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July 7, 2024
NEWS DIGEST
by Brandon Waltens
Good morning,
Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick are raising urgent concerns about the future stability of Texas’ power grid.
A joint statement released last week follows recent testimony from ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas, who warned that Texas might need 150,000 megawatts of power to support its grid by 2030—just six years away.
Texas typically has around 85,000 megawatts of power from wind, solar, coal, nuclear, and natural gas sources.
The potential shortfall has prompted Abbott and Patrick to call for an immediate review of all policies related to the grid. In their statement, they highlighted the pressing need for action.
“If the new estimate is correct, the updated numbers provided by Mr. Vegas call for an immediate review of all policies concerning the grid.”
Last November, Texas voters approved Senate Joint Resolution 93, establishing the Texas Energy Fund. This fund provides a $5 billion low-interest loan program designed to incentivize the construction of more dispatchable natural gas plants. According to Abbott and Patrick, demand for these loans has been overwhelming, with the state receiving notices of intent to apply for $39 billion in loans—nearly eight times the available amount.
In light of the new projections for 2030, Abbott and Patrick announced plans to seek an expansion of the program to $10 billion to expedite the construction of new plants.
“The average plant will take three to four years to complete, and new transmission lines will take three to six years to complete,” they noted. “Texas is currently the fastest state to approve and build new plants and transmission lines because of our low regulations and pro-business policies, but we must move quickly.”
The Republican Party of Texas has made protecting the electric grid a legislative priority for the upcoming session, including ensuring the “delivery of abundant, reliable, and resilient energy.”
Unreliable energy sources like wind and solar—which the state has already spent billions of dollars subsidizing—infamously failed in the winter storm of February 2021, leading to massive power outages across the state.
With the state facing another round of extreme heat, recent polling revealed that most Texans believe an electrical grid failure could happen again this summer.
Featured
An illegal alien accused of murdering two Chick-fil-A employees at their workplace in Irving admitted to previously sneaking past United States authorities to enter the country illegally.
Sources informed the New York Post that 37-year-old El Salvador national Oved Bernardo Mendoza Argueta confided in custody that he entered the U.S. illegally in the past, but is unsure exactly when or where.
He also reportedly claimed that he has a child who is a U.S. citizen.
State
Local Officials Urge Giovanni Capriglione to Oppose Democrat-Backed Speaker Candidate
State Rep. Giovanni Capriglione is currently not among the 46 Republicans who have said they will oppose a Speaker candidate who supports Democrat chairs.
Texas A&M Chancellor John Sharp Announces Departure as University Faces Scrutiny
The university—once thought to be a conservative stronghold—has increasingly embraced leftist ideology.
Texas Schools Spending Millions on Electric Buses
Districts are buying the vehicles with grants from a $5 billion Clean Bus Program funded by federal taxpayers.
Local
Fort Worth Uses Taxpayer Dollars for LGBT Event
The event celebrating sexual identities was held on city property and included paying an LGBT group for a musical performance.
Killeen ISD Going ‘Cell Phone Free’
One Texas lawmaker is proposing statewide limits on phones in schools.
Harris County Sheriff Deputies Want Collective Bargaining
They must deliver a petition for collective bargaining to order an election and then a majority of Harris County voters have to approve it.
Federal
Paxton Wins Temporary Block of Biden’s Liquefied Natural Gas Export Restrictions
The ruling requires the administration to keep processing new applications to export LNG as the Texas-led lawsuit proceeds.
US Rep. Pfluger Seeks to Revoke Visas for Foreign Students Who Riot and Assault Police
The proposed legislation allows for the deportation of foreign students on visas found guilty of participating in violence or rioting.
ICE Operation Arrests 11 Human Rights Violators in Texas and Across US
Fugitives entered the U.S. illegally to avoid justice abroad.
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