Video & Transcript : 'energy equity' :

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TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • Ed King, Texas Energy Association.
  • energy conservation well serves as a mechanism for storing energy, it does not qualify as a battery.
  • Battery energy resource. For example, geothermal energy conservation.
  • Texas Geothermal Energy Alliance.
  • All this says is it's energy storage, but it's not battery energy storage.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

EDU Informational Briefing 01-30-2026

Hawaii Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • So we prioritize based on equity, need, uh, you know, uh, it's in different categories: health and safety
  • So we prioritize based on equity<00:59:53.119><c> need</c><00:59:54.400><c> uh</c><00:59:54.960><c> you
  • :59:55.200><c> know</c><00:59:55.680><c> uh</c><00:59:55.920><c> it's</c><00:59:56.160><c> in</c> equity
  • need uh you know uh it's in equity need uh you know uh it's in different<00:59:56.960><c> uh</c><00:
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

State Affairs Apr 2nd, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • House Bill 1360 is a cleanup bill that would allow for the state Energy Conservation Office, CEICO, to
  • last adopted the 22015 International Energy Conservation Code and the energy chapter of the 2015 International
  • This bill would allow CECO to move forward with adopting energy efficiency, building codes for state
  • Side of an issue as the homebuilders, the Texas Chemical Council, all the folks who manufacture energy
  • And just to let you know, buildings built to these newer codes will use less energy.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

State Affairs Apr 2nd, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • The Lone Star Energy Storage Alliance is a Texas association of companies focused on standalone energy
  • energy company that builds a lot of these Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects.
  • I'm here on behalf of TEBA, the Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance.
  • I guess from the Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance.
  • We're a trade association that represents backup power, distributed energy resources, and clean energy
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • I am an engineer with a consultancy involved in energy.
  • That's an energy challenge.
  • I worked for an energy storage utility company before.
  • We had an energy-efficiency company back in the day.
  • The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved this standard.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm the Executive Director of TABA, the Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance.
  • It raises costs and limits the ability of Texans to invest in their own energy independence.
  • I'm Matt Bottoms with TABA, Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance.
  • I'm the executive director of the Texas Solar Energy Society.
  • I'm a board member of the Texas Solar Energy Society, alongside Patricia.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Business and Commerce (Part II) Apr 1st, 2025

Business & Commerce

Transcript Highlights:
  • DER is a distributed energy resource. It's defined in the bill.
  • DER is a distributed energy resource. It's defined in the bill.
  • Matt Bottoms with TABA, Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance.
  • I'm the executive director of the Texas Solar Energy Society.
  • I'm a board member of the Texas Solar Energy Society with Patricia.
Summary: The Senate Committee on Business and Commerce heard Senate Bill 2021 by Senator Johnson, as substituted, on distributed energy resources (DERs). Johnson said the bill was intended to create a regulatory framework for DERs and virtual power plants, address interconnection and registration issues, and prevent regulatory capture as the industry grows. Testimony was split: Texas Electric Cooperatives asked for clarification so co-ops would not be unintentionally excluded from owning or operating DERs; AECT supported the bill as providing needed rules and customer protections; TABA, Texas Solar and Storage Association, Sierra Club, Texas Solar Energy Society, and several others opposed it or raised concerns that it was too utility-centric, imposed red tape, and could burden homeowners and small businesses with registration and interconnection requirements. Johnson repeatedly said the bill was not meant to stop rooftop solar or backup systems and that he was open to specific redlines and further changes. SB 2021 was left pending after testimony. The committee then took up Senate Bill 2330 by Senator Parker, which would end government payroll deduction for dues to certain public employee organizations, while exempting first responders under Chapters 143 and 147 and making other conforming changes in a committee substitute. Parker argued the bill was about government neutrality, transparency, and employee freedom from coercion, and said organizations can collect dues directly using modern payment methods. Supporters from Texas Public Policy Foundation, Texas Business Coalition, Freedom Foundation, ABC Texas, and Texans for Fiscal Responsibility said taxpayer-funded payroll systems should not be used to collect dues for private organizations, especially ones involved in political activity. Opponents, including ATPE, Texas Classroom Teachers Association, Texas Public Employees Association, and correctional employees, said payroll deduction is a convenient, secure service that helps professional associations and employee groups, and argued the bill would burden teachers and other public employees. Several witnesses and senators focused on the bill’s exemptions and whether it treated teachers differently from first responders. Senator Menendez questioned why some public employees were excluded while others were not, and a Houston police union representative said he moved from opposing to supporting the bill after being told the substitute would preserve meet-and-confer deductions under Chapters 143 and 147. Senator Parker closed by saying the bill was not meant to eliminate associations or payroll deduction entirely, only to remove the state as a middleman. SB 2330 was left pending, and the committee then recessed subject to call.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Business and Commerce (Part I) Apr 1st, 2025

Business & Commerce

Transcript Highlights:
  • I am a private citizen and an engineer with a consultancy involved in energy.
  • That's an energy challenge.
  • I worked for an energy storage utility company before.
  • We had an energy efficiency company back in the day.
  • I've consulted with an energy storage company, a German utility company.
Summary: The committee first took up pending business and favorably reported several bills without objection or by recorded vote, including SB 783, SB 1238, SB 1706, SB 1791, SB 458, SB 1644, and SB 1810, with some of them also sent to the local and uncontested calendar. The committee then moved into hearings on additional bills. SB 1968, by Senator Schwertner, would update the Real Estate License Act by repealing subagency, requiring written buyer-agent agreements before showings, and clarifying when a formal buyer representation agreement must be signed. Texas Realtors testified in support, saying the bill modernizes agency rules and increases transparency, while a committee substitute corrected drafting issues. SB 2411, the annual update to the Texas Business Organizations Code, was also laid out and left pending after supportive testimony from the Texas Business Law Foundation and drafting committee representatives. The committee also heard SB 2321, which would codify ERCOT’s current practice of notifying TCEQ when backup generation needs enforcement discretion for grid reliability; Sierra Club and a chamber of commerce witness supported it with suggestions for clearer emissions reporting, and the bill was left pending. SB 2077 would broaden eligibility for the Texas Mutual Insurance Company board by narrowing conflict restrictions tied to insurance-related interests; Texas Mutual supported the change and the bill was left pending. SB 1405, a broadband bill, would align state law with FCC standards and streamline Broadband Development Office processes; it was left pending after supportive testimony. SB 1299, protecting nonprofit donor privacy, drew support from privacy advocates and concerns from one witness about transparency for publicly funded nonprofit operations; it was left pending. The committee then heard SB 776, which would bar government construction contracts from shifting delay damages to contractors when delays are caused solely by the public owner. Contractors, surety representatives, and water infrastructure advocates supported the bill, arguing it would improve fairness and reduce inflated bids, while water utilities and critical infrastructure entities opposed it, warning of more litigation and higher costs; the bill was left pending. Finally, SB 715, which would apply reliability requirements retroactively to all generation resources in ERCOT, drew opposition from renewable and storage groups and support from some critics of renewable subsidies, with witnesses split over whether it would improve reliability or raise costs; testimony was underway when the transcript ended.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

CPC Public Hearing - Wed Mar 4, 2026 @ 2:00 PM HST

Consumer Protection & Commerce

Transcript Highlights:
  • Hawaii Solar Energy Association in support.
  • 59.680><c> in</c> Hawaii Solar Energy Association in Hawaii Solar Energy Association in support.
  • </c> I am the president of Holoholo Energy I am the president of Holoholo Energy and<00:10:45.320><c>
  • energy here, uh<00:17:13.839><c> and</c><00:17:13.959><c> that</c><00:17:14.160><c> energy</c><00:17:
  • </c> Uh first up is the Hawaii State Energy Uh first up is the Hawaii State Energy Office<00:29:29.800
Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 1984 HD2, which would require government entities issuing building permits to create a self-certification process for certain behind-the-meter rooftop solar and energy storage systems, allowing approved applicants to proceed without waiting for standard permit review. The Public Utilities Commission and DLNR offered comments, and the Hawaii Solar Energy Association, Holoholo Energy, Photon Works Engineering, Malama Solar, RevoluSun, and others testified in strong support. Supporters said the bill would reduce permitting delays, lower costs, and help meet Hawaii’s renewable energy goals while still relying on licensed engineers, electricians, and county inspections for safety. Committee members asked about risk, existing county pilot programs, and whether self-certification had been used before; witnesses said the professional liability remains with licensed signers and that current automated review systems often flag minor issues that slow projects. The committee also noted 16 additional written testimonies in support. The committee then took up HB 1593 HD1, which would require HHFDC-financed affordable rental housing projects to allow residents to own or keep common household pets. The Hawaiian Humane Society testified that the bill is a top priority because housing restrictions are a major reason pets are surrendered and because many unhoused residents with pets avoid housing that does not allow animals. In response to questions, the Humane Society said concerns about pet-related damage are overstated, suggested pet behavior screening as a safeguard, and said it would be willing to work on broader private-market pet-friendly housing policies. Members raised concerns about whether allowing pets in public housing could create problems for residents who later transition to the private market, and the witness said California has a similar law and no major negative effects had been identified. Finally, the committee heard HB 2423 HD2, which would require that by January 1, 2028, diesel fuel sold in Hawaii for on-highway vehicles contain at least 5% biodiesel by volume. The Hawaii State Energy Office offered comments, and Hawaii Transportation Association and Pacific Biodiesel Technologies testified in support. Pacific Biodiesel argued the mandate would improve energy security, stabilize fuel prices amid global supply disruptions, and support local clean-fuel production. In response to questions, the company said its nameplate capacity is 5.5 million gallons per year and it has produced over 6 million gallons annually, but much of its output is tied up in standby generator contracts that can fluctuate. Witnesses said the mandate would provide a stable market signal and could support future investment in expanded local biodiesel production, including agricultural feedstock development and a possible second refinery. No votes or final actions were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Floor Session Feb 17th, 2026

Washington House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • House Bill 2416, Waste to Energy Facility. House Bill 1526, snack bar liquor licenses.
  • An act relating to exempting limited equity requirements January 1st, 233.
  • By removing these limited equity corporations from my favorite term, Wakaiowa, from the very detailed
  • These limited equity cooperatives... ...paperwork.
  • ... ...the leverage opportunity of the limited equity co-op keeping the equity appreciation on property
Summary: The House convened with a quorum, approved the prior day’s minutes, received a Senate message that Senate Bill 5489 had passed the Senate, and then took up several House bills on second and third reading. The main debate centered on Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2442, which would give local governments more flexibility to use certain local tax tools for public health clinics, housing, veterans’ assistance, and related purposes. Members offered and voted on multiple amendments, including proposals to require voter approval for tax increases and to strip out or narrow several tax authorizations; some amendments were adopted, including technical and limiting changes, while others were rejected. The bill ultimately passed the House 53-44. The House then passed Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1295, a literacy bill aimed at expanding evidence-based reading instruction and teacher training. Members described it as a long-overdue effort to improve reading outcomes, with supporters citing low grade-level reading proficiency and the need for scientifically based methods; a technical grammar amendment was adopted, and the bill passed 96-1. The chamber also passed Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2636, creating a steering committee and JLARC review process to examine school district regulations and unfunded mandates, with broad support and no opposition in the final vote. Other measures passed included Substitute House Bill 2650, making administrative changes to local tax notification and effective-date procedures, and Second Substitute House Bill 2590, which exempts limited equity cooperatives from certain common-interest-community requirements to support affordable housing. House Bill 2610 also passed, allowing nonprofit housing providers to use property for interim community purposes without losing tax benefits, and Substitute House Bill 2343 passed unanimously to require publicly operated facilities to follow the same water-quality discharge rules as private facilities, prompted by concerns about nitrate contamination linked to a state game farm in Centralia. The House also passed Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2225, regulating AI companion chatbots; amendments added public disclosure of crisis referrals, but a proposal to remove the private right of action failed. The bill passed 69-28 after supporters emphasized child safety and opponents raised concerns about litigation and privacy. The House then adjourned to caucus.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Appropriations Feb 6th, 2026 at 10:30 am

Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:
  • plan, and supporting the digital equity forum.
  • Jacob Lipson, staff to the Environment and Energy Committee.
  • The waste-to-energy facility is unique.
  • Jacob Lipson, staff, Environment and Energy Committee.
  • We are a clean energy advocacy organization.