Proposed data center project for Waco area would be โparadigm-changerโ
Read full article: Proposed data center project for Waco area would be โparadigm-changerโThe project is at a scale of industrial development and investment unmatched in McLennan Countyโs history: acres of computer hardware, substations and a 1.2-gigawatt gas-fired plant capable of powering about 300,000 homes.
Texas oil and gas regulators win new power to approve projects that shoot carbon underground
Read full article: Texas oil and gas regulators win new power to approve projects that shoot carbon undergroundThe EPA handed over power to the Railroad Commission after a two-year review. Critics say the commission has been too lax with the industry.
Tarrant County GOP Chair Bo French announces run for Texas Railroad Commission
Read full article: Tarrant County GOP Chair Bo French announces run for Texas Railroad CommissionFrench will face commission Chair Jim Wright in the Republican primary. The three-person panel is in charge of the agency that oversees Texasโ oil and gas industry.
Gov. Greg Abbott launches reelection campaign for fourth term
Read full article: Gov. Greg Abbott launches reelection campaign for fourth termAbbott framed his campaign as a means to keep Texas as a conservative bastion, touting efforts to lower property taxes, bolster education and strengthen public safety.
Explosion of data centers causes planning struggles for Texas power grid
Read full article: Explosion of data centers causes planning struggles for Texas power gridAs companies look to build projects that consume more power than cities, the stateโs grid manager is trying to plan how to provide enough electricity to meet the demand.
A North Texas community will vote to form a city in an effort to quiet down a crypto mine
Read full article: A North Texas community will vote to form a city in an effort to quiet down a crypto mineLeaders of the effort say they moved to rural Hood County for its quiet country charm, which was shattered by what locals call โthat roarโ from the facility.
Economic boom or environmental disaster? Rural Texas grapples with pros, cons of data centers
Read full article: Economic boom or environmental disaster? Rural Texas grapples with pros, cons of data centersLocal leaders see data centers, which help power the worldโs shift to artificial intelligence, as a way to keep their towns open. Residents worry their way of life โ and water โ is at stake.
TribCast: Will the Texas renewable energy powerhouse survive?
Read full article: TribCast: Will the Texas renewable energy powerhouse survive?This week, Matthew and Eleanor speak with Eric Goff, founder of an energy policy advising firm, about the growth of wind and solar power in Texas and whether it will continue after recent federal efforts targeting the industry.
Democratic Rep. Jon Rosenthal will run for Texas Railroad Commission
Read full article: Democratic Rep. Jon Rosenthal will run for Texas Railroad CommissionThe day after the four-term Houston lawmaker launched his statewide bid, his former chief of staff, Odus Evbagharu, announced he was running to succeed his former boss in the Texas House.
About $675 million earmarked for Texas projects is in limbo as Congress careens toward shutdown
Read full article: About $675 million earmarked for Texas projects is in limbo as Congress careens toward shutdownTexasโ congressional delegation obtained tentative funding for infrastructure improvements, university research and other initiatives, but the nearly 350 earmarks are all in jeopardy.
State approves $562 million Texas Energy Fund loan for power plant near Baytown
Read full article: State approves $562 million Texas Energy Fund loan for power plant near BaytownThe low-interest loan to NRG Energy for a gas-fired power plant is the largest of three loans approved through the $7 billion fund since its creation in 2023.
Texas regulators delay Entergy power line decision as debate intensifies over Lake Livingston and Willis homes
Read full article: Texas regulators delay Entergy power line decision as debate intensifies over Lake Livingston and Willis homesThe Texas Public Utility Commission (PUC) delayed a decision Tuesday on where Entergy will build a 150-mile high-voltage transmission line, a project meant to supply electricity to Houstonโs fast-growing suburbs.
Texas solar program left in limbo after Trump administration pulls the plug on $250 million grant
Read full article: Texas solar program left in limbo after Trump administration pulls the plug on $250 million grantTexasโ Solar for All program was intended to bring solar panels and batteries to low-income neighborhoods and create jobs by training workers to install the technology.
Texas power plants and chemical companies benefit as Trump eases pollution rules, experts say
Read full article: Texas power plants and chemical companies benefit as Trump eases pollution rules, experts sayA two-year delay on new mercury rules benefits coal-fired power plants, while chemical plants got an exemption from stricter air pollution standards.
Texasโ $7.2 billion loan program for gas power plants has approved two projects in two years
Read full article: Texasโ $7.2 billion loan program for gas power plants has approved two projects in two yearsExperts say the Texas Energy Fund is facing an energy market that makes new power plants more expensive and less profitable.
Hundreds of old EV batteries have new jobs in Texas: Stabilizing the power grid
Read full article: Hundreds of old EV batteries have new jobs in Texas: Stabilizing the power gridAfter reaching the end of their automotive lives, the batteries are being reused to provide lower-cost grid energy storage.
Houston-based green energy provider looking to disrupt the retail electricity industry
Read full article: Houston-based green energy provider looking to disrupt the retail electricity industryPJ Popovic, founder and CEO of Rhythm Energy, recently stopped by Houston Life to chat about what sets his company apart from others.
Centerpoint Energy offers tips to keep customers informed during Hurricane Season
Read full article: Centerpoint Energy offers tips to keep customers informed during Hurricane SeasonTony Gardner, senior vice president and chief customer officer with CenterPoint Energy, recently stopped by Houston Life to chat about hurricane preparedness.
Senate passes GOPโs tax and spending bill with Cornyn, Cruz priorities included
Read full article: Senate passes GOPโs tax and spending bill with Cornyn, Cruz priorities includedThe package includes $13.5 billion to reimburse states for border spending. It is expected to meet resistance in the House from some Texas Republicans.
Data centers are building their own gas power plants in Texas
Read full article: Data centers are building their own gas power plants in TexasNot long ago, developers of the massive server farms talked about powering them with wind and solar energy. Now theyโre bypassing the grid and building their own gas-fired power plants on site.
Oil companies win protections from Texas Legislature ahead of selling fracking water
Read full article: Oil companies win protections from Texas Legislature ahead of selling fracking waterAt least four companies say they are prepared to treat the water well enough to be released into rivers in West Texas. Environmental groups say the state is moving too fast.
Lawmakers near deal to spend $20 billion over two decades on water crisis
Read full article: Lawmakers near deal to spend $20 billion over two decades on water crisisThe deal allocates $1 billion a year to water projects for 20 years, which some groups estimate is a fraction of what Texas needs to save its water supply.
Bill that gives Texas increased oversight of largest energy users wins Legislatureโs approval
Read full article: Bill that gives Texas increased oversight of largest energy users wins Legislatureโs approvalSenate Bill 6, which now heads to the governorโs desk, gives the stateโs electricity managers the ability to shut power to large consumers during emergencies.
Itโs โTexas Timeโ: Legislature OKs permanent daylight saving time, but Congress must also act
Read full article: Itโs โTexas Timeโ: Legislature OKs permanent daylight saving time, but Congress must also actFederal action would be needed to make the change legal. Lawmakers at both the state and federal levels have debated the question for decades.
Can the Texas power grid handle demand amid the summer-like heatwave coming this week?
Read full article: Can the Texas power grid handle demand amid the summer-like heatwave coming this week?With the summer heatwave coming in hot (no pun intended), ERCOT is expecting peak demand for residents looking to cool off. Its dashboard forecasts to shatter last year's records and potentially threaten the all-time demand record.
Texas has thousands of abandoned oil and gas wells. Who is responsible for cleaning them up?
Read full article: Texas has thousands of abandoned oil and gas wells. Who is responsible for cleaning them up?Across Texas, abandoned wells are erupting with chemical-infused liquid and some have created massive lakes of contaminated water. Regulators say they need more money to address the problem.
Can Texas clean up fracking water enough to use for farming? One company thinks so.
Read full article: Can Texas clean up fracking water enough to use for farming? One company thinks so.The Texas Legislature has also invested millions in research to clean the fracking wastewater. Critics say itโs not a viable solution to the stateโs water crisis.
Buying a generator for your apartment or rental property? Consider this before you shop
Read full article: Buying a generator for your apartment or rental property? Consider this before you shopFor those in an apartment wondering what they can do to prepare for an inevitable power outage during the upcoming hurricane season, there are options for you so you arenโt left in the dark.
Renewable energy companies face little regulation in Texas. A state lawmaker wants to change that.
Read full article: Renewable energy companies face little regulation in Texas. A state lawmaker wants to change that.The legislation would put new requirements on wind and solar companies that oil and gas companies in Texas do not face.
South Texas county leaders will lose some authority over SpaceX launches under new bill
Read full article: South Texas county leaders will lose some authority over SpaceX launches under new billThe lawmakers behind the bill promised there would not be an increase in the number of days the beach is closed.
West Texas lawmakers push bills to divert some oil and gas taxes to help oil-producing counties with roads, other needs
Read full article: West Texas lawmakers push bills to divert some oil and gas taxes to help oil-producing counties with roads, other needsReps. Tom Craddick and Brooks Landgraf want to divert 10% of taxes collected on oil and gas production to help budget-strapped counties keep up with growth.
Want to understand Texasโ water crisis? Start with the guide to water terms.
Read full article: Want to understand Texasโ water crisis? Start with the guide to water terms.Water is complex. So are the terms used to describe it. Get to know the language as Texas debates how to save its water supply.
Texas is running out of water. Hereโs why and what state leaders plan to do about it.
Read full article: Texas is running out of water. Hereโs why and what state leaders plan to do about it.The stateโs water supply faces numerous threats. And by one estimate, the stateโs municipal supply will not meet demand by 2030 if thereโs a severe drought and no water solutions are implemented.
A Republican effort to set deadlines to plug orphan wells in Texas hits resistance
Read full article: A Republican effort to set deadlines to plug orphan wells in Texas hits resistanceThe bill would have set deadlines for the oil and gas industry to plug inactive wells, which can pose a danger to the environment.
Hereโs why global energy leaders will be in Houston this week
Read full article: Hereโs why global energy leaders will be in Houston this weekIndustry leaders from Microsoft, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google, and a host of energy technology firms will converge in Houston for CERAWeek by S&P Global, the worldโs premier energy conference.
With Texas facing soaring electricity demand, the politics of energy quietly shift at the Capitol
Read full article: With Texas facing soaring electricity demand, the politics of energy quietly shift at the CapitolThe Legislature has tried to clamp down on renewable energy resources in the past, but many lawmakers are recognizing the need to support all types of generation to meet record demand growth.
ERCOT approves $54 million plan to move CenterPointโs mobile generators to San Antonio
Read full article: ERCOT approves $54 million plan to move CenterPointโs mobile generators to San AntonioAll Texans connected to the state grid will now pay for the generators rather than just CenterPoint customers.
In Odessa, multiple efforts are underway to help immigrants stay and work
Read full article: In Odessa, multiple efforts are underway to help immigrants stay and workA naturalized citizen, along with other business leaders, are working to create new resources for undocumented people living in the Permian Basin.
Feds approve another deepwater oil export terminal off Texas coast
Read full article: Feds approve another deepwater oil export terminal off Texas coastThe terminal continues an oil export infrastructure buildout that pushes growth in U.S. oil production as momentum fades on a phase-out of fossil fuels.
As Texasโ energy demand soars, a pilot program looks to bolster grid with โvirtual power plantsโ fueled by peopleโs homes
Read full article: As Texasโ energy demand soars, a pilot program looks to bolster grid with โvirtual power plantsโ fueled by peopleโs homesSome Texans who install residential batteries, solar panels and smart thermostats can now send power back to the grid and get a credit on their bill.
Large earthquake strikes West Texas, among strongest ever in state
Read full article: Large earthquake strikes West Texas, among strongest ever in stateThe 5.0 magnitude earthquake is tied for the sixth strongest in state history. Scientists have warned for years that increased fracking in West Texas is causing higher earthquake activity.
Texasโ energy demand may exceed supply in 2026, but experts caution against panic
Read full article: Texasโ energy demand may exceed supply in 2026, but experts caution against panicSome experts are skeptical the grid would see as much demand growth as ERCOT predicts, and other ERCOT models showed things getting tight but not tipping into a deficit.
Chevron announces significant workforce reduction, could lay off up to 20 percent of employees
Read full article: Chevron announces significant workforce reduction, could lay off up to 20 percent of employeesAccording to a report by CNBC, Chevron announced plans to reduce its workforce by 15% to 20% as part of a cost-cutting strategy.
Project 2025 adviser takes the reins at EPA region including Texas
Read full article: Project 2025 adviser takes the reins at EPA region including TexasScott Mason IV, a former deputy energy secretary for Oklahoma and member of the Cherokee nation, is the new administrator for the region that covers Texas and four neighboring states.
Advanced nuclear reactors to be developed at Texas A&M
Read full article: Advanced nuclear reactors to be developed at Texas A&MFour leading nuclear reactor companiesโKairos Power, Natura Resources, Terrestrial Energy, and Aalo Atomicsโare setting up at Texas A&M's Rellis Campus to develop cutting-edge small modular reactor technology.
Texas regulators grapple with a growing problem: old oil wells leaking polluted water
Read full article: Texas regulators grapple with a growing problem: old oil wells leaking polluted waterTwo years after lawmakers created a $10 million program to address leaking wells in rural counties, none of the money has been distributed.
Texas Republicans want more property tax cuts. Hereโs how they may do it.
Read full article: Texas Republicans want more property tax cuts. Hereโs how they may do it.Gov. Greg Abbott said cutting taxes is a top priority, however, state lawmakers donโt have as much money to plug into tax cuts as they did two years ago.
Southeast Asia looks to nuclear power to supercharge its energy transition
Read full article: Southeast Asia looks to nuclear power to supercharge its energy transitionMost countries in fast-growing Southeast Asia are looking to develop nuclear energy in their quest for cleaner and more reliable energy.
CenterPoint Energy settles rate case, will lower power costs for customers
Read full article: CenterPoint Energy settles rate case, will lower power costs for customersHoustonโs main electrical company backed off plans to raise rates after facing sharp criticism for its response to massive power outages after Hurricane Beryl.
An East Texas town debates where to place EV charging stations as Trump threatens subsidies
Read full article: An East Texas town debates where to place EV charging stations as Trump threatens subsidiesSome residents see the charging stations as an economic boom to the town, while others find it an assault on the oil and gas industry in Texas.
Texas regulators overhaul oilfield waste rule for the first time in four decades
Read full article: Texas regulators overhaul oilfield waste rule for the first time in four decadesThe new rule modernizes some aspects of commercial oilfield waste disposal and recycling. But rules for burying oilfield waste on private property remain limited.
Oil companies leaked less methane in West Texas, a new report says. Environmentalists are skeptical.
Read full article: Oil companies leaked less methane in West Texas, a new report says. Environmentalists are skeptical.Methane is a greenhouse gas that traps heat in the atmosphere and is 80 times the potency of carbon dioxide.
The Texas Legislature is back. Hereโs what weโre watching.
Read full article: The Texas Legislature is back. Hereโs what weโre watching.From debating school vouchers and improving the stateโs water supply to reining in property taxes, the GOP-led body will look to pass its conservative priorities amid fighting within the party.
Energy experts weigh in on Texasโ power grid sustainability compared to 2021
Read full article: Energy experts weigh in on Texasโ power grid sustainability compared to 2021โThese kinds of temperatures donโt lead to levels of demand that are particularly difficult to meet,โ energy expert Doug Lewin explained
Texas power grid faces test as temperatures continue to plummet. Can it sustain?
Read full article: Texas power grid faces test as temperatures continue to plummet. Can it sustain?As the winter chill sets in, Texans are questioning whether the state's power grid is prepared to handle the cold months ahead.
South Texas coal-fired power plant to switch to clean energy after receiving more than $1 billion in federal money
Read full article: South Texas coal-fired power plant to switch to clean energy after receiving more than $1 billion in federal moneySan Miguel Electric Cooperative's plan to turn into a solar and battery plant will leave only 14 coal-fired power plants in the state.
Texas regulators shelve an electricity market reform proposal they say does too little to shore up grid
Read full article: Texas regulators shelve an electricity market reform proposal they say does too little to shore up gridThe Public Utility Commission found that the performance credit mechanism, a financial tool the Legislature capped at $1 billion, would only marginally improve reliability of the state power grid.
Growing oil industry support for methane reduction rule could help it survive Trumpโs return
Read full article: Growing oil industry support for methane reduction rule could help it survive Trumpโs returnTexas regulators are taking public comment about how they should implement an EPA rule to reduce methane leaks from the oil and gas industry.
Recycled oilfield water could aid drought-stricken West Texas
Read full article: Recycled oilfield water could aid drought-stricken West TexasOilfield wastewater injected underground is causing earthquakes and blowouts. Now, pilot projects are exploring whether this water could be treated and used to grow crops.
Enron is clearly messing with us, but company insists itโs not all a โjokeโ
Read full article: Enron is clearly messing with us, but company insists itโs not all a โjokeโAn Enron spokesperson confirmed CEO Connor Gaydosโ affiliation with "Birds Arenโt Real," and that the website is a parody, but stressed the company is not a โjokeโ and is serious about working to help solve the global energy crisis.
Grid operator says Texas is better prepared for extreme cold this winter
Read full article: Grid operator says Texas is better prepared for extreme cold this winterERCOT says conditions this winter could spark extreme cold, but additional power supply and continued weatherization efforts will lower the risk of power outages.
No, Enron isnโt actually returning; hereโs how the company is โrelaunchingโ
Read full article: No, Enron isnโt actually returning; hereโs how the company is โrelaunchingโThere's a lot of chatter about Enron, the once-failed and Houston-based commodity company, and its apparent re-launch. How accurate is it exactly?
Crypto miners must register with state and reveal power usage under new Texas rule
Read full article: Crypto miners must register with state and reveal power usage under new Texas ruleThe Public Utility Commission of Texas adopted the rule amid surging demand for power across the state and a growing crypto mining industry in Texas.
A West Texas lawmaker wants to redirect millions of tax dollars to plug abandoned wells, curb emissions
Read full article: A West Texas lawmaker wants to redirect millions of tax dollars to plug abandoned wells, curb emissionsThe proposal comes after the stateโs oil and gas regulatory agency said it needs more money to plug wells that are in some instances erupting.
Republican Christi Craddick reelected to Railroad Commission, the stateโs oil and gas regulatory agency
Read full article: Republican Christi Craddick reelected to Railroad Commission, the stateโs oil and gas regulatory agencyThe three-member board oversees Texasโ oil and gas industry. The agency has faced criticism over safety concerns linked to fracking, well blowouts and groundwater protection.
State oil regulator requests $100 million to tackle West Texas well blowouts
Read full article: State oil regulator requests $100 million to tackle West Texas well blowoutsAbandoned wells in the Permian Basin are increasingly erupting with briney, polluted water. The Texas Railroad Commission says it needs emergency money to respond.
Level of oil and gas regulation at heart of Texas Railroad Commission race
Read full article: Level of oil and gas regulation at heart of Texas Railroad Commission raceIncumbent Christi Craddick is touting the health of the Texas energy industry and its impact on the economy. Her top opponent says regulation on the commission is too lax.
โShould we be worried?โ: Another well blowout in West Texas has a town smelling of rotten eggs
Read full article: โShould we be worried?โ: Another well blowout in West Texas has a town smelling of rotten eggsExperts warn that more blowouts should be expected unless oil and gas companies change their methods.
This energy provider startup is disrupting the industry with transparency and honesty in billing
Read full article: This energy provider startup is disrupting the industry with transparency and honesty in billingAre you in the market for a new energy provider? Now might be the best time to switch. Here's what you need to know that could help you save on your monthly electricity bill.
Fight over West Texas nuclear waste plan to hit U.S. Supreme Court
Read full article: Fight over West Texas nuclear waste plan to hit U.S. Supreme CourtA company has long pursued the plan to move โhigh-levelโ nuclear waste from power plants across the nation to a storage facility in Andrews County.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says Legislature will review Deloitteโs contracts after public loan project scandal
Read full article: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says Legislature will review Deloitteโs contracts after public loan project scandalThe examination of Deloitteโs existing contracts comes after it failed to catch red flags in a companyโs application for a loan to build or upgrade power plants in the state.
How Texasโ environmental agency weakened a once-rigorous air pollution monitoring team
Read full article: How Texasโ environmental agency weakened a once-rigorous air pollution monitoring teamFormer employees say the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality gutted the unit soon after the fracking boom swept the state oil industry. The operation never returned to what it was before.
West Texans split on proposed direct air capture project that could be largest in U.S.
Read full article: West Texans split on proposed direct air capture project that could be largest in U.S.Residents were worried about the impact on their drinking water while business leaders were excited for the new jobs.
Ken Paxton sues Biden administration over listing Texas lizard as endangered
Read full article: Ken Paxton sues Biden administration over listing Texas lizard as endangeredThe lawsuit claims federal regulators have undermined the Texas oil and gas industry by misusing environmental law, negatively impacting drilling and production.
Study finds levels of a dangerous gas โoff the scalesโ in Central Texas oilfield
Read full article: Study finds levels of a dangerous gas โoff the scalesโ in Central Texas oilfieldThe smell of oil wells has long permeated Caldwell County, near Austin and San Antonio. Now researchers have documented wells releasing dangerous amounts of hydrogen sulfide gas.
Texas lawmakers question agency's ability to oversee $5 billion energy loan program after initial glitch
Read full article: Texas lawmakers question agency's ability to oversee $5 billion energy loan program after initial glitchLawmakers tasked the Public Utility Commission with overseeing the Texas Energy Fund, though the agency has no experience running a loan program.
Ask Amy: Why are we stuck with CenterPoint Energy? Why no competition? Can they be fired?
Read full article: Ask Amy: Why are we stuck with CenterPoint Energy? Why no competition? Can they be fired?From electric rates to power outages, it seems like we have heard a lot lately about CenterPoint Energy. In this weekโs โAsk Amyโ segment, investigative reporter Amy Davis answers a question from viewer Don Conger: โWhy are we stuck with CenterPoint? Why donโt they have any competition? Can they be fired?โ
Abbott says potential power outages from Tropical Storm Francine will be restored within hours
Read full article: Abbott says potential power outages from Tropical Storm Francine will be restored within hoursTexas isnโt expected to take a direct hit when the storm makes landfall as a hurricane. But storm surge and dangerous winds are possible.
Texas proposes first new rules for oilfield waste in 40 years
Read full article: Texas proposes first new rules for oilfield waste in 40 yearsWhile environmentalists say the new rules donโt do enough to protect groundwater, oil and gas operators are contesting stricter requirements for waste pits near wells.