Published: 05-05-08
Austin - Recognizing that high natural gas prices are the cause of high electric prices The House Committee on Regulated Industries led by Chairman Phil King (R-Weatherford) met on April 24 in Amarillo to discuss the benefits and growth wind power.
The Committee discussed the great potential for wind development in the Texas Panhandle region as well as some of the challenges of ensuring enough transmission and distribution is available to bring that power to areas of Texas that need it most.
The hearing is the latest in a series of events aimed at ensuring Texas has adequate affordable electricity. “The members of the Regulated Industries Committee recognize how important this issue is” said King. “Our focus is to make sure our constituents’ lights stay on and that we don’t become too dependent on only one fuel source. We need to balance the pros and cons of every type of generation technology but there’s no silver bullet.”
King also moderated a panel at the Texas Solar Forum on April 25 where a number of key stakeholders and regulators involved in development deployment and regulation of solar-powered electricity discussed the future of the industry. “There are some real costs involved in deploying solar but it’s an appealing technology for the future” noted King.
In 2007 King authored House Bill 1386 which paved the way for development of new nuclear generation by creating a nuclear decommissioning trust fund. The bill was signed by Governor Perry creating another avenue for generation companies to add to Texas’ power grid. In 2005 King was a sponsor of Senate Bill 20 which set aggressive goals for renewable energy generation in Texas and ultimately led to Texas being the number one wind energy producing state in the country – leading all other states two to one.
King also serves on the Select Committee on Generation Resources which is holding statewide hearings and discussing clean coal technologies carbon sequestration energy efficiency programs nuclear generation renewable power and other ways to generate cheaper and cleaner power for Texans.
King believes every decision for Texas’ electric reliability is rooted in this comprehensive approach. “Sometimes I’ll get asked ‘Do we need more coal more nuclear more wind more gas or more energy efficiency?’ The answer is ‘All of it.’”
