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MustReadTexas.com – @MustReadTexas
BY: @MattMackowiak
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THURSDAY || 5/8/2025
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“If something of importance is known in Texas, Matt knows it. With a decline in the number of credible news organizations, the Must Read Texas morning email is indispensable for anyone that wants to continue to be informed.” – Former U.S. Senator Phil Gramm (R-TX)
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TOP NEWS
"Texas braces for surge in power demand amid population and industry boom,” Texas Tribune's Alejandra Martinez -- "Texas is preparing for an unprecedented surge in electricity demand, with projections showing the need for nearly double the state grid’s power capacity within the next six years.
The state’s main electric grid operator, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas or ERCOT, attributes the forecast in part to a wave of large-scale industrial development from data centers, hydrogen production and oil and gas operations transitioning to electrification. Population growth and extreme weather events also contribute to the state’s increasing energy needs.
Despite a 30% increase in generation capacity over the past four years — largely driven by the growth of solar, wind, and battery storage — energy experts who gathered at a Texas Tribune event at Dallas College at the Cedar Valley campus Thursday said the grid must adapt fast to meet growing demand.
They said the state’s big challenges include legislative uncertainties and keeping residents' electric bills from skyrocketing.
“If anyone could do it, it'll be Texas. Like we're faster than every other state. We're faster than most regions in the world,” Michael E. Webber, an energy policy expert at the University of Texas at Austin, said. “If we don't get in our own way.”
The event, moderated by Texas Tribune politics reporter Kayla Guo, explored how Texas can meet this moment: preparing its grid and infrastructure for a dramatic increase in demand, managing costs and ensuring reliability for Texans. Guo was also joined by Sandra Haverlah, president of the Texas Consumer Association and Garrett Golding, assistant vice president for energy programs at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.
For consumers, the stakes are high. Haverlah said that residential electrical bills will reflect the cost of building new grid infrastructure and upgrading and maintaining existing facilities and equipment.
“For many years, that grid wasn't upgraded, or those particular lines and poles weren't upgraded, but now we're looking at storms that are worse and people are upset about outages,” Haverlah said. “People want the equipment upgraded, but the equipment is now more expensive.”
The panel also discussed Senate Bill 6 by Sen. Phil King, R-Weatherford, a high priority bill that would place new obligations on large electricity users, give state regulators more tools to oversee how and when those businesses connect to the grid and help ERCOT better forecast the electricity needs to avoid situations like the catastrophic 2021 winter storm.
ERCOT lost control of the state’s power supply during Winter Storm Uri in February 2021, leaving millions without electricity and causing widespread blackouts that lasted days. Hundreds of Texans died. The storm left many concerned about the grid’s reliability and those concerns still linger years later.
The bill would require large electricity users like data companies to disclose competitive information about where else they might be considering locating. Webber said that is causing nervousness among tech companies like Microsoft, because it could impact their business strategy.
Data center companies are also worried about giving the state control over their operations and disclosing their energy needs.
Webber said that while data center companies are generally willing to reduce power usage during peak hours, several are uncomfortable with the prospect of political interference in their business operations." Texas Tribune
TOP NEWS
"UT's School of Civic Leadership will solidify campus presence with $100M investment” Houston Chronicle ($)
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
"Former Harris County District Attorney Calls for Federal Investigation into Public Corruption Cases” The Texan
"San Antonio bans vape shops within 1,000 feet of schools, daycares” SAEN ($)
STATE GOVERNMENT
"Frio County public officials among six indicted after elections investigation, Paxton says” Texas Tribune
TEXANS IN DC
“John Cornyn pushes death penalty for those in the country illegally who kill U.S. citizens” DMN ($)
BUSINESS NEWS
“On moving the arena downtown, Spurs GM Peter Holt says that has always been the goal” SA Report
NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE
> SAEN: "Donald Trump has a negative economic approval rating in Texas for the first time, poll finds" SAEN
> SA REPORT: "Texas House Republicans poised to scale back legislation that targets state’s universities" SA REPORT
> EP TIMES: "Texas Senate panel advances bill to no longer allow undocumented students to pay in-state tuition" EP TIMES
> THE TEXAN: "Texas Arrests Six in Frio County for Election Tampering Charges" THE TEXAN
> THE TEXAN: "Concealed Carry for Early Voting Election Judges Sparks Partisan Debate in Texas House" THE TEXAN
> THE TEXAN: "Texans Weigh in on Trump’s Job in Office, Texas Republican Approval Ratings" THE TEXAN
> HOU CHRON: "Houston adopts study to prepare for legal fight over minority business program" HOU CHRON
> AAS: "Could Texas recoup $800M for border effort? Request is in latest House spending bill" AAS
> KXAN: "How Texas will improve virtual learning for students, educators" KXAN
> AAS: "Parent advisory councils could shape school library content under controversial Texas bill" AAS
> AAS: "Why university professors say Texas Senate Bill 37 would be disastrous for higher education" AAS
> SAEN: "Republicans move to build anti-abortion monument at Texas Capitol" SAEN
> TPR: "After nearly seven hours of public comments, San Marcos rejects Gaza ceasefire resolution" TPR
> AAS: "Will Texas Legislature finally mandate landlords to provide AC for renters?" AAS
> FWST: "Is this the Incredible Shrinking Political Party? The Tarrant GOP goes 0-for-11 | Opinion" FWST
> TPR: "How Trump family business ventures stand to directly benefit the President" TPR
> THE TEXAN: "Dallas-Fort Worth Voters Approve Over $5.7 Billion in School, City Bonds in May Election" THE TEXAN
> KXAN: "SOURCES: ICE deports family of five, including US born kids, after DPS detainment near Austin school" KXAN
> SAEN: "Upscale Austin suburb annoyed with Elon Musk's security, parties, big fence" SAEN
> TPR: "Black smoke rises from the Sistine Chapel as cardinals cast an unsuccessful first vote" TPR
> EP TIMES: "First ever Texas murder charge filed under stricter fentanyl law" EP TIMES
> FWST: "Teen shot dead after helping friend stop man assaulting his mom, Texas cops say" FWST
> FWST: "North Texas high school student on life support after fall in ‘Senior Assassin’ game" FWST
> FWST: "4 Plano restaurants closed: Moldy food, 30 live roaches found in inspections" FWST
> KXAN: "Texas State University plans to grow student body to 50,000 by 2033" KXAN
> KXAN: "The least expensive airport to fly from in Texas: Data" KXAN
> FWST: "Arlington police expand Drone as a First Responder program" FWST
EXTRA POINTS
Last night's Texas sports scores:
> MLB: Houston 9, Milwaukee 1
> MLB: Boston 6, Texas 4
> NHL: Dallas 3, Winnipeg 2 (1-0)
Tonight's Texas sports schedule:
> 12:35pm: MLB: Texas at Boston
Tomorrow's Texas sports schedule:
> 5:40pm: MLB: Texas at Detroit
> 7:10pm: MLB: Cincinnati at Houston
> 8:30pm: NHL: Dallas at Winnipeg (ESPN)
TEXAS / TEXAS A&M FOOTBALL: "Lone Star Showdown: Texas, Texas A&M scheduled to play rivalry game on Black Friday" AAS ($)
DALLAS STARS: "Stars’ Mikko Rantanen making his case as the biggest superstar in Dallas" DMN ($)
TEXAS RANGERS: "Here’s how the Texas Rangers will continue to manage Corey Seager’s hamstring injury" DMN ($)
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