FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 16, 2025

Contact:
Cara Gustafson
[email protected]

AUSTIN, Texas – On April 15, 2025, the Texas Senate passed Senate Bill 819 by Senator Lois W. Kolkhorst (R-Brenham) on a vote of 22-9. SB 819 would establish responsible siting of projects, conservation-focused policies that protect native habitats, and collaboration with experts and local communities to ensure balanced growth.

“I am proud to have passed SB 819 with the support of my Senate colleagues from all over Texas who understand the necessity to balance our state’s need for power generation while respecting landowners across Texas,” said Senator Lois W. Kolkhorst. “SB 819 is a reasonable approach that allows for continued construction of renewable generation while giving the Public Utility Commission the ability to weigh in on some projects whose harm outweighs the benefits. I look forward to the Texas House hearing SB 819. This is strong legislation and ensures we have an objective body to call balls and strikes when it comes to balancing regulations.”

“We are so grateful for Senator Kolkhorst’s continued leadership on SB 819, an important, commonsense piece of legislation that upholds our duty to manage natural resources wisely, ensuring that Texas’s beauty and biodiversity are maintained for future generations,” said Cara Gustafson, Spokesperson for Stewards of Texas. “SB 819 promotes public participation and ensures Texans have a say in energy development decisions that affect their lives and lands.”

SB 819 key provisions:
-The bill only applies to utility-scale facilities greater than 10 megawatts. 

-The bill only applies to new generation that is interconnected on or after the effective date of the act. 

-Standard public notice and permitting provisions similar to those of transmission lines. 

-A required renewable impact statement in coordination with Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. 

-Incorporates input from TPWD to improve environmental impact review and ensures facilities can coexist with their natural environment. 

-Incorporates best practices of TPWD and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension so that facilities can operate in line with their natural environment. 

-Reporting requirements for size and location of projects and any substantive changes made to the project. 

-An annual impact fee including funding for a state cleanup fund. 

-A decommissioning plan in compliance with Chapter 301 and 302, Utilities Code. Strengthens Chapter 301 and Chapter 302 decommissioning standards to ensure financial assurance in the form of bonds, instead of lines of credit that can change daily. 

-Based on input from county judges and county commissioners, eliminates tax abatements for wind and solar generation under Chapter 312. 

SB 819 permitting requirements include:
-Public Internet Website. 

-Setbacks, unless waived by the adjacent property owner, for solar installations of 200 feet from a private residence and 100 feet from the property line, and for wind installations 1,000 feet from the property line.

For more information, visit stewardsoftexas.org or contact Cara Gustafson at the information above.