Background

In 2001, the 77^th Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 5, creating the Texas Emission Reduction Plan (TERP).  TERP supports the State’s efforts to improve air quality by establishing programs that reduce emissions from light- and heavy-duty vehicles and equipment as well as programs that decrease demand for electricity, thereby reducing emissions from power plants.  The TERP energy programs include the Texas Building Energy Performance Standards that ensures energy-conserving materials and practices are utilized in residential and commercial construction and the Energy Efficiency Program in Certain Political Subdivisions that encourages adoption of energy conservation measures by agencies in 38 Texas counties, later expanded to 41 counties.

The TERP program was amended in 2007 by passage of Senate Bill 12, which among other changes, extended the timeframe of the Energy Efficiency Program.  SB5 required that political subdivisions in affected counties establish goals to reduce their energy consumption by 5% each year for five years beginning January 1, 2002.  SB12 extends the program by requiring political subdivisions continue to set a goal of reducing energy consumption by 5% each year for six years, beginning September 1, 2007.

• Energy Efficiency Programs in Certain Political Subdivisions

• Energy Program for Schools

• Energy Efficiency at Home

• Texas Building Energy Performance Standards

• Workshops and Training Sessions