AI-assisted research summary: The commission must make and enforce rules for geothermal energy exploration, development, and production, and it must do so only after a public hearing.
Sec. 141.012. RULES. (a) The commission, in consultation with the commissioner and the executive director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, shall make, publish, and enforce rules providing for the rapid and orderly exploration, development, and production of geothermal energy and associated resources and to accomplish the purposes of this chapter. (b) The rules made under this section shall include rules governing: (1) protection of the environment against damage resulting from the exploration, development, and production of geothermal energy and associated resources; (2) prevention of waste of natural resources, including geothermal energy and associated resources, in connection with the exploration, development, and production of geothermal energy and associated resources; (3) protection of the general public against injury or damage resulting from the exploration, development, and production of geothermal energy and associated resources; and (4) protection of correlative rights against infringement resulting from the exploration, development, and production of geothermal energy and associated resources. (c) Rules shall be made and enforced only after a public hearing. Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2641, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977. Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76, Sec. 11.276, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended by: Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 986 (S.B. 766), Sec. 45, eff. September 1, 2025.