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| Protecting Quality Of Life |
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"Protecting our quality of life from environmental and other challenge will preserve the best of Texas."
State Representative Mike Villarreal
Texas is a state of enormous natural resources and has a history of world leadership in energy. Our state leads the nation in wind power capacity. We can build on that proud tradition and become a leader in solar energy. We can also build on our strong foundation in water conservation to find new ways to save energy and reduce pollution.
In embracing the new energy economy, we can bring exciting new job opportunities to our people and position Texas as a leader for the next century.
Green Government Leading by Example
By embracing green technology in its own operations, government can serve as a responsible steward of our tax dollars, demonstrate the impact of new innovations, and begin to directly reduce pollution. Taxpayers want to see the smart use of their taxes, and I believe we have exciting opportunities to do so.
In 2009 I passed legislation to expand the requirement for state agencies to purchase low-emission fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles (HB 657 included in HB 432). I also file legislation to provide economic incentives for using green innovations in new school construction. This legislation would allow schools to take advantage of the economic payoffs of green building by reducing utility bills, and slow the demand for new dirty power plants.
Unleashing Texas Business Savvy 
Texas is already a national leader in wind energy, an industry that has rebuilt local economies while powering our homes and businesses. To expand our wind and solar industries, and bring that energy to our cities, we need to build new transmission lines. In 2008, I helped lead a successful effort to persuade the state Public Utility Commission to adopt a groundbreaking plan for building that infrastructure. By setting aggressive goals in our Renewable Portfolio Standard, and targeting economic incentives to new energy innovations, we can create a win-win-win solution for our economy, health and environment. By using the Green Jobs program my legislation established and taking further job training steps, we can make sure those businesses have the workers they need.
Modernizing Energy Use in Homes and Businesses
Many homeowners and businesses want to reduce their energy bills and carbon footprint by embracing new technology and basic efficiency upgrades, but they can't afford the upfront costs. The government can help them by providing a loan for the initial costs and ensuring they recoup the savings before they pay off the full loan.
In 2009, I passed legislation to authorize cities to do just that: provide convenient low-cost loans to cover the upfront costs of installing solar panels or other energy improvements on homes and businesses. Property owners can pay the loan back through their property taxes over the long-term and attach the loan to the property if they sell it. We need to develop other innovative solutions to encourage and assist Texans to make their homes and businesses more energy efficient.
New Transportation Choices
We Texans love our cars and trucks. But our tailpipe emissions pollute the air, make us sick, and contribute to dangerous changes in our climate. It also leaves us captive to longer and longer traffic jams, and the risk of skyrocketing gas prices. To top it off, we are running out of money to maintain our current roads, much less build the new transportation infrastructure that our growing economy and population will need. By planning ahead, investing early, and giving families choices, we can continue to grow our economy and protect Texans from these challenges.
During the 2009 legislative session, I filed legislation to allow Bexar County voters to approve local funding for local transportation projects. The bill emphasized light rail, bike paths and walking. (Check out the Facebook page.) We also need to connect our cities with high-speed rail. We will never completely give up our cars and trucks, but should make sure they are fuel-efficient and move quickly to plug-in hybrids.
 Holding Water Polluters Accountable
Texans take abiding by the law seriously. But the state auditor has reported that we make a strange exception for polluters. That’s not fair, and it has serious consequences: In 2007 I joined with environmental researchers in releasing data showing that there were over 1300 clean water violations in our state in 2005. If we want our children and grandchildren to be able to drink clean water and visit clean lakes and rivers, we need to do a better job of protecting this precious resource.
I am working to pass legislation that will rein in the lawlessness. The measure will require our state agencies to enforce water protection standards and levy real penalties on the polluters who threaten our drinking water and the safety of swimming and fishing in our local waterways
Smart Development
Property owners have a right to develop their land, but that right must be balanced with the need to protect public health, natural resources, and others' property. Unfortunately, local governments have been losing the ability to control sprawl and protect their drinking water. Texans are all for building our economy, but we want everyone to play by the rules, and we want to ensure that the trees and open spaces we grew up with don't disappear forever.
To strike a better balance, in 2009 I filed legislation that would make it harder for developers to avoid all current city rules -- such as our tree protection or impervious cover ordinances -- by stating that they previously informed local government that they plan to develop something on their land someday. I also filed legislation to close a loophole that developers are using to get around tree ordinances and other rules when they build on formally agricultural land.
Investing in our Parks
In Texas we love the great outdoors, and I embraced that tradition by living at a state park during the 2007 legislative session. But whether you have a favorite outdoor hobby, just like to get away and relax for a little while, or want to ensure that your children and grandchildren have outdoor spaces to enjoy, it is disturbing to know that we rank 49th in the nation in per capita park space.
Fortunately, in 2007 the State Legislature took a big step forward, providing increased funding to our state parks. We must make sure that the funding is used to rebuild our parks system, and that we continue to invest in preserving and maintaining the state’s natural beauty. Click here to watch local news coverage of my adventure living in a state park during the last legislative session.
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State Representative Mike Villarreal - Texas House District 123 San Antonio
P.O. Box 830601, San Antonio, Texas 78283 - (512) 382-0357
Paid for by Mike Villarreal Campaign
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