If not carefully vetted, candidates’ proposals to lower costs could exacerbate future affordability issues, experts say.
Energy
In-depth reporting on oil, gas, renewable power, and policies shaping the future of energy in Texas from The Texas Tribune.
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TribCast
TribCast: A data center proponent makes his case
In this week’s podcast, former Public Utilities Commission member Will McAdams, president of the McAdams Energy Group, describes why he thinks data centers are necessary and shouldn’t be overly regulated.
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Energy
Texas lawmaker wants oil regulators to explain why they ended public comment at meetings
The Texas Railroad Commission changed the rules over public comment earlier this month, raising eyebrows from transparency activists and the lawmaker who helped rewrite the state’s open meeting laws.
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Energy
Texas regulators approve two massive West Texas transmission lines amid outcry from landowners
Following hours of testimony on Friday, the Public Utility Commission of Texas has approved two transmission lines to ship electricity to the oil-and gas-producing west.
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Data Centers in Texas
Austin races to regulate AI data centers before they strain city’s water and power
Austin is considering new regulations for massive AI data centers amid growing concerns over their significant water and energy demands.
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Energy
Industry warns of blackouts, economic woes if Texas overreacts to data center, transmission line anger
Energy regulators and industry experts warn that the state’s delays to major projects amid backlash from residents could create rolling blackouts and strangle growth of other industries that need power.
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Energy
East Texas sits on a goldmine of lithium, but questions loom over how the state will regulate mining and production
As the U.S. pushes to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers, Texas companies prepare to capitalize on the state’s emerging lithium industry.
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Energy
Residents and industry leaders at odds over transmission lines at legislative hearing
The growing backlash surrounding 765 kv lines, as well as data centers, was tackled at a nine-hour House hearing that included testimony and recommendations but no definitive answers.
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Energy
Texas will audit up to 300 projects, mostly data centers, after Gov. Greg Abbott’s order
The state’s power grid operator had already planned on auditing several data center proposals, but Abbott’s directive reworks the timeline and adds new requirements.
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Economy
Data center audit lacks specifics even as Gov. Abbott, industry leaders tout it
Without key details on the audits but the eagerness to support them, policy watchers question how impactful these audits will be in curbing data center growth.
