Sec. 447.009. ENERGY AND WATER MANAGEMENT PLANNING

(a) The state energy conservation office shall provide energy and water management planning assistance to a state agency or an institution of higher education, including:

(1) preparation by the agency or institution of a long-range plan for the delivery of reliable, cost-effective utility services for the state agency or institution;

(2) assistance to the Department of Public Safety for energy emergency contingency planning, using state or federal funds when available;

(3) assistance to each state agency or institution of higher education in preparing comprehensive energy and water management plans; and

(4) assistance to state agencies other than institutions of higher education in meeting the requirements of Section 447.002, including assistance in scheduling and assigning priorities to implementation plans to ensure that state agencies adopt qualified cost-effective efficiency measures and programs for all state facilities not later than September 1, 2006.

(b) A state agency or an institution of higher education shall develop the plan described in Subsection (a)(1) and submit the plan to the state energy conservation office upon request. The agency or institution shall use the plan in preparing its five-year construction and major renovation plans. After other energy-saving or water-saving alternatives are considered, district heating and cooling or on-site generation of electricity may be considered in planning for reliable, efficient, and cost-effective utility services.

(c) The state energy conservation office shall prepare guidelines for preparation of the plan described in Subsection (a)(3). A state agency or an institution of higher education that occupies a state-owned building shall prepare and implement a five-year energy and water management plan and shall submit that plan to the office upon request. The agency or institution shall update its plan biennially. A state agency or an institution of higher education that occupies a building not owned by the state shall cooperate with the office in addressing the energy or water management of that building.

(d) The comprehensive energy and water management plan described in Subsection (a)(3) shall be included in the five-year construction and major repair and rehabilitation plans for institutions of higher education as required by Section 61.0651, Education Code.

Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., 2nd C.S., ch. 52, art. 2, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987. Amended by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 612, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76, Sec. 5.95(45), eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 698, Sec. 8, eff. Aug. 28, 1995; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 573, Sec. 10, eff. Sept. 1, 2001; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1158, Sec. 28, eff. June 15, 2001; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1398, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001. Redesignated from Government Code Sec. 447.011 and reenacted and amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1310, Sec. 29, eff. June 20, 2003.