energy efficient schools program for buses, solar and batteries

The text as introduced · 442 words

89R9576 CMO-D

By: Hernandez
H.B. No. 2222

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of an energy efficiency program for

school districts and open-enrollment charter schools.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 447.003, Government Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 447.003. LIAISON TO FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. The state

energy conservation office is the state liaison to the federal

government for the implementation and administration of federal

programs relating to state agency energy matters. The office shall

administer state programs established under:

(1) Part D, Title III, Energy Policy and Conservation

Act (42 U.S.C. Section 6321 et seq.), and its subsequent

amendments;

(2) Part G, Title III, Energy Policy and Conservation

Act (42 U.S.C. Section 6371 et seq.), and its subsequent

amendments; [ and ]

(3) the Clean School Bus Program and other energy

conservation, resilience, and reliability programs established by

the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Pub. L. No. 117-58),

and its subsequent amendments; and

(4) other federal energy conservation programs as

assigned to the office by the governor or the legislature.

SECTION 2. Section 2305.031, Government Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 2305.031. OIL OVERCHARGE PROGRAMS. (a) The energy

office shall maintain a revolving loan program for the benefit of :

(1) state agencies, universities, and political

subdivisions ; and

(2) open-enrollment charter schools for the purposes

of Section 2305.040 .

(b) The energy office shall use oil overcharge funds for the

programs and purposes in this subchapter.

SECTION 3. Subchapter D, Chapter 2305, Government Code, is

amended by adding Section 2305.040 to read as follows:

Sec. 2305.040. ENERGY EFFICIENT SCHOOLS PROGRAM. (a) In

this section, "bus" means a bus operated by or contracted for use by

a school district or open-enrollment charter school to transport

schoolchildren.

(b) The energy efficient schools program is a program to

promote, facilitate, and support the use of electric buses and

solar panels by school districts and open-enrollment charter

schools through grants, partnerships, and loans.

(c) The energy office is the supervising agency for the

energy efficient schools program.

(d) A project funded under the energy efficient schools

program may include:

(1) the acquisition of electric buses and charging

stations by school districts and open-enrollment charter schools;

(2) the acquisition of solar panels for school

campuses by school districts and open-enrollment charter schools;

and

(3) electricity storage projects to provide efficient

means of making stored energy available during periods of peak

energy use, including:

(A) projects to store electricity in buses; and

(B) projects to store electricity produced from

solar generation.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.