Credit: American Public Power Association/Unsplash

Texas to boost energy fund to $10 billion to expand power grid

In response to rising electricity demands, Texas will double its state fund for power grid expansion from $5 billion to $10 billion.

Kayla Guo reports for The Texas Tribune.

In short:

Texas plans to expand the Texas Energy Fund to $10 billion, offering low-interest loans to build new gas-fueled power plants.
The state’s grid operator predicts electricity demand will nearly double by 2030, prompting an immediate policy review.
The fund will also provide bonuses and grants for plant connection, modernization and weatherization.

Key quote:

"[The numbers in the new forecast] call for an immediate review of all policies concerning the grid."

— Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in a press release.

Why this matters:

The state's commitment to bolstering its power grid is a critical step towards ensuring reliable electricity for millions of residents. Recent years have highlighted the vulnerabilities in Texas's energy infrastructure, most notably during the devastating winter storm in 2021 that left millions without power in freezing temperatures. The expanded funding aims to prevent such crises by enhancing grid resilience and capacity.

www.texastribune.org

Senator Whitehouse puts climate change on budget committee’s agenda

For more than a decade, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse gave daily warnings about the mounting threat of climate change. Now he has a powerful new perch.

Texas to boost energy fund to $10 billion to expand power grid

Trump administration seeks to reframe climate change as beneficial

NASA cuts chief scientist role and other positions at headquarters

Fossil fuel priorities take center stage at major energy conference

E.P.A. to shut down environmental justice offices, leaving vulnerable communities exposed

House Republicans push to protect clean energy tax credits in budget fight

Colorado River funding freeze raises alarms over water security

Most cities fail to meet global air quality standards

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.

Op-ed: Why funding for the environmental justice movement must be anti-racist

We must prioritize minority-serving institutions, BIPOC-led organizations and researchers to lead environmental justice efforts.

Biden finalizes long-awaited hydrogen tax credits ahead of Trump presidency

Responses to the new rules have been mixed, and environmental advocates worry that Trump could undermine them.

Op-ed: Toxic prisons teach us that environmental justice needs abolition

Prisons, jails and detention centers are placed in locations where environmental hazards such as toxic landfills, floods and extreme heat are the norm.

LISTEN: Reflections on the first five years of the Agents of Change program

The leadership team talks about what they’ve learned — and what lies ahead.

Study shows $1 billion in lost tax revenue in Houston area from industry tax breaks

Top polluters are benefiting the most from tax breaks.