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.
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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Winter Storm 2021
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.
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Texas Legislature 2021
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.
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Winter Storm 2021
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.
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Winter Storm 2021
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.
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Economy
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.
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Texas Legislature 2021
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.
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Winter Storm 2021
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.
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Texas Legislature 2021
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.
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Winter Storm 2021
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.