Luke Metzger

I’m rarely enthusiastic about what the Texas Legislature’s up to, but this session has enormous promise to change that.

Three different, bi-partisan proposals of varying degrees have been introduced to increase our state’s renewable energy requirement.

In 1999, Texas passed a law requiring electric utilities to get about 3 percent of their energy from clean, renewable sources by 2009. That law initiated a boom in wind power development that has Texas set to meet the standard four years ahead of schedule.

Despite our early success, we can’t afford to leave the renewable energy industry’s development to chance. Nearly two-thirds of Texans continue to live in areas where, on certain days of the year, it’s just not safe to breathe outside. Water-guzzling coal and nuclear power plants threaten our ability to meet our long-term water requirements for growing crops and filling our drinking glasses. And uncertainty about the industry’s development is slowing down critical transmission planning.

Inspiring renewable energy champions like Reps. David Swinford (R-Dumas) and Pete Gallego (D-Alpine) and Sens. Robert Duncan (R-Lubbock) and Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo) are pushing for an aggressive renewable energy standard that will create thousands of jobs, generate millions of dollars for schools, and make Texas an energy leader again.

As you might imagine, the oil and coal companies have other ideas for Texas’ energy future and are working to stop these plans. From presenting the findings of our research to legislators to helping bring supportive constituencies like farmers and ranchers to Austin, your support allows TexPIRG to have a daily presence at the Capitol to stand up to the special interests and advocate clean, affordable energy.

Our solar, wind and biomass resources belong to the people of Texas, and it’s time we put them to work solving our problems. The promise of clean energy is great, and Texas is in a prime position to profit from it.