Portable generators are among the deadliest consumer products. Two decades after the government identified the danger, and as climate change leads to more power outages, people are left vulnerable by a system that lets the industry regulate itself.
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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Why EPA’s plan to regulate oil and gas methane emissions is good for Texas
Methane, a short-lived but extremely potent greenhouse gas, is having a major news-making moment — and it’s good news for Texas.
Posted in
Winter Storm 2021
Texas electricity regulators say most power generation facilities are ready for winter. That alone won’t stop a blackout.
In the first status report of how electricity companies are preparing for winter, electric regulators expressed confidence in improvements made since February’s deadly storm. But the changes address only part of the power grid supply chain.
Posted in
Winter Storm 2021
Analysis: Texas’ electric grid is half-ready for another winter freeze
Chances are, winter weather won’t be as bad as it was last February. Chances are, Texas won’t have the electric blackouts that caused so much misery then. And chances are, whatever happens will have some influence on the 2022 elections.
Posted in
Winter Storm 2021
Texas energy regulators, gas industry try to reassure the public that the state’s power grid is ready for winter
As state regulators and the companies that power the grid take steps to avoid another catastrophe like February’s winter storm, climate experts say this winter will likely be milder.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
TribCast: Texas braces for the next winter storm and a new COVID-19 variant
In this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with Mitchell, James and Karen about the status of the power grid and the pandemic heading into winter.
Posted in
Texas 2022 Elections
Texas Democrats see focusing on power grid failure as a winning campaign strategy heading into 2022
Republican leaders defend their record on the power grid, pointing to more than a dozen laws passed during this year’s legislative session to address the grid’s reliability. Gov. Greg Abbott has staked his reputation on a promise that the lights won’t go out this winter.
Posted in
Texas 2022 Elections
Analysis: Betting a Texas election on a weather forecast
Gov. Greg Abbott says he can “guarantee” there won’t be blackouts this winter in Texas after one that knocked out power for some people for four days last February. That’s the kind of pre-election prediction that can make a weather forecaster more useful than a political poll.
Posted in
Winter Storm 2021
Texas regulators pass rule aimed at preventing natural gas producers from having power cut off during future winter storms
But Texas oil and gas regulators addressed only part of the problem that led millions of Texans to lose power for days after February’s winter storm, and gas producers likely won’t be required to weatherize until 2023.
Posted in
Winter Storm 2021
We’re approaching the anniversary of the 2021 winter storm. Share your story with us.
We want to hear from Texans about how this catastrophic event is still affecting their lives.