TYLER—Democratic gubernatorial candidate Hank Gilbert (D-Whitehouse) said this morning that yesterday’s announcement that a large solar panel factory will be built in Arizona instead of Texas should be a wake up call for the state—and one which his energy and environment policy would have helped prevent.

“Texas is bleeding green jobs to other states because we are not doing enough to attract renewable and clean energy industries to Texas,” Gilbert said.

On Monday, Suntech Power (NYSE: STP) announced that it will open a solar panel factory which will bring 75 jobs and manufacture 30 megawatts of solar modules annually in Arizona. Texas was among finalists vying for the new plant. Suntech officials last month indicated that solar incentives would be a key factor in selecting the final site for the plant.

“There were a handful of bills introduced during the 81^st Legislature dealing with allocating funs from the Texas Enterprise Fund and the Texas Emerging Technology Fund to green and clean energy related industries and initiatives. None passed,” he continued. “Republicans in the Texas Legislature did their best to make sure that Governor Perry’s economic development slush funds were not touched so he can keep on using the funds to reward campaign contributors like he did Countrywide,” Gilbert said.

Under Governor Perry’s leadership, the Texas Enterprise Fund awarded failed financial giant Countrywide $20 million in 2004. Countrywide’s political action committee donated $7,000 to Governor Perry’s re-election campaign between 2002 and 2009. Earlier this year, it was reported that Countrywide had failed to meet its job creation goals.

“Texas needs bold, common sense plans to make our state the leader in renewable energy production and the manufacture of renewable technologies. This won’t happen under Governor Perry’s watch. He is far too beholden to the old energy establishment,” Gilbert concluded.

Under “Go Green, Texas,” Gilbert’s energy and environment policy released last week, 50 percent of the current balance of the Texas Emerging Technology Fund and the Texas Enterprise Fund—as well as half of all future revenue appropriated to these funds for the next ten years—would be required to go to attracting green industry and green jobs and the development of green energy and environmentally sound technologies.

“If my plan were in place, Texas would have been much better equipped to compete for this facility,” Gilbert said.

FACT SHEET

Sun Sets On Another Solar Opportunity For Texas

Suntech Power Picks Arizona Over Texas. Officials with Suntech said that solar incentives were key to determining where their new plant would be located:

In an interview late last month, Suntech marketing vice president Wei-Tai Kwok told Recharge the company was “really doing the math on each location with all the variables around trying to suss out which place is ideal from a labour and tax benefits [perspective] and even which states are more likely to have solar incentives in their market and have more solar demand in their market.” [SOURCE: Recharge News]

The factory would have initially employed 75 people and produced 30 megawatts of solar modules annually. [SOURCE: Recharge News]

A Preventable Sunset. Had Governor Perry demonstrated true leadership on renewable energy issues and green job creation, he would have supported any number of bills introduced during the 81^st Session of the Texas Legislature relating to funding for such companies and projects from the Texas Enterprise Fund and/or Texas Emerging Technology Fund, including:

House Bill 977 by State Rep. Lon Burnam (D-Fort Worth)/SB 878 by State Sen. Wendy Davis (D-Fort Worth). This bill would have mandated that at least 20 percent of total grants made from the Texas Enterprise Fund would go to fund the establishment and expansion of businesses providing energy from renewable energy technologies.

House Bill 1652 by State Rep. Solomon Ortiz, Jr. (D-Corpus Christi). Rep. Ortiz’s bill would have mandated that 20 percent of total grants from the Texas Enterprise Fund and Texas Emerging Technology Fund go to the establishment and expansion of businesses providing energy from alternative energy sources or engaged in conservation of energy through energy efficient technologies.

House Bill 1991 by State Rep. Rafael Anchia (D-Dallas)/Senate Bill 542 by State Sen. Kirk Watson (D-Austin). This legislation would have ensured that a significant amount of Texas Emerging Technology Fund grants be used to research and develop low carbon fuels, low carbon electric generation technologies (including energy efficiency, renewable energy, and electricity storage), and carbon emissions mitigation strategies.

The Enterprise Fund: Rewarding Campaign Contributors For Not Creating Jobs. The Texas Enterprise Fund gave Countrywide $20 million dollars. In return, Countrywide failed to meet its job creation goals. [Austin American-Statesman, March 28, 2009; LINK]

Governor Perry took $7,000 from Countrywide’s PAC from 2002 to 2009. [SOURCE: Texans for Public Justice]

Making Texas Green. Hank Gilbert’s “Go Green, Texas” energy and environment policy calls for:

• Consolidating utility regulation under the Public Utility Commission of Texas. (currently natural gas regulation rests with the Texas Railroad Commission)
• Overhauling existing statutes and administrative regulations to hold polluters and regulated industries accountable to Texans.
• Incentives for increasing wind, solar, and biomass capacity.
• Raising energy efficiency standards for residential and commercial construction.
• Requiring the establishment of state energy standards for various appliances.
• Property tax incentives for homeowners who install solar panels on their homes, and eliminating the sales tax on the purchase and instillation of solar panels.
• Giving businesses a franchise tax deduction for the cost of solar and wind energy systems designed to power their businesses.
• Giving homeowners and businesses property tax exemptions for the appraised value of solar, wind, or biomass energy systems.
• Retooling the Texas Enterprise Fund to focus on bringing green jobs to Texas.
• Retooling the Texas Emerging Technology Fund to focus on helping develop new green energy and environmentally sound technologies.
• Requiring all existing coal power plants to adopt cleaner technologies by 2017.
• Adopting strict standards for mercury and other pollutants from existing power plants and factories.
• A moratorium on permits for new coal power plants unless their emissions are captured and stored.
• Requiring cement production plants to reduce mercury emissions by 80 percent by 2014.
• Strict standards for underground disposal wells (commonly called injection wells).
• Mandatory use of purification technology for drilling waste to be disposed of through injection wells by 2020.
• A Surface Owner Protection Act.
• A constitutional amendment requiring all revenues generated by the Sporting Goods Sales Tax as well as other user fees and taxes presently dedicated to the park system to be so allocated.
• $150 million be allotted for the acquisition and development of new state parks and for the addition of land to existing state parks.

AUSTIN—Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Hank Gilbert unveiled a series of bold, common sense proposals addressing energy and the environment on Wednesday in Austin.

With Lady Bird Lake and the skyline of one of America’s ten greenest cities as his backdrop, Gilbert called for a statewide plan to address global warming, energy conservation, and renewable energy as well as a complete overhaul of environmental regulation in Texas.

“Environmental regulation in Texas is a maze that the average citizen has great difficulty navigating,” Gilbert said. “Depending upon the particular problem, an average person could be bounced back and forth between the Texas Commission On Environmental Quality and the Texas Railroad Commission several times before ultimately giving up. That must end,” he said.

Gilbert outlined a plan under which environmental regulation and oversight from several state agencies including the Texas Railroad Commission are combined with those of the Texas Commission On Environmental Quality under a new agency, the Texas Environmental Commission.

“The New Texas Environmental Commission will centralize environmental regulation and natural resource and energy conservation under one umbrella. This is the kind of common sense policy we need to protect our land, air, and water,” he continued.

In addition, Gilbert called for the issuance of a statewide plan to address global warming, energy conservation, and renewable energy.

“In the early 1990s, a joint legislative committee warned our state about the threats of global warming. To date, we still have no cohesive plan to address the issue of greenhouse gasses threatening the atmosphere over Texas. It is time to stop kicking the can down the road and address the problem now,” he said.

In terms of energy, Gilbert called for an elected Commissioner to head the Public Utility Commission and for increasing the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard.

“Under current law, our state has a target of requiring electric providers to produce 10,000 mega-watts of energy from renewable sources by 2025. Already in Texas we have over 7,000 mega-watts of generation capacity coming from renewable energy. I’m calling for mandating that energy providers generate 20 percent of our state’s power from renewable energy by 2020,” Gilbert said.

Gilbert’s proposal also includes:

• Consolidating utility regulation under the Public Utility Commission of Texas. (currently natural gas regulation rests with the Texas Railroad Commission)
• Overhauling existing statutes and administrative regulations to hold polluters and regulated industries accountable to Texans.
• Incentives for increasing wind, solar, and biomass capacity.
• Raising energy efficiency standards for residential and commercial construction.
• Requiring the establishment of state energy standards for various appliances.
• Property tax incentives for homeowners who install solar panels on their homes, and eliminating the sales tax on the purchase and instillation of solar panels.
• Giving businesses a franchise tax deduction for the cost of solar and wind energy systems designed to power their businesses.
• Giving homeowners and businesses property tax exemptions for the appraised value of solar, wind, or biomass energy systems.
• Retooling the Texas Enterprise Fund to focus on bringing green jobs to Texas.
• •Retooling the Texas Emerging Technology Fund to focus on helping develop new green energy and environmentally sound technologies.
• Requiring all existing coal power plants to adopt cleaner technologies by 2017.
• Adopting strict standards for mercury and other pollutants from existing power plants and factories.
• A moratorium on permits for new coal power plants unless their emissions are captured and stored.
• Requiring cement production plants to reduce mercury emissions by 80 percent by 2014.
• Strict standards for underground disposal wells (commonly called injection wells).
• Mandatory use of purification technology for drilling waste to be disposed of through injection wells by 2020.
• A Surface Owner Protection Act.
• A constitutional amendment requiring all revenues generated by the Sporting Goods Sales Tax as well as other user fees and taxes presently dedicated to the park system to be so allocated.
• $150 million be allotted for the acquisition and development of new state parks and for the addition of land to existing state parks.

“We must protect our natural resources and significantly reduce pollution Texas’ carbon footprint. It’s time to go green, Texas,” Gilbert concluded.

FACT SHEET

Go Green, Texas

BY THE NUMBERS

Texas is the worst air polluter in the nation. (SOURCE: Congressional Quarterly’s State Fact Finder 2007)

Texas releases more volatile organic compounds into the air than any other state in the country. (SOURCE: ScoreCard.org )

Texas releases more toxic chemicals into water than any other state in the nation. (SOURCE: ScoreCard.org)

Texas ranks fifth in the nation in terms of toxic chemicals released into the air. (SOURCE: ScoreCard.org)

Texas releases more cancer-causing carcinogens into the air than any other state in the U.S.  (SOURCE: ScoreCard.org)

Texas ranks seventh out of the fifty states in terms of the number of cancer-causing carcinogens released into water. (SOURCE: ScoreCard.org)

Texas ranks second among the fifty states in the amount of hazardous waste generated and first in carbon dioxide emissions. (SOURCE: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [LINK])

LAGGING BEHIND ON REDUCING OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT

In 1991, the Join Select Committee on Toxic Air Emissions and the Greenhouse Effect recommended, among other things, that the Legislature develop a plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and facilitating energy conservation. (SOURCE: Report to the 72^nd Legislature of the Joint Select Committee on Toxic Air Emissions and the Greenhouse Effect [LINK]). To date, the state has no such plans.

COAL

Texas coal power plants are among the dirtiest in the nation:

TXU’s Martin Lake Power Plant ranks first in the nation in terms of mercury pollution by pound. TXU’s Monticello, Big Brown, and AEP’s H.W. Pirkey plants rank 4th, 6th, and 7th respectively. (SOURCE: Dirty Kilowatts: America’s Most Polluting Power Plants, Environmental Integrity Project [LINK])

TXU’s Big Brown plant ranks 13th in the nation in terms of SO2 pollution by ton. (SOURCE: Dirty Kilowatts: America’s Most Polluting Power Plants, Environmental Integrity Project [LINK])

If existing Texas coal-fired power plants were required to meet federal New Source Performance Standards, emissions would be reduced as follows:

(SOURCE: Policy Options For Clean Air and Sustainable Energy In Texas, Texas Business For Clean Air. [LINK])

Most Texas coal power now emit several times above the EPA limits of various pollutants. However, they have been “grandfathered” because of their age. Requiring all existing plants to comply with current limits could reduce SO2 emissions by nearly 80% and yield significant reductions in NOx and PM. (SOURCE: Policy Options For Clean Air and Sustainable Energy In Texas, Texas Business For Clean Air. [LINK])

RENEWABLE PORTFOLIO STANDARD

About Texas’ Renewable Portfolio Standard: Texas first RPS was created as part of electric utility deregulation (Senate Bill 7) in 1999. It mandated that electricity providers collectively generate 2,000 MW of additional renewable energy by 2009. In 2005, the Texas Legislature increased the RPS to 5,880 MW by 2015 with a target of 10,000 MW in 2025. (SOURCE: State Energy Conservation Office, [LINK])

Texas’ Renewable Portfolio Standard contains far less ambitious targets than those set by other sates. (SOURCE: Policy Options For Clean Air and Sustainable Energy In Texas, Texas Business For Clean Air. [LINK])

By contrast, other states have much more ambitious standards:

New York: 24% by 2013; California: 20% by 2010; 33% by 2020; Maine: 40% by 2017 (SOURCE: Database of State Incentives For Renewables & Efficiency, North Carolina Solar Center, North Carolina State University [LINK])

AIR QUALITY

Ozone levels in all major Texas urban areas exceed the EPA’s 75 ppb 8-hour Ozone Average Standard. (Texas Commission On Environmental Quality).

Texas leads the nation in total CO2 emissions with 652 million metric tons of CO2,

representing 11% of CO2 emissions nationwide. (Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy. [LINK])

If Texas were a country, it would rank seventh ahead of Canada and United Kingdom in total CO2 emissions. (SOURCE: Policy Options For Clean Air and Sustainable Energy In Texas, Texas Business For Clean Air. [LINK])

WATER QUALITY

Seventeen water bodies in Texas are classified as “impaired” due to high levels of mercury concentrations in fish by the Texas Department of State Health Services. (Texas Commission On Environmental Quality. [LINK])

POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF GLOBAL WARMING ON TEXAS

Potential impacts of climate change in Texas include: rising sea level, loss of coastal wetlands, erosion of beaches, saltwater contamination of drinking water, and decreased longevity of low-lying roads, causeways, and bridges. (SOURCE: Policy Options For Clean Air and Sustainable Energy In Texas, Texas Business For Clean Air. [LINK])

ENERGY

Texas leads the nation in total electricity consumption, with 343 TWh of electricity sales in 2006. (SOURCE: Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy/U.S. Department of Energy)

Per-capita, Texans consume more electricity than the national average (Figure 11) and more than twice the rate of some other states, such as New York, California, and Hawaii. (SOURCE: Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy/U.S. Department of Energy)

Net electricity generation, by fuel, for 2007 was as follows for Texas: Coal, 37.4%; Wind, 2.9%; Nuclear, 13.4%; Other, 0.4%; Hydroelectric, 0.4%; Natural Gas, 45.5%. (SOURCE: Policy Options For Clean Air and Sustainable Energy In Texas, Texas Business For Clean Air. [LINK])

ERCOT manages the electricity market and brings electric power to 21 million customers in Texas, which account for 85% of the state’s electric load and 75% of the Texas land area. ERCOT oversees 78,000 MW of power generation capacity in Texas. [SOURCE: Electric Reliability Council of Texas]

To view the PDF copy of the plan, you will need Acrobat Reader. Download it from Adobe’s website.

A message from Hank Gilbert

Fellow Texans:

In Texas, when talking about energy or the environment it is almost impossible to separate the two. The production of energy greatly impacts our environment and preserving our environment requires us to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and move toward renewable energy sources.

This is why I have combined energy issues and environmental issues in this policy. This policy statement is the kind of bold, common sense plan our state needs to put Texas on track to be the nation’s leader in both environmental protection and energy independence.

Under my plan, consumers will have new opportunities to help reduce their own carbon footprint through things like tax credits and on-bill loans to fit their homes with more energy efficient appliances. Utility companies and power providers will be challenged to aggressively meet the challenges of the future head on through innovation.

Governor Perry often claims that Texas is such a great state to do business in because we are essentially a state with weak regulations and weaker regulatory agencies. We must strengthen our environmental regulations and embolden our regulatory agencies while continuing to make Texas a great place to do business. This plan does that by proposing steps to attract new green industries to Texas and providing other incentives for Texas businesses to go green.

Finally, it will come as no surprise that there are those out there who will call any change from the status quo ‘too expensive’. The reality is that even in the short term, through new employment opportunities and the expansion of our economy that will result from this plan, the cost will be extremely low. In the long term, my plan is far cheaper than continuing on the current path. Further, my plan guarantees that future generations of Texans will be able to enjoy the natural wonders that grace this state.

Please join me in fighting for a better future that is possible with bold action and common sense planning.

Sincerely,

A Statewide Plan To Address Global Warming, Energy Conservation, & Renewable Energy

Hank proposes requiring the state draft and implement a statewide energy plan to address global warming, energy conservation and renewable energy. In 1991, the Joint Select Committee on Toxic Air Emissions and the Greenhouse Effect reported to the Texas Legislature that global warming posed many potential threats to Texas and recommended the establishment of an interagency panel to address the issue. To date, Texas has no such plan.

Streamlining Environmental Policy And Regulation, Conservation & Energy Regulation

Under current Texas law, several agencies—including the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Texas Railroad Commission—are responsible for environmental regulation. When it comes to environmental and energy conservation, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the Texas Water Development Board, and other agencies are all working separately on these goals.

Environmental regulation, energy and environmental conservation, and environmental policy initiatives must be consolidated in order to work effectively.

Hank proposes consolidating the functions of several agencies into the Texas Environmental Commission. Hank proposes consolidating all functions of the existing Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, all environmental regulatory functions of the Texas Railroad Commission, and all energy and natural resource conservation oversight in to the new Texas Environmental Commission.

The new Texas Environmental Commission would be headed by a director appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Texas Senate and overseen by a nine member commission. Six members of the commission would be appointed by the governor with the requirement that two member be from business and industry, two be from the environmental community, and that two be members of the public. Of the remaining four members, the Lieutenant Governor would appoint two (one from business and industry and one from the environmental community) and the Speaker of the House would appoint the remaining two (both being public members). Of the members from the environmental community, one each of the governor’s and lieutenant governor’s appointees would be required to be scientists who practice environmental sciences in some capacity.

Under Hank’s plan, all environmental oversight presently resting with the Texas Railroad Commission relating to permits for all projects—including injection wells, uranium mining, and other drilling—would rest with the Texas Environmental Commission. The Railroad Commission would retain all other public safety oversight relating to these permits exclusive of environmental impact.

Under Hank’s plan, before the Railroad Commission votes to grant or deny a particular permit, The Texas Environmental Commission would conduct an investigation and make a recommendation to the Texas Railroad Commission concerning the environmental impact of the project. In order to insure that oil and natural gas production is not unduly interrupted, the Texas Environmental Commission would be bound by statute to act on permit applications transmitted by the Railroad Commission in a timely fashion, and there would be statutory allowances for expedited and emergency permits for oil and natural gas drilling.

Under current law, two separate agencies—the Railroad Commission and the Public Utility Commission of Texas—have oversight over utility rates charged to Texas consumers.

Hank proposes consolidating utility regulation under the Public Utility Commission of Texas. Under Hank’s plan, the Public Utility Commission of Texas would be responsible for rate oversight for natural gas, and water (as applicable under current state law).

Hank proposes an elected Public Utility Commissioner. Under Hank’s plan, the Public Utility Commissioner would be elected at large by Texas voters. He would chair a commission including four other members appointed by the Governor.

Environmental Regulatory Reform & Accountability

Consolidating responsibility for environmental regulation solves only one of the major issues surrounding the regulation of pollutants in Texas. In order to more fully address pollution and environmental conservation issues, bold, common sense regulatory reform is needed. Additionally, public input on permitting should not merely be a formality when it comes to environmental regulation. Public input must be taken seriously.

Hank proposes overhauling existing statutes and administrative regulations to hold polluters and regulated industries accountable to Texans. Hank proposes strengthening laws relating to surface and groundwater pollution; air pollution; soil pollution; and toxic exposure to Texans to reflect sound science and accepted environmental practices. Enforcement is the responsibility of the Commission as part of the effort to remove all political pressure from the enforcement process.

Hank proposes increasing fines and criminal penalties for polluters. Under Hank’s plan, fine levels for all types of pollution would be increased and criminal penalties—both against corporations and individuals—caught polluting would be strengthened. Under this plan, the new Texas Environmental Commission would also be regulated so that, following first offenses, there are limits on how far fines can be decreased in conjunction with agreed settlements or abatement agreements in order to deter bad corporate citizenry and pollution.

Hank proposes requiring that public input on permitting be given serious consideration. In many cases today, public input on environmental permits is a mere formality. Regardless of the environmental considerations and outcry from local citizens, permits are routinely granted. Under Hank’s plan, hearing examiners and the Texas Environmental Commission would be required to give serious weight to public input. Too, public input requirements for all permits would be strengthened and the bar that those opposed to potential environmental hazards in the areas where they will be located will be lowered to allow citizens greater ability to challenge permits in contested case hearings.

Utilizing & Increasing Our Renewable Energy Capacity

Hank proposes increasing Texas’ Renewable Portfolio Standard to mandate that energy providers in Texas collectively generate 20 percent of Texas power from renewable energy by 2020. Under current law, Texas has a target of 10,000 MW of renewable energy capacity by 2025. That is roughly 12 percent of the 78,000 MW of generation capacity overseen by ERCOT in Texas (which represents 85 percent of the Texas power load and 75 percent of the state’s landmass). Hank believes we can do better. He proposes requiring that Texas power companies generate 20 percent of the electricity used in Texas from renewable sources by 2020 and 25 percent by 2025.

This is at a bare minimum. As more and more demands are placed on gas and coal supplies, producers will be forced to convert to renewables. This plan accelerates that process without substantial cost increases and allows us to gradually prepare for the future.

Hank proposes incentives for increasing wind, solar, and biomass capacity. Under Hank’s plan, energy providers who invest in biomass, wind, and solar energy would receive tax credits for developing and constructing renewable energy infrastructure. Businesses engaged solely in manufacturing, selling, and installing solar or wind energy devices would also be exempted from the state franchise tax.

Hank proposes establishing a pilot program requiring power companies to enter into 10-15 year contracts with renewable energy developers. This will aide the development of renewable energy in Texas.

Hank does not favor nuclear power. Hank does not favor nuclear power as an alternative form of energy in Texas until there are better and safer long-term waste disposal methods for nuclear waste. There are a number of areas in which nuclear technology is advancing and, of course, should better alternatives surface they will be considered.

Reducing Our Energy Demands Through Conservation & Efficiency

Reducing energy demands through conservation and efficiency are a major piece of the puzzle when it comes to improving Texas’ environment. Why? Because the less energy Texas needs, the more Texans can rely on renewable sources of energy and less on dirty ones.

Hank proposes raising energy efficiency standards for residential and commercial construction. In 2001, the Texas Legislature adopted legislation requiring that the state adopt the energy-efficiency standards of the International Code Council’s International Residential Code. Texas is still using the 2001 ICC standards. Hank proposes updating the standards to current standards and legislation which will automatically update these standards when the ICC updates its standards. This will not only save energy, but it will save Texas’ residential and commercial electricity consumers more money.

Hank proposes increasing the miles-per-gallon of the state’s vehicle fleet through the purchase of hybrid vehicles. Under Hank’s proposal, as state vehicles are replaced, they must (when possible) be replaced with new hybrids or alternative fuel vehicles. At least 50 percent of vehicles in the state fleet must be hybrids by 2020.

Hank proposes mandating that electric utilities reduce electricity consumption by 10 percent by 2020. Under Hank’s plan, electric utilities would be required to offer customers rebates and credits for weatherization activities and the replacement of inefficient appliances and heating and cooling systems with those that are more energy efficient. In addition, Hank proposes that utility companies in Texas be required to offer on-bill financing to help small businesses and homeowners recoup the large investment associated with energy efficiency projects and appliances. Loan payments would be consolidated into a consumer’s monthly utility bills.

Hank proposes requiring the establishment of state energy standards for various appliances. Although many appliances are covered by federal energy efficiency standards, there are some (such as bottle-type water dispensers, pool pumps, portable electric spas, and commercial hot food cabinets) which are not. Hank proposes establishing standards for these and other appliances.

Hank proposes property tax incentives for homeowners who install solar panels on their homes, and eliminating the sales tax on the purchase and instillation of solar panels. Under Hank’s plan, legislation would also be required to allow any home or business generating solar power to be connected to the electrical grid and sell excess power to a utility at 75% of retail for the time of day.  Hank further proposes that the Texas Environmental Commission will set up a buyers’ cooperative to combine the purchasing power of large numbers of homeowners to obtain the best pricing possible for the systems on a monthly basis. Installation will be the responsibility of the homeowner.

Hank proposes giving businesses a franchise tax deduction for the cost of solar and wind energy systems designed to power their businesses.

Hank proposes giving homeowners and businesses property tax exemptions for the appraised value of solar, wind, or biomass energy systems.

Creating Green Jobs & Greening The Texas Economy

Hank proposes retooling the Texas Enterprise Fund to focus on bringing green jobs to Texas. Under Hank’s plan, 50 percent of the current balance of the Texas Enterprise Fund and all revenue appropriated into the fund for the next five biennia would be set aside for creating green jobs and attracting green industry and green energy to Texas.

Hank proposes retooling the Texas Emerging Technology Fund to focus on helping develop new green energy and environmentally sound technologies. Under Hank’s plan, 50 percent of the current balance of the Texas Emerging Technology Fund and all revenue appropriated into the fund for the next five biennia would be set aside for developing new green energy and environmentally sound technologies and creating partnerships with existing businesses that will aid them in expanding their biofuel refining and distribution capabilities.

Using The Enterprise & Emerging Technology Funds To Advance Biofuel Production. A key component of Hank’s strategy is using state funds, in conjunction with venture capital companies based in Texas, to secure early and mezzanine stakes in biofuel companies. The goal is not only to foster the development of new industries and the companies that will lead them but to create wealth for state pension funds to lower the amount of investment that will be required from taxpayers in the future.

No one technology will completely wean us off foreign oil. However, many of them combined will be the key to recreating an energy independent Texas. With independence comes the ability to grow our economy far faster with higher wages and lower the tax burden for all Texans.

Cleaner Air

Hank proposes strengthening statutory requirements to reduce toxic and harmful emissions from existing industrial plants and power plants.

Hank proposes requiring all existing coal power plants to adopt cleaner technologies by 2017. Under Hank’s plan, existing coal power plants in Texas would be required, by 2017, to begin utilizing technologies to reduce emissions including through techniques such as carbon capture and sequestration.

Hank proposes adopting strict standards for mercury and other pollutants from existing power plants and factories. Under Hank’s plan, the state would adopt legislation requiring that maximum available control technologies (MACT) be used to reduce or eliminate mercury, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide. These pollutants poison our lakes and waterways, endangering the wildlife that Texans have enjoyed for generations.

Hank proposes a moratorium on permits for new coal power plants unless their emissions are captured and stored. Coal power plants produce more pollution than any other type of power plant in Texas. Hank proposes a permitting moratorium because Texas must look toward retooling existing coal plants to be cleaner and more efficient, producing more power with less pollution.

Hank proposes requiring cement production plants to reduce mercury emissions by 80 percent by 2014. In addition, all kilns built before 1980 would be required to meet or exceed New Source Performance Standards by 2014.

Hank proposes a cap on the percentage increase of known air pollutants in the immediate vicinity of drilling operations or pipeline facilities as compared to the ambient air standards of the county of those operations. Some cities and towns in Texas are literally choking to death on the emissions from production activities in their immediate area.  This cap will require companies to employ emissions-capturing technology or risk fine or closure.

Protecting Our Water

Hank proposes uniting groundwater protection within the Texas Environmental Commission. Under Hank’s plan, dividing the regulation of pollution and monitoring of groundwater would be united under the new Texas Environmental Commission.

Hank proposes legislation requiring that groundwater conservation districts include multi-county areas. Our state’s aquifers do not conform to the boundaries of counties; for single counties to create groundwater conservation districts to preserve and protect our groundwater—while admirable—isn’t good public policy. Under my plan, at least three counties would be required to work in concert with each other to create groundwater conservation districts.

Strict Standards For Injection Wells

Hank proposes strict standards for underground disposal wells (commonly called injection wells). Under Hank’s plan, regular testing and public reporting of soil and groundwater near injection wells would be required, strict limits would be set on where injection wells can be placed, and strict rules would be established for surface facilities associated with injection wells.

Hank proposes mandatory use of purification technology for drilling waste to be disposed of through injection wells by 2020. There are many types of technology available which would allow producers to purify drilling waste water or brine to remove toxic chemicals prior to injecting it into disposal wells. Under Hank’s plan, use of this technology would be mandatory by 2020 and producers who adopt the technology early would be eligible for tax credits. Under Hank’s plan, all water being injected back into the ground would be subject to mandatory testing to insure it is free of pollutants and toxins prior to injection.

Surface Owner Protection

Hank proposes a Surface Owner Protection Act. Under Hank’s plan, a Surface Owner Protection Act would protect all landowners, especially those who do not own their own mineral rights, from damage or unfair practices by companies seeking to drill production or disposal wells, or install pipelines, on or under their land.  The law would require advance notice prior to entry upon the land, mandatory setbacks from residences and barns, and a codification of the accommodation doctrine to provide for damages sustained for loss of agricultural production and income, lost land value, lost use of and lost access to the surface owner’s land, lost value of improvements, and loss of value associate with the pollution of surface or groundwater

Preserving Texas’ Parks

Hank proposes a constitutional amendment requiring all revenues generated by the Sporting Goods Sales Tax as well as other user fees and taxes presently dedicated to the park system to be so allocated.

Hank proposes $150 million be allotted for the acquisition and development of new state parks and for the addition of land to existing state parks.

To view the PDF copy of the plan, you will need Acrobat Reader. Download it from Adobe’s website.

After months of dissatisfaction with the slow progress and escalating cost of overhauling the way wholesale electricity is uploaded to the ERCOT grid, the Public Utility Commission today relented and approved a proposal to more than double the surcharge for the project.

The panel unanimously agreed to raise the surcharge for the long-delayed nodal project from 16.9 cents per megawatt hour to 37.5 cents.

Hank says:

“The PUC’s decision to nearly double the nodal project surcharge is typical of what has happened throughout Governor Perry’s administration. He appoints lobbyists from the industries themselves to the boards regulating the industries, and consumers get slapped in the face with higher costs.

When I’m governor, this will not happen. Energy lobbyists will have no place on the Public Utility Commission in my administration.”

Forty-nine year old East Texas Rancher and former teacher Hank Gilbert has kicked off his Democratic race for Governor. KERA’s Shelley Kofler says the little-known candidate is hoping his statewide tour will get him noticed.

Hank Gilbert says he will place a high priority on early childhood education as a way to keep kids from dropping out later on. He wants full-day pre-kindergarten programs and increased awareness of vocational education.

Gilbert: We are going to develop a very comprehensive vocation and technical track for high school students who don’t want to go to college.

Gilbert was a top Democratic vote-getter in 2006 when he ran unsuccessfully for state agriculture commissioner. His campaign then focused on his opposition to Governor Perry’s Trans-Texas Corridor.

On his campaign website this time Gilbert promises to reorganize the state insurance commission. He calls Perry’s appointed commissioner, Mike Geeslin, a “pro-insurance lapdog.”

Gilbert: They all have direct ties back to the same companies they are supposed to be overseeing. I think that was purposeful. Because of that we have the highest health insurance and the highest homeowners’ insurance (rates) in the country with the least amount of coverage.

Gilbert says he understands the difficulties faced by Texans without insurance. He and his family pay their health care bills out of pocket because pre-existing family conditions make their insurance too expensive.

Our capacity to build the energy network of the future has been hamstrung by a Governor focused exclusively on 19th century solutions. It’s time for better solutions, not talk and behind the scenes deal making. We can and we will do more to accelerate the ongoing shift from coal burning electricity generation to a cleaner mix of advanced solar, wind, geothermal and nuclear.