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I get it. No one wants to be told to back off the air conditioning when it’s 109° outside. But I have to tell you – ERCOT is right: energy conservation is a good strategy. It’s fast, it’s free, and when enough of us join in, small changes can make big differences. It can stabilize the grid and even prevent spikes in consumer power prices. So please, don’t get mad at ERCOT. They’re just trying to keep everything running.
But seriously, it is HOT and it’s not cooling off any time soon. We need our air conditioning!
What has to change?
Ever since Winter Storm Uri, I’ve been working with energy experts and my Senate colleagues on ways to improve the Texas power grid. The emphasis has been on generating more electricity – the supply side, and that’s important. But more generation is only part of the solution. We have to address the demand side too, through energy efficiency and conservation.
This past session, the Legislature made huge investments in new power generation, created new rules, and re-designed the electricity market. But it did very little to advance energy efficiency and conservation. I teamed up with a Senate colleague to pass a consumer demand response bill. That will help a little.
But the state should put real money into helping people make their homes and businesses more energy efficient. It’s a faster and cheaper complement to increasing our power production… and it lowers our energy bills too.
We need your support to make energy conservation and efficiency a reality for the Texas power grid. Would you chip in $5 today to help us achieve these common-sense energy solutions?
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