June 19, 2007 4:20 PM Central Time

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--An industry-led group is expressing its appreciation to the Texas Governor for signing HB 3693 into law saying that Texas has taken a bold step toward making its energy future bright.

 

HB 3693 by Representative Joe Straus and Senator Troy Fraser is an omnibus bill promoting energy efficiency in the state. It calls for a host of measures intended to encourage and in some cases mandate energy efficiency. The official caption reads: Relating to energy demand, energy load, energy efficiency incentives, energy programs, and energy performance measures.

 

Members of the Texas Combined Heat & Power Initiative (TXCHPI) say that they are especially pleased that the new law includes specific language directing the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) to study the benefits of combined heat and power (CHP) technology. The act requires the PUCT to report to the 81st Legislature on how combined heating and power technology can be implemented in the state to meet energy efficiency goals. Initiative members have encouraged lawmakers and regulators to consider CHP as essential in public policy discussions about Texas’ energy future.

 

CHP recycles energy that is normally wasted as a by-product from electric generation for other beneficial uses such as cooling and heating energy for buildings or process heat. It already provides huge efficiency advantages at some of the largest industrial facilities in the nation, such as Texas petrochemical plants, refineries, and manufacturers.

 

"Small to medium Texas businesses, together with hospitals, schools and government facilities, will benefit from CHP through reduced energy costs, improved reliability, increased competitiveness and reduced air emissions," according to TXCHPI Executive Director Rich Herweck.

 

"HB 3693 is significant to the State Implementation Plan (SIP), especially to Texas cities that are in non-attainment or marginal compliance," Herweck added.  "TXCHPI looks forward to working with Public Utility Commission in the study that can lead to expansion of CHP and clean energy across Texas."

 

"CHP's reliability is not affected by natural or man-made disasters that damage the electric grid," Herweck said. "Texas may realize the energy security that CHP offers our critical infrastructure. There is no other technology that can provide onsite base load energy with efficiency in the 70 to 90 percent range."

 

While the Texas Legislature failed to pass the electric deregulation fifth year revision bill, several other pieces of legislation were also signed into law. These include advanced clean energy technology that allows electric generation from renewables, as well the support for clean coal FutureGen project in Texas. Non-wind renewable electric generation was boosted by revision of the RPS Bill and the biomass feedstock incentives.

 

"Texans have lead in energy production for more than 100 years, and our state can continue with the benefit of the Combined Heat and Power concept," according to Bill Tietze, Vice President, Primenergy.

 

"When married with the production of renewable fuels, CHP offers great opportunity for Texas' fledgling biofuels industry," articulates Tietze a board member Texas Combined Heat & Power Initiative who leads the renewables task force.  "Using CHP and biomass gasification, an ethanol plant could produce electricity, provide a solution for waste disposal and manufacture ethanol or other biofuels with the lowest possible CO2 footprint."

 

The Initiative plans regional conferences to broadcast the CHP advantages across Texas. Meetings will be arranged for existing CHP users, potential adopters and energy policy makers to learn more about the benefits of the technology--economical, environmental and energy security. The group is building alliances with others interested in clean energy, the environment and fortification of our vital public services.

 

The Texas Combined Heat & Power Initiative, an industry-led nonprofit organization, champions CHP as the most effective, efficient, economical and environmental energy option for Texas. For more information visit the Initiative’s website at www.texaschpi.org or contact Rich Herweck at 972-979-4737 or RichHerweck@SiEnergy.com.