happy to report that we had four USGBC members there to testify: Houston’s own Dave McNamara (Director of Sustainability with Faithful and Gould) and Michael Fjetland (with Armour Glass), and Michele Van Hyfte and Dason Whitsett with the USGBC Central Texas Balcones Chapter. The hearing for the bill was postponed until afternoon (though scheduled for 8 am), so many thanks to them for staying around until their testimony could be heard! As you may remember, HB 3149 has three parts: 1) it requires high performance standards for public schools, 2) it rescinds the requirement for a goal of 5% per year increased energy savings by school districts, and 3) it would raise the guaranteed yield level in the IFA and EDA programs from $35 to $50.Our testifiers report that 20 or so people signed in to testify in favor, and one from the Texas Association of School Boards signed in as neutral. By the time testimony was finally heard, only 6 people were left, and all spoke in favor.During testimony, the committee and at least one witness expressed concern with the proposed funding mechanism for the bill. At the close of the hearing, Anchia announced that he was going to revise the bill to NOT to require high performance standards, and to try to fund the bill with federal stimulus dollars, rather than the original funding mechanism he proposed. We’re speculating this means using stimulus monies as an incentive for schools to utilize a high performance standard, but we don’t know at this point. I’ll write more when we do know.One piece of good news for the green building community-- came up for a hearing yesterday in the Senate Government Organization Committee. The bill calls for the following for state buildings and agencies: Energy Star equipment and appliances, alternative fuel lawn equipment, and low-VOC paint and carpets. Michele Van Hyfte with the Balcones USGBC committee was there to testify. She reports that the Senators decided against hearing testimony, after deciding amongst themselves that the bill is a win-win proposition. The bill was unanimously voted out of committee with no amendments.I'd like to invite you to give the Leg a piece of your mind on April 27! On that day, USGBC members from across the state will meet with their representatives in Austin and advocate for green building legislation. Don't worry-- we'll provide you with lunch, training and talking points before your meeting. That evening at 7 pm, we hope to see all of you at a reception with the founder of the Texas Green Schools caucus, Raphael Anchia, D- Dallas. All USGBC members are invited. Contact me for details. (julieh at kirksey.com)The GHP Board of Directors voted in favor of a resolution supporting statewide building energy efficiency performance standards (IECC 2009) as proposed in SB 16 on Wednesday, 4/1. I've attached the resolution at the bottom of this page. In the presentation that the Advocacy Committee and I gave on March 25, I promised to post all the bills we presented, and keep the USGBC membership apprised of how they are doing. (That was certainly dumb!) Everyone reading this should know that just about anything you want to know about the 81st legislative session is located on the website. If you follow the links below, you can find each bill’s current status, and read the text of the bill. I've also attached a PDF of our presentation at the bottom of this page.- Author: Senator Averitt, R-Waco. Relating to the enhancement of air quality, including the capture of carbon dioxide and development of a greenhouse gas registry, the development of emissions reduction technologies, and the improvement of energy efficiency in buildings, vehicles, and appliances; providing civil penalties. - Authors: Senators Hinojosa (D-McAllen), Davis (D-Ft. Worth), Ellis (D- Houston). Requiring certification under a green building standard for state buildings and public university buildings. Author: Senator Shapleigh, D-El Paso. Requires LEED certification for state buildings, K-12 public school facilities, and higher education facilities. Authors: Representatives Lucio (D-Brownsville) and Alvarado (D-Houston). This bill requires LEED certification for state buildings only.- Authors: Representatives Strama (D-Austin) and Anchia (D-Dallas). This bill creates a green job skills training progam.- Author: Representatives Strama (D-Austin) and Chavez (D- El Paso). Relating to the exemption from ad valorem taxation of certain energy efficiency-related improvements to real or personal property. - Author: Representative Strama, D- Austin. Allows for the creation and authority of certain special “Emissions Management Districts,” which may issue bonds, to promote the use of renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements.Author: Representative Villarreal (D-San Antonio). Relating to the authority of the governing body of a municipality to exempt a portion of the value of a residence homestead from ad valorem taxation if the homestead meets certain energy efficiency standards.- Author: Elllis, D- Houston. This bill would increase by 10% the guaranteed yield for bonds in the IFA and EDA programs that are used for school district construction projects, if they achieve certification under a nationally recognized high-performance building standard. The State Energy Conservation Office would be responsible for determining the standard.. Author: Anchia, D-Dallas. This bill does three things: . Author: Representative Villarreal, D- San Antonio. This bill would allow for a higher guaranteed yield of $37 in lieu of $35 for eligible school district bonds in the EDA program if the bond was used for a building that achieves high performance building standards as determined by the State Energy Conservation Office. . After it's third reading in the Senate today, SB 16 was passed with amendments as added in the Natural Resources committee. One of the amendments is unfortunately an implementation date for the energy code upgrade (to IECC 2009 for commercial and IRC 2009 for residential) of 1/1/2012, which we strongly disagree with.Quoting from the Senate journal, “The motion prevailed by the following vote:Yeas 22, Nays 8.Yeas: Averitt, Carona, Davis, Deuell, Duncan, Ellis, Eltife, Gallegos, Hegar,Hinojosa, Lucio, Ogden, Seliger, Shapleigh, Uresti , Van de Putte, Watson,Wentworth, West, Whitmire, Williams, Zaffirini.Nays: Estes, Fraser, Huffman, Jackson, Nelson, Nichols, Patrick, Shapiro.”The bill will likely go to the House Environmental Regulation Committee next. This committee has three Houston area members: Jessica Farrar-D, District 148 (Houston Heights), Ken Legler-R, District 144 (Pasadena), and Randy Weber-R, District 29 (Pearland). , please give them a call and tell them you support SB 16, but only if the building energy code section goes into effect on by 1/1/2010.Farrar: (512) 463-0620Legler: (512) 463-0460Weber: (512) 463-0707Today, , filed by Rafael Anchia (D-Dallas), came up for a hearing in the House Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy subcommittee of the House Energy Resources Committee. I’m happy to report that we had four USGBC members there to testify: Houston’s own Dave McNamara (Director of Sustainability with Faithful and Gould) and Michael Fjetland (with Armour Glass), and Michele Van Hyfte and Dason Whitsett with the USGBC Central Texas Balcones Chapter. The hearing for the bill was postponed until afternoon (though scheduled for 8 am), so many thanks to them for staying around until their testimony could be heard! As you may remember, HB 3149 has three parts: 1) it requires high performance standards for public schools, 2) it rescinds the requirement for a goal of 5% per year increased energy savings by school districts, and 3) it would raise the guaranteed yield level in the IFA and EDA programs from $35 to $50.Our testifiers report that 20 or so people signed in to testify in favor, and one from the Texas Association of School Boards signed in as neutral. By the time testimony was finally heard, only 6 people were left, and all spoke in favor.During testimony, the committee and at least one witness expressed concern with the proposed funding mechanism for the bill. At the close of the hearing, Anchia announced that he was going to revise the bill to NOT to require high performance standards, and to try to fund the bill with federal stimulus dollars, rather than the original funding mechanism he proposed. We’re speculating this means using stimulus monies as an incentive for schools to utilize a high performance standard, but we don’t know at this point. I’ll write more when we do know.One piece of good news for the green building community-- came up for a hearing yesterday in the Senate Government Organization Committee. The bill calls for the following for state buildings and agencies: Energy Star equipment and appliances, alternative fuel lawn equipment, and low-VOC paint and carpets. Michele Van Hyfte with the Balcones USGBC committee was there to testify. She reports that the Senators decided against hearing testimony, after deciding amongst themselves that the bill is a win-win proposition. The bill was unanimously voted out of committee with no amendments.I'd like to invite you to give the Leg a piece of your mind on April 27! On that day, USGBC members from across the state will meet with their representatives in Austin and advocate for green building legislation. Don't worry-- we'll provide you with lunch, training and talking points before your meeting. That evening at 7 pm, we hope to see all of you at a reception with the founder of the Texas Green Schools caucus, Raphael Anchia, D- Dallas. All USGBC members are invited. Contact me for details. (julieh at kirksey.com)The GHP Board of Directors voted in favor of a resolution supporting statewide building energy efficiency performance standards (IECC 2009) as proposed in SB 16 on Wednesday, 4/1. I've attached the resolution at the bottom of this page. In the presentation that the Advocacy Committee and I gave on March 25, I promised to post all the bills we presented, and keep the USGBC membership apprised of how they are doing. (That was certainly dumb!) Everyone reading this should know that just about anything you want to know about the 81st legislative session is located on the website. If you follow the links below, you can find each bill’s current status, and read the text of the bill. I've also attached a PDF of our presentation at the bottom of this page.- Author: Senator Averitt, R-Waco. Relating to the enhancement of air quality, including the capture of carbon dioxide and development of a greenhouse gas registry, the development of emissions reduction technologies, and the improvement of energy efficiency in buildings, vehicles, and appliances; providing civil penalties. - Authors: Senators Hinojosa (D-McAllen), Davis (D-Ft. Worth), Ellis (D- Houston). Requiring certification under a green building standard for state buildings and public university buildings. Author: Senator Shapleigh, D-El Paso. Requires LEED certification for state buildings, K-12 public school facilities, and higher education facilities. Authors: Representatives Lucio (D-Brownsville) and Alvarado (D-Houston). This bill requires LEED certification for state buildings only.- Authors: Representatives Strama (D-Austin) and Anchia (D-Dallas). This bill creates a green job skills training progam.- Author: Representatives Strama (D-Austin) and Chavez (D- El Paso). Relating to the exemption from ad valorem taxation of certain energy efficiency-related improvements to real or personal property. - Author: Representative Strama, D- Austin. Allows for the creation and authority of certain special “Emissions Management Districts,” which may issue bonds, to promote the use of renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements.Author: Representative Villarreal (D-San Antonio). Relating to the authority of the governing body of a municipality to exempt a portion of the value of a residence homestead from ad valorem taxation if the homestead meets certain energy efficiency standards.- Author: Elllis, D- Houston. This bill would increase by 10% the guaranteed yield for bonds in the IFA and EDA programs that are used for school district construction projects, if they achieve certification under a nationally recognized high-performance building standard. The State Energy Conservation Office would be responsible for determining the standard.. Author: Anchia, D-Dallas. This bill does three things: . Author: Representative Villarreal, D- San Antonio. This bill would allow for a higher guaranteed yield of $37 in lieu of $35 for eligible school district bonds in the EDA program if the bond was used for a building that achieves high performance building standards as determined by the State Energy Conservation Office. . After it's third reading in the Senate today, SB 16 was passed with amendments as added in the Natural Resources committee. One of the amendments is unfortunately an implementation date for the energy code upgrade (to IECC 2009 for commercial and IRC 2009 for residential) of 1/1/2012, which we strongly disagree with.Quoting from the Senate journal, “The motion prevailed by the following vote:Yeas 22, Nays 8.Yeas: Averitt, Carona, Davis, Deuell, Duncan, Ellis, Eltife, Gallegos, Hegar,Hinojosa, Lucio, Ogden, Seliger, Shapleigh, Uresti , Van de Putte, Watson,Wentworth, West, Whitmire, Williams, Zaffirini.Nays: Estes, Fraser, Huffman, Jackson, Nelson, Nichols, Patrick, Shapiro.”The bill will likely go to the House Environmental Regulation Committee next. This committee has three Houston area members: Jessica Farrar-D, District 148 (Houston Heights), Ken Legler-R, District 144 (Pasadena), and Randy Weber-R, District 29 (Pearland). , please give them a call and tell them you support SB 16, but only if the building energy code section goes into effect on by 1/1/2010.Farrar: (512) 463-0620Legler: (512) 463-0460Weber: (512) 463-0707Today, , filed by Rafael Anchia (D-Dallas), came up for a hearing in the House Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy subcommittee of the House Energy Resources Committee. I’m happy to report that we had four USGBC members there to testify: Houston’s own Dave McNamara (Director of Sustainability with Faithful and Gould) and Michael Fjetland (with Armour Glass), and Michele Van Hyfte and Dason Whitsett with the USGBC Central Texas Balcones Chapter. The hearing for the bill was postponed until afternoon (though scheduled for 8 am), so many thanks to them for staying around until their testimony could be heard! As you may remember, HB 3149 has three parts: 1) it requires high performance standards for public schools, 2) it rescinds the requirement for a goal of 5% per year increased energy savings by school districts, and 3) it would raise the guaranteed yield level in the IFA and EDA programs from $35 to $50.Our testifiers report that 20 or so people signed in to testify in favor, and one from the Texas Association of School Boards signed in as neutral. By the time testimony was finally heard, only 6 people were left, and all spoke in favor.During testimony, the committee and at least one witness expressed concern with the proposed funding mechanism for the bill. At the close of the hearing, Anchia announced that he was going to revise the bill to NOT to require high performance standards, and to try to fund the bill with federal stimulus dollars, rather than the original funding mechanism he proposed. We’re speculating this means using stimulus monies as an incentive for schools to utilize a high performance standard, but we don’t know at this point. I’ll write more when we do know.One piece of good news for the green building community-- came up for a hearing yesterday in the Senate Government Organization Committee. The bill calls for the following for state buildings and agencies: Energy Star equipment and appliances, alternative fuel lawn equipment, and low-VOC paint and carpets. Michele Van Hyfte with the Balcones USGBC committee was there to testify. She reports that the Senators decided against hearing testimony, after deciding amongst themselves that the bill is a win-win proposition. The bill was unanimously voted out of committee with no amendments.I'd like to invite you to give the Leg a piece of your mind on April 27! On that day, USGBC members from across the state will meet with their representatives in Austin and advocate for green building legislation. Don't worry-- we'll provide you with lunch, training and talking points before your meeting. That evening at 7 pm, we hope to see all of you at a reception with the founder of the Texas Green Schools caucus, Raphael Anchia, D- Dallas. All USGBC members are invited. Contact me for details. (julieh at kirksey.com)The GHP Board of Directors voted in favor of a resolution supporting statewide building energy efficiency performance standards (IECC 2009) as proposed in SB 16 on Wednesday, 4/1. I've attached the resolution at the bottom of this page. In the presentation that the Advocacy Committee and I gave on March 25, I promised to post all the bills we presented, and keep the USGBC membership apprised of how they are doing. (That was certainly dumb!) Everyone reading this should know that just about anything you want to know about the 81st legislative session is located on the website. If you follow the links below, you can find each bill’s current status, and read the text of the bill. I've also attached a PDF of our presentation at the bottom of this page.- Author: Senator Averitt, R-Waco. Relating to the enhancement of air quality, including the capture of carbon dioxide and development of a greenhouse gas registry, the development of emissions reduction technologies, and the improvement of energy efficiency in buildings, vehicles, and appliances; providing civil penalties. - Authors: Senators Hinojosa (D-McAllen), Davis (D-Ft. Worth), Ellis (D- Houston). Requiring certification under a green building standard for state buildings and public university buildings. Author: Senator Shapleigh, D-El Paso. Requires LEED certification for state buildings, K-12 public school facilities, and higher education facilities. Authors: Representatives Lucio (D-Brownsville) and Alvarado (D-Houston). This bill requires LEED certification for state buildings only.- Authors: Representatives Strama (D-Austin) and Anchia (D-Dallas). This bill creates a green job skills training progam.- Author: Representatives Strama (D-Austin) and Chavez (D- El Paso). Relating to the exemption from ad valorem taxation of certain energy efficiency-related improvements to real or personal property. - Author: Representative Strama, D- Austin. Allows for the creation and authority of certain special “Emissions Management Districts,” which may issue bonds, to promote the use of renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements.Author: Representative Villarreal (D-San Antonio). Relating to the authority of the governing body of a municipality to exempt a portion of the value of a residence homestead from ad valorem taxation if the homestead meets certain energy efficiency standards.- Author: Elllis, D- Houston. This bill would increase by 10% the guaranteed yield for bonds in the IFA and EDA programs that are used for school district construction projects, if they achieve certification under a nationally recognized high-performance building standard. The State Energy Conservation Office would be responsible for determining the standard.. Author: Anchia, D-Dallas. This bill does three things: . Author: Representative Villarreal, D- San Antonio. This bill would allow for a higher guaranteed yield of $37 in lieu of $35 for eligible school district bonds in the EDA program if the bond was used for a building that achieves high performance building standards as determined by the State Energy Conservation Office. . After it's third reading in the Senate today, SB 16 was passed with amendments as added in the Natural Resources committee. One of the amendments is unfortunately an implementation date for the energy code upgrade (to IECC 2009 for commercial and IRC 2009 for residential) of 1/1/2012, which we strongly disagree with.Quoting from the Senate journal, “The motion prevailed by the following vote:Yeas 22, Nays 8.Yeas: Averitt, Carona, Davis, Deuell, Duncan, Ellis, Eltife, Gallegos, Hegar,Hinojosa, Lucio, Ogden, Seliger, Shapleigh, Uresti , Van de Putte, Watson,Wentworth, West, Whitmire, Williams, Zaffirini.Nays: Estes, Fraser, Huffman, Jackson, Nelson, Nichols, Patrick, Shapiro.”The bill will likely go to the House Environmental Regulation Committee next. This committee has three Houston area members: Jessica Farrar-D, District 148 (Houston Heights), Ken Legler-R, District 144 (Pasadena), and Randy Weber-R, District 29 (Pearland). , please give them a call and tell them you support SB 16, but only if the building energy code section goes into effect on by 1/1/2010.Farrar: (512) 463-0620Legler: (512) 463-0460Weber: (512) 463-0707Today, , filed by Rafael Anchia (D-Dallas), came up for a hearing in the House Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy subcommittee of the House Energy Resources Committee. I’m happy to report that we had four USGBC members there to testify: Houston’s own Dave McNamara (Director of Sustainability with Faithful and Gould) and Michael Fjetland (with Armour Glass), and Michele Van Hyfte and Dason Whitsett with the USGBC Central Texas Balcones Chapter. The hearing for the bill was postponed until afternoon (though scheduled for 8 am), so many thanks to them for staying around until their testimony could be heard! As you may remember, HB 3149 has three parts: 1) it requires high performance standards for public schools, 2) it rescinds the requirement for a goal of 5% per year increased energy savings by school districts, and 3) it would raise the guaranteed yield level in the IFA and EDA programs from $35 to $50.Our testifiers report that 20 or so people signed in to testify in favor, and one from the Texas Association of School Boards signed in as neutral. By the time testimony was finally heard, only 6 people were left, and all spoke in favor.During testimony, the committee and at least one witness expressed concern with the proposed funding mechanism for the bill. At the close of the hearing, Anchia announced that he was going to revise the bill to NOT to require high performance standards, and to try to fund the bill with federal stimulus dollars, rather than the original funding mechanism he proposed. We’re speculating this means using stimulus monies as an incentive for schools to utilize a high performance standard, but we don’t know at this point. I’ll write more when we do know.One piece of good news for the green building community-- came up for a hearing yesterday in the Senate Government Organization Committee. The bill calls for the following for state buildings and agencies: Energy Star equipment and appliances, alternative fuel lawn equipment, and low-VOC paint and carpets. Michele Van Hyfte with the Balcones USGBC committee was there to testify. She reports that the Senators decided against hearing testimony, after deciding amongst themselves that the bill is a win-win proposition. The bill was unanimously voted out of committee with no amendments.I'd like to invite you to give the Leg a piece of your mind on April 27! On that day, USGBC members from across the state will meet with their representatives in Austin and advocate for green building legislation. Don't worry-- we'll provide you with lunch, training and talking points before your meeting. That evening at 7 pm, we hope to see all of you at a reception with the founder of the Texas Green Schools caucus, Raphael Anchia, D- Dallas. All USGBC members are invited. Contact me for details. (julieh at kirksey.com)The GHP Board of Directors voted in favor of a resolution supporting statewide building energy efficiency performance standards (IECC 2009) as proposed in SB 16 on Wednesday, 4/1. I've attached the resolution at the bottom of this page. In the presentation that the Advocacy Committee and I gave on March 25, I promised to post all the bills we presented, and keep the USGBC membership apprised of how they are doing. (That was certainly dumb!) Everyone reading this should know that just about anything you want to know about the 81st legislative session is located on the website. If you follow the links below, you can find each bill’s current status, and read the text of the bill. I've also attached a PDF of our presentation at the bottom of this page.- Author: Senator Averitt, R-Waco. Relating to the enhancement of air quality, including the capture of carbon dioxide and development of a greenhouse gas registry, the development of emissions reduction technologies, and the improvement of energy efficiency in buildings, vehicles, and appliances; providing civil penalties. - Authors: Senators Hinojosa (D-McAllen), Davis (D-Ft. Worth), Ellis (D- Houston). Requiring certification under a green building standard for state buildings and public university buildings. Author: Senator Shapleigh, D-El Paso. Requires LEED certification for state buildings, K-12 public school facilities, and higher education facilities. Authors: Representatives Lucio (D-Brownsville) and Alvarado (D-Houston). This bill requires LEED certification for state buildings only.- Authors: Representatives Strama (D-Austin) and Anchia (D-Dallas). This bill creates a green job skills training progam.- Author: Representatives Strama (D-Austin) and Chavez (D- El Paso). Relating to the exemption from ad valorem taxation of certain energy efficiency-related improvements to real or personal property. - Author: Representative Strama, D- Austin. Allows for the creation and authority of certain special “Emissions Management Districts,” which may issue bonds, to promote the use of renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements.Author: Representative Villarreal (D-San Antonio). Relating to the authority of the governing body of a municipality to exempt a portion of the value of a residence homestead from ad valorem taxation if the homestead meets certain energy efficiency standards.- Author: Elllis, D- Houston. This bill would increase by 10% the guaranteed yield for bonds in the IFA and EDA programs that are used for school district construction projects, if they achieve certification under a nationally recognized high-performance building standard. The State Energy Conservation Office would be responsible for determining the standard.. Author: Anchia, D-Dallas. This bill does three things: . Author: Representative Villarreal, D- San Antonio. This bill would allow for a higher guaranteed yield of $37 in lieu of $35 for eligible school district bonds in the EDA program if the bond was used for a building that achieves high performance building standards as determined by the State Energy Conservation Office. Downloadable Resources
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