87R29517 BPG-D     By: Guerra H.R. No. 1779       R E S O L U T I O N          WHEREAS, In February 2021, Winter Storm Uri provided a harsh   reminder of the fragility of the Texas power grid; and          WHEREAS, Record low temperatures created a catastrophic   energy shortage as weather-related failures took down natural gas,   nuclear, coal, wind, and solar generation; natural gas-fired power   plants, which supply 46 percent of the state's electricity, ran out   of fuel as pipelines and related equipment froze; and          WHEREAS, The geographical characteristics of Texas have   created untapped geothermal resources that can increase energy   options; geothermal, which generates energy using heat from the   Earth's interior, is a reliable source that runs consistently   regardless of weather conditions; it is clean, producing 95 percent   fewer emissions than coal and 92 percent less than gas; moreover, it   is endlessly renewable, as the superheated water can be injected   back into the ground to run in a constant loop; and          WHEREAS, Texas has a long history with geothermal; the State   Capitol was originally heated by geothermal water, and in the   1970s, the U.S. Department of Energy funded geothermal projects to   provide space heating for the Falls Community Hospital in Marlin   and Cotulla High School in the Eagle Ford Shale; geothermal   resources along the Gulf Coast were catalogued and proven   extractable in the 1970s and '80s, but such initiatives languished   once oil prices sank; and          WHEREAS, Every oil and gas well brings geothermal heat to the   surface as a byproduct; preliminary data collected by Southern   Methodist University over 15 years ago indicated that up to 2,000   megawatts of geothermal energy could be available just from the   state's then-extant oil and gas wells, and the subsequent fracking   boom likely means that even more geothermal energy is available;   geothermal technology can repurpose end-of-life oil and gas wells,   alleviating the need for plugging, abandonment, or decommissioning   while also supporting clean energy generation; and          WHEREAS, Geothermal energy development can also repurpose   the skills and expertise of the state's oil and gas workers, which   are readily transferable; in Canada, many former oil workers have   already made this transition; geothermal applications will create   independent energy resources and jobs in a rapidly changing   industry, and with its well-trained workforce, as well as its   geological advantages, Texas is poised to realize tremendous   economic development through geothermal expansion; and          WHEREAS, Texas must diversify its energy portfolio in order   to create a more resilient, responsive power grid and maintain its   energy leadership and independence, and geothermal energy is a   resource that can provide thousands of good jobs and attract   millions in investments while achieving these goals; now,   therefore, be it          RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas   Legislature hereby express support for geothermal energy   production.