Wind Farm KUT

Energy & Environment

As Texas legislative session nears end, Republican lawmakers try one last push against renewables

Posted on · Proposals considered damaging to Texas’ wind and solar sectors, many of which had been introduced in standalone bills earlier in the session but failed to win enough support to become law, have now been resurrected and added as amendments to a make-or-break piece of legislation to continue the operation of the state's Public Utility Commission.

Texas Power Grid

Texas

Texas lawmakers considering power grid fix that ignores last year’s blackout

Posted on · A report commissioned by the Public Utility Commission of Texas estimates that the performance credit mechanism could increase electricity costs on the state's grid by $460 million a year. Proponents of the credits say electric companies may eat some of that cost and not pass it on to consumers.

Power Lines

Energy

How Power Flows To Your Houston Home — And Why It Failed To Do So During The Winter Freeze

Posted on · The deadly winter freeze gave many Texans a glimpse into how complicated – and in many ways, vulnerable – the state’s electricity system is. Half a year later many Houstonians are still figuring out what parts of that system actually failed.

Energy & Environment

ERCOT CEO Defends Power Outages As Texas Lawmakers Probe Winter Storm Response

Posted on · Bill Magness, CEO of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, said widespread blackouts during last week’s winter storm were necessary to prevent grid failure.