ERCOT to argue it is immune from winter storm lawsuits
Nearly two dozen lawsuits allege that failures by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, the operator of the state's main power grid, led to the wrongful death of a family member. Full Story
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![A home in South Austin is lit only by candlelight near the front door as much of Austin was still without power on Feb. 18, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
John Cornyn and Eddie Bernice Johnson jointly file legislation to help weatherize Texas’ electrical grid
The two Texans' new bill would authorize the federal government to offer grants to states in support of weatherizing the state's electrical grids. It comes in response to February's deadly winter storm and sweeping power outages. Full Story
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![An aerial view of northbound Interstate 35 at Stassney Lane in South Austin after a severe snow storm. Feb. 15, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas lawmakers want to ban dangerous radioactive waste. The proposal would give a nuclear waste company a big financial break.
A bill advancing in the House seeks to ban spent nuclear fuel, one of the most dangerous types of radioactive waste, from coming to Texas. Full Story
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![The entrance to the Waste Control Specialists site, where radioactive and hazardous waste is being stored on Jan. 17, 2021.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman for The Texas Tribune -
When the power went out, Texas oil and gas regulators rushed to defend the industry’s image
Members of the Texas Railroad Commission were quick to blame renewable energy for power outages across the state. All sources of energy struggled to produce power during the storm. Full Story
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![Standing at right, Carmen Pena, 75, waits for a ride at the Rebekah Baines Johnson Center in Austin on Feb. 17, 2021.]()
Credit: Montinique Monroe for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott names former aide to retired House Speaker Dennis Bonnen to post regulating power grid
Will McAdams has also worked as an aide to three state senators. He must be confirmed by the Senate before taking the position at the Public Utility Commission. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott has appointed Will McAdams, President of the Associated Builders and Contractors, to the Public Utility Commission of Texas.]()
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President Joe Biden's $2 trillion jobs and climate change plan would improve internet access, upgrade power grids and make road improvements
The proposal would be paid for, in part, by raising the corporate tax rate and global minimum tax. It calls for improving roads, increasing public transit spending and preparing for hurricanes, among other things. Full Story
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![Workers during the construction of Texas toll road SH130.]()
Credit: Spencer Selvidge for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: After statewide power outages, Texas lawmakers reconsider an ounce of prevention
Power outages during a winter storm have the Texas Legislature considering remedies — and a flaw in their response to a previous storm. Full Story
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![Gabriel Martinez shovels debris from burst pipes at an apartment in downtown Dallas. Texans across the state are now working to recover from the winter storm that left many people dealing with repairs and water issues.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Texas lawmakers want to prevent another power crisis. But the legislation doesn't go far enough to do that, critics say.
Some say lawmakers should go further to ensure power plants can withstand increased weather due to climate change. And they worry that much of the legislation advancing will be up to the Public Utility Commission to enforce. Full Story
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![The City of San Marcos provided three San Marcos C.I.S.D. school buses, parked at the San Marcos Activity Center, as warming centers for residents needing shelter from the cold on Feb 17, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Sweeping legislation to overhaul state’s electricity market in response to winter storm heads to Texas House after Senate's unanimous approval
Senate Bill 3 would require all power generators, transmission lines, natural gas facilities and pipelines to make upgrades for extreme weather. Its prospects are uncertain in the House, which is scheduled to take up a series of related, standalone bills on Tuesday. Full Story
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![Electrical workers repair a power line in Austin on Feb. 18, 2021. Many Texas residents are still without power, and many don't have clean drinking water or working water at all.]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune -
Almost 70% of ERCOT customers lost power during winter storm, study finds
Texans in ERCOT's service area who lost electricity were without power for an average of 42 hours, according to the study. They had been told to prepare for short-term, rolling outages. Full Story
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![Food pantry manager Farrah Rivera maps out routes to resident rooms at the Rebekah Baines Johnson Center in Austin on Feb. 17, 2021.]()
Credit: Montinique Monroe for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Warren Buffett’s power play puts a price on electric reliability in Texas
Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Energy wants to build 10 electric plants in Texas, for use when demand peaks or other plants falter. And it’s the first time a price tag has been attached to a remedy since last month’s deadly storm. Full Story
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![Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett at an annual Berkshire meeting in Omaha, Nebraska on May 2, 2015.]()
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Texas' natural gas and power generators would have to prepare for extreme temperatures under bill Senate committee approved
The wide-ranging proposal includes a number of reforms that have been floating around the state Capitol since last month’s deadly winter storm left millions without electricity during freezing temperatures. Full Story
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![Executive director and Vice President of DMA Properties Sergio Amaya clears the walkways outside of the Rebekah Baines Johnson Center in Austin on Feb. 17, 2021.]()
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Warren Buffett group lobbying Texas lawmakers for deal to build $8 billion worth of power plants for emergency use
In return, lawmakers would agree to create a revenue stream for Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway through an additional charge on Texans’ power bills. Full Story
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![Berkshire Hathaway Chairman Warren Buffett walked through an exhibit hall as shareholders gathered to hear from the billionaire investor at Berkshire Hathaway Inc's annual shareholder meeting in Omaha, Nebraska on May 4, 2019.]()
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U.S. House committee holds hearing on Texas’ massive power outages during deadly winter storm
At least 57 people died during the winter storm that plunged much of Texas into subfreezing temperatures and caused widespread power outages for days. Full Story
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![From left to right, Martin Xoxa, Chelsea Pursley and Joe Williams build a fire to keep warm outside of Pursley's home in East Austin. The group has been without power since Monday evening. Feb.17, 2021.]()
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Point of Order: Former Texas House Speaker Joe Straus explains why he voted for Joe Biden last year
In the latest episode of our podcast about the Texas Legislature, Evan Smith talks to former speaker of the Texas House Joe Straus about life as a civilian, what he’d do about repricing electricity, the conservative case for expanding Medicaid, why he didn’t vote for Donald Trump — twice — and whether he’ll run for something again. Full Story
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Experts fear reversing electricity prices from winter storm could make things worse
It is unclear who would be helped or hurt — and by how much — if lawmakers try to revise electricity market prices charged during the winter storm. Full Story
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![Reliability Coordinators monitored the state power grid during a tour of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) command center in Taylor in 2012.]()
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California cities banned natural gas in new buildings. Texas wants to outlaw those bans.
A bill to stop cities from banning natural gas as a fuel source for heating homes and other buildings is being advanced as priority storm-response legislation following the February power outages. Full Story
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![Construction workers work on an office building on the corner or Metric and Parmer in Austin on June 18, 2020.]()
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Texas’ chief energy regulator fiercely defended fossil fuels after historic blackouts. She also profits from oil and gas.
Railroad Commission Chair Christi Craddick and her father have financial ties to oil and gas. Other state officials who have oversight over the industry also had significant financial interests in it. Full Story
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![Residents of an apartment building in South Austin ate their meals in the parking lot after losing power during a severe winter storm. Feb. 18, 2021.]()
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Texas power crisis prompts Texas House panel to advance several bills, including one requiring plants to prep for extreme weather
The bills, which include mandating weatherization of power plants, reforming the ERCOT board and creating a state emergency communications system, are “a work in progress.” Full Story
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![The Blanco Vista neighborhood of San Marcos is blanketed with several inches of snow as a massive winter weather system causes power outages across Texas on Feb. 15, 2021.]()
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After House stalls on readjusting electricity prices, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick urges Gov. Greg Abbott to use emergency powers
“The governor of Texas is a very powerful person,” Patrick said at a Capitol news conference, ramping up his dayslong campaign to get Abbott to intervene. “He can do anything he wants.” Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick gave remarks at the State Capitol during the Texas Fallen Heroes ceremony on May 25, 2019.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune