Today
the Texas House of Representatives adopted HB 4, which establishes a
new water infrastructure fund to provide state assistance to water
providers seeking to build new reservoirs,
pipelines, and other supply projects. The bill sets aside 20% of
funding for conservation and re-use projects. If companion bill HB 11,
which transfers $2 billion from the rainy day fund to the new water
fund, also passes, at least $400 million will go toward
conservation and re-use. The fund is expected to grow over time, so
ultimately billions could go toward conservation in the coming decades.
The House voted 104 – 41 against an amendment by Rep. Phil King to weaken the 20% set aside for conservation.
Rep.
Eddie Lucio III disappointingly led a successful effort to defeat an
amendment by Rep. Donna Howard to require the water board to consider
environmental impacts – among five
others already in the bill – as a factor in choosing which projects to
fund.
Statement by Environment Texas Director Luke Metzger
In
every sector of water use, new technologies and better management
practices can enable us to get more out of a gallon of water. We
can’t control when it rains, but we can control how we use water. State
funding can help cut water waste, improve water conservation, and steer
Texas toward a more sustainable water future.
We
applaud the House for rejecting an effort to gut funding for water
conservation. Thanks especially to Rep. Doug Miller, Jim Keffer and Lyle
Larson for speaking out against the
King amendment.
We
are very disappointed that the House voted against directing the water
board to consider environmental impacts in their funding decisions. New
reservoirs, pipelines and desalination
projects can cause major harm to our rivers, our forests and our bays
and estuaries. It’s irresponsible not to consider these impacts when
deciding which projects to back with state money.
Environment Texas is a statewide, citizen-funded, non-profit advocate for clean air, clean water and open spaces.
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