Democrats want what most Texans want for their energy future: a safe, secure, and sustainable supply of clean energy to reduce our reliance on oil and coal, which have high costs for our pocketbooks, environment, health, and national security. The watchwords of a comprehensive energy policy are technology, investment, conservation, efficiency and affordability. We support increased development of renewable energy technology that will spur the economy, protect the environment, and create high-paying “green collar” jobs while retraining workers displaced by new technology. Texas’ natural environment positions us to lead the development of new technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We must transform energy use to reduce fuel imports and become a leader in the effort combat global warming.

To that end, we support:

• requiring 30% of our state’s electricity to come from Texas based, non-polluting renewable energy such as wind and solar by 2015;
• incentives for Texas homeowners and businesses to “go solar” and to allow solar system owners to get credit on electric bills for extra energy such systems produce;
• an initiative to utilize unique Texas facilities and specific resources, including those for generating base-load electricity and the reduction and remediation of all forms of pollution;
• energy efficiency standards that encourage the wise use of energy in our homes, offices, and commercial facilities in the place of incentives that encourage inefficiency;
• transportation policy that encourages the development of affordable, fuel efficient vehicles that can run on alternative fuels;
• reduced reliance on coal-fired plants to produce electricity until adequate technology is available to capture and store carbon emissions, which contribute to global climate change;
• a serious re-examination of the environmental and economic benefits of corn-based ethanol, which studies suggest contributes to pollution and global climate change more than it reduces it, and has caused the global food prices to rise dramatically;
• creating a state panel on global climate change, including all stakeholders, that recognizes this real and serious threat and recommends a statewide energy policy that will spur economic development and reduce carbon emissions in Texas by eighty percent by 2050, as recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC);
• utilization of natural geo-thermal sources for commercial and industrial applications;
• incentives for wind generated electricity;
• removing local legal and architectural restrictions that inhibit using alternate energy sources;
• green building policies by providing tax credits and passing stricter building codes;
• ensuring the availability of affordable energy to protect the health and safety of seniors and others on fixed incomes.
• immediate funding for research to develop new CAFÉ standards at 50 MPG;
• incentives for homeowners, businesses and state institutions for investment in energy savings initiatives and for using clean and renewable sources of energy; and
• encouraging all nations to use the best available technologies to develop clean and domestic energy resources to meet their domestic demand.