An audio interview with Trip Doggett, president and chief executive of the Texas grid operator, ERCOT
Energy
In-depth reporting on oil, gas, renewable power, and policies shaping the future of energy in Texas from The Texas Tribune.
Trip Doggett: The TT Interview
The chief executive of the Texas electric grid operator discusses what caused the rolling blackouts across the state on Wednesday โ and why he doesn’t know if he lost power in his own home.
Texas Won’t Secede โย But It Won’t Shut Up Either
Texas leaders aren’t talking about secession, after an outbreak of conversation a couple of years ago. But the germ of the idea remains in the anti-federalist talking points that fueled Gov. Rick Perryโs re-election campaign last year and provided the outline for his book, Fed Up!
Head of Texas Grid Discusses Blackouts
The chief executive of ERCOT, the Texas grid operator, said that “extremely cold” temperatures and windy conditions caused valves, pipes and other equipment in some power plants to fail.
The Rolling Chain of Events Behind Texas Blackouts
What happened yesterday to cause the rolling power blackouts across Texas? A chain reaction of problems involving the state’s coal and gas appeared to be the cause โ and wind plants were having trouble, too.
EPA Proposes New Regulations on Rocket Fuel Ingredient
The Environmental Protection Agency is developing new drinking-water regulations for a toxic rocket-fuel ingredient found in 26 states โ including Texas.
ERCOT Ends Emergency Blackouts
Power out at your house? You’ve got good company โ 400,000 other Texans, as of noon today. But as of this afternoon, the lights (and heat) should be coming back on. The demand for power exceeded generation capacity around midnight last night, causing more than 50 generators to shut down statewide
Slideshow: Native Grasses
A slideshow of Bill Neiman’s seed-cleaning facility near Junction.
Bill Neiman Discusses Native Seeds
Bill Neiman, owner of Native American Seed in Junction, Texas, talks about how his career focus evolved from conventional landscapes to native plants.
The Constant Gardeners
From the highways of Texas to the San Jacinto Battleground, state agencies now aim to maximize the use of native grasses rather than opting for whatever was cheapest or fastest-growing, as they did decades ago.



