Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dustin Burrows all supported French’s opponent.
Energy
In-depth reporting on oil, gas, renewable power, and policies shaping the future of energy in Texas from The Texas Tribune.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
Texas’ raucous primary runoffs end today. Here’s what to watch.
John Cornyn is trying to fend off Ken Paxton. Both parties are picking attorney general nominees. And an oil and gas regulatory race has become uncharacteristically costly.
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Energy
In the Permian Basin, AI takes on big oil’s dirty water problem
Facing limited options, oil industry turns to AI to handle wastewater from oil production. Producers discovered other uses to streamline the process.
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Politics
Election for oil regulator becomes battleground for wealthy donors
In the GOP runoff for Texas Railroad commissioner, billionaires, big oil companies and trade groups flood the campaign pockets of candidates Jim Wright and Bo French.
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Energy
Defense Department delays 54 wind projects in Texas, citing national security concerns
After years of trying to stop offshore wind projects, the Trump administration is now pausing routine federal permits for 165 land-based projects, including dozens in Texas.
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Economy
A Texas town needs Waco’s help to realize its data center dreams. It’s not going well.
Lacy Lakeview’s hasty approach to the data center project has alienated the Waco officials who would control water service to the site. “Without the City of Waco agreeing to it, Lacy Lakeview can’t do anything out there and neither can Infrakey,” State Rep. Pat Curry said. “Those guys don’t know what the hell they’re doing.”
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
With Trump and Talarico aligned on a gas tax holiday, Cornyn gets on board
James Talarico, the Democratic U.S. Senate nominee, has pushed to suspend the federal gas tax amid soaring fuel costs. Cornyn previously opposed the idea.
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Data Centers in Texas
Texas Republicans have a data center problem
Data center construction is unpopular among locals, and a majority of the facilities are being proposed in red, rural counties. That puts Texas Republicans in a tough spot, as the White House has encouraged states to let the centers flourish.
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Data Centers in Texas
Gas power leapfrogs wind for first time in 10 years in Texas’ grid connection queue
Data centers are largely driving the sudden rise in natural gas power projects on the waiting list to connect to Texas’ grid.
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Energy
Texas leads nation in utility shutoffs as electric bills rise, federal report finds
The state accounted for more than 3 million of the 13.4 million disconnections that occurred in the U.S. in 2024, the highest total in the country.
