Energy Plan Could Cost $8 Billion More Than Senate Said

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A plan passed by the Texas Senate this week to finance the construction of natural gas power plants with public money could cost $18 billion, according to a document obtained by KUT via an open records request.

That puts the price tag of the so-called “Texas Energy Insurance Program” around $8 billion over what proponents had previously said and could complicate efforts to get the proposal passed by the state House of Representatives.

The group Conservatives For Energy Innovation tweeted on Saturday,  April 8 about the proposal: " This document dump by the @LCRA on Good Friday afternoon smacks of deliberate deceit.  But the bigger question is "Why would the Texas Senate want to hide the true cost of this plan from the public?"

(Full story HERE.)
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Texas Congressman Warns Of Cyber Attacks On Power Grid

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Rep. August Pfluger called on the Biden administration to take steps to better protect the U.S. power grid from cyberattacks and from reserve capacity shortages , warning in a letter shared exclusively with the Washington Examiner that these vulnerabilities risk setting off a nationwide reliability crisis.

In a letter sent to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm , the northwest Texas Republican said the Department of Energy “lacks a clear plan to protect our critical infrastructure systems from nefarious actors, like Russia, and ensure peak power demand can be sufficiently met.”

(Full story HERE.)
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Dip In Natural Gas Production This Week Gives Hope To Democrats

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US natural gas futures rose late in the session Monday on new data that showed a plunge in pipeline gas flows in Texas, which indicates the state's power grid could be susceptible to failures amid a cold snap. 

Analysts are calling it a question of deja vu, following last February's ice storm that caused rolling blackouts across Texas.

Democrats like Beto O'Rourke, running against Gov. Greg Abbott, hope to capitalize on the grid failures last year, making "fix the grid" a campaign slogan.

While Republicans point to several bills passed in the last legislative session aimed at fixing the grid - and reforming ERCOT, the governing board held responsible for the failures - Abbott has literally staked his candidacy on there never being another blackout in Texas, exclaiming last month that, "I can guarantee the lights will stay on" this winter.

While it is unlikely that another once-in-a-generation ice storm will occur throughout the state, paralyzing it for more than a week, it should be noted that even Northern governors know better than to make such promises, since even in New England in the Mid-Atlantic states, blackouts and brownouts often occur after severe storms, despite utilities having over a century of experience with extreme winter weather.

(Full story HERE.)
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Abbott Promises "Power Will Stay On" This Winter

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“I can guarantee the lights will stay on” in Texas this winter. Gov. Greg Abbott said, making the promise to a local TV station in Austin, after he was asked for his thoughts on the power grid following a devastating winter storm back in February.

Abbott is pointing to almost a dozen laws he signed that he says makes the power grid more effective. 

The Governor says he has personally talked to the Natural Gas Pipeline Transmitters and they are conducting winterization that most people do not know about. 

He also said the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) is taking steps to be proactive instead of reactive.

(Full story here.)
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Tesla Energy Approved To Sell Electricity In Texas

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The Public Utility Commission of Texas has approved an application from Tesla Energy Ventures, LLC, to provide retail electricity “throughout the area served by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT),” according to the application.

That means the company can sell its energy to residential or business customers in places like Dallas-Fort Worth or Houston, but not to municipal or co-op areas like Bluebonnet, Pedernales, or Austin Energy service areas.

(Full story here.)
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Abbott To UN Over Oil Criticism: "Pound Sand"

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The leader of the United Nations says Texas must end its reliance on oil and gas production to remain prosperous in the era of climate change.

At a UN summit next month, world is leaders will be asked to rapidly cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres says Texas is well-positioned to lead the way in the production of renewables.

“If Texas wants to remain prosperous in 2050 or 2070, Texas will have to diversify its economy and Texas will have to be less dependent on oil and gas,” Guterres said.

The response from Texas governor Greg Abbott was immediate and fierce. On twitter, Abbott replied:

"Texas to United Nations: Pound Sand

The world is reeling from spiraling fuel costs caused by premature over-reliance on renewable energy.

High fuel costs punish middle class families & stoke the supply chain crisis. Texas oil & gas is needed right now."

Texas is the nation’s largest producer of crude oil and natural gas. But the state is also the largest producer of wind energy in the United States.

(Full story here.)
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Legislators Passed Sweeping Overhaul Of State's Energy Grid

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The Texas House and Senate have approved sweeping legislation to overhaul the state’s power grid following the disastrous and deadly winter storm in February that left more than 4.8 million homes and businesses without electricity for days. More than 100 people died.

Texas lawmakers approved a bill to require power generation companies to better prepare their facilities to withstand extreme weather, among several other measures.

(Full story here.)
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Bill Banning Wholesale Electricity Price Hikes Goes To Gov. Abbott's Desk

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House Bill 16 would not allow residential or small-business electricity customers in Texas to sign up for electricity plans where wholesale prices for power are passed to customers. 

It is headed to Gov. Abbott's desk for his signature after it was approved by the Texas House this past week.

Those plans include the kind that caused February power bills to skyrocket for several customers of Griddy Energy and other companies. Some customers reported bills over $15,000.

(Full story here)
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#Texas House Bill Would "Punish" Corps. That Divest From Fossil Fuels

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The Texas House has given preliminary approval to a bill that would direct state investment funds to divest from companies that cut ties with fossil fuel companies.

Senate Bill 13 was approved on second reading in the House, and needs only a third reading before it is sent to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk.

The legislation would require state entities — including state pension funds and Texas’ massive K-12 school endowment — to divest from companies that refuse to invest in or do business with fossil fuel-based energy companies.

(Full story here)
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#Texas AG Paxton Says Former Griddy Customers Off The Hook For Outrageous Bills

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Griddy Energy customers are off the hook for their outrageous electric bills for February, according to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

The attorney general’s office sued Griddy under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act on behalf of 24,000 customers who have a cumulative $29.1 million in unpaid electric bills from the week of freezing temperatures in Texas last month.

The action Paxton took was to release Griddy’s former customers from Griddy’s bankruptcy, which it filed for Monday in Houston. Texas won’t move forward with its state court lawsuit and investigation, and “Griddy will work with it in good faith to resolve these matters,” the attorney general said.

(Full story here.)

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State Senate Passes Utility Charges Bill

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The Senate took less than three hours on Monday to file and completely pass a bill that would allow the state’s top utility regulator to claw back $16 billion in charges for wholesale electricity incurred by market participants during the state’s power outage last month, reports NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth.

“The Senate has acted,” said Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who leads the chamber and has made the issue a top priority this session. “We are asking the governor to join us and I think if he will say he’ll sign this bill, it may help us get this bill through the House.”

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#Texas House Speaker Unveils Bills To Prevent Repeat Of Power Failures

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Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan announced a package of legislation Monday aimed at preventing a repeat of the deadly electricity crisis that left millions of Texans suffering in a winter storm.

The plan includes legislation that would require electric generating facilities to be weatherized against a wider range of severe weather events, reported NBC Channel 5, Dallas-Fort Worth.

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Resident Files $1Billion Class-Action Lawsuit After Getting $9,300 Electric Bill

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A $1 billion class-action lawsuit has been filed against Texas wholesale electricity retailer Griddy Energy for allegedly charging exorbitant prices during last week's historic storm that left millions powerless in the freezing cold, reports ABC News.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Chambers County resident Lisa Khoury in Harris County on Monday, who claimed her electricity bill soared to $9,340 the week of the storm. According to the lawsuit, her average monthly bills typically range from $200 to $250.

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Lt. Gov. Patrick Says Energy Reform Is His Responsibility

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On a visit to Midland on Monday, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick laid out several of his priorities for the State legislative session. Topping the list was reform of the states power grid in light of the power outages estate experience during the recent ice storm and frigid temperatures.

"Look, we all have to be honest, this was the most severe storm in the history of the state,” Patrick said. “No one predicted 10 inches of snow in Del Rio or two snowfalls in San Antonio or 20 degree below with the windchill factor in parts of Texas, but we should have been in a situation no worse than rolling brownouts….I’m taking the responsibility of this fix on my shoulders.”

A complete ERCOT reform, more winterization, new pricing schedules in times of emergency or extreme weather were all on the table, according to Patrick.

The Texas Senate and the House have planned hearings on what went wrong last week and why. Gov. Abbott says it should be a legislative priority.

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Abbott, Legislators Meet Over Energy Bill Price Spike

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Gov. Greg Abbott today convened a meeting with Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, Speaker Dade Phelan, and members of the Legislature to discuss the spike in energy bills affecting many Texans following the recent power outages throughout the state.

“We have a responsibility to protect Texans from spikes in their energy bills that are a result of the severe winter weather and power outages,” said Governor Abbott.

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Chair, Vice-Chair Of Energy Council Live Out-of-State

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The Electric Reliability Council of Texas is getting a lot of attention as millions of Texans remain without power while the state faces extreme cold.

Meanwhile, ERCOT's recently elected chair and vice chair for the board of directors aren't feeling the chill like we are, reports the Houston Chronicle.

ERCOT Chair Sally Talberg lives in Michigan.

Vice Chair Peter Cramton is a professor at the University of Cologne in Germany and the University of Maryland. According to his LinkedIn page, he lives in Del Mar, California. Cramton has served on the board since 2015.

Yesterday Governor Abbott vowed to prioritize an investigation into the council's preparations for this week's bone-chilling temperatures. Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller vocally condemned green energy and our increasing reliance on it as a future energy source.
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Gov. Abbott Signs Executive Order Protecting Energy Industry From "Federal Gov't Overreach"

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Gov. Abbott held a press conference in Odessa Friday, where he issued an Executive Order to protect Texas' energy industry from federal overreach. 

Abbott also announced his support for legislation that will prohibit cities from banning natural gas appliances.

During an energy roundtable in Odessa, Abbott and the participants also discussed enhancing workforce development in Texas, cutting costly red tape, and expanding broadband access in rural communities.

The Governor's Executive Order directs every state agency to, "use all lawful powers and tools to challenge any federal action that threatens the continued strength, vitality, and independence of the energy industry," according to a statement released by the governor's office.

Each state agency should work to identify potential litigation, notice-and-comment opportunities, and any other means of preventing federal overreach within the law. 

"The men and women who work in the energy industry produce the affordable energy that powers our lives and they are vital to the Texas economy,” said Abbott.

"Texas is a pro-energy state, and we will not sit idly by and allow the Biden administration or local governments to destroy jobs and raise energy costs for Texas families," he said.

"My Executive Order will help ensure that the Federal government cannot take away the livelihoods of Texans who work so hard to provide our state and our nation with the energy we need."

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Four Democrat Congressmen Call On Biden To Lift His Drilling Ban

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Four Texas Democratic Congressmen I have written a letter to President Biden, asking him to recind his executive order halting

federal land being leased to oil and gas companies for energy, Townhall reports.

Reps. Vincente Gonzalez, Lizzie Fletcher, Henry Cuellar, and Marc Veasey – sent the letter to Biden Wednesday, asking him to rescind the order.

"Media reports indicate that the Administration plans to announce a new proposal to ban responsible energy leasing, including oil and gas leasing, from our federal waters and lands indefinitely," the letter stated. 

"A federal ban for any period of time will certainly imperil hundreds of thousands of jobs, entire communities, and billions of dollars in royalty revenues to the Federal Treasury and eliminate funding for important conservation programs such as the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF)."

Townhall says the order will result in a GDP loss of $700 billion and the federal government will lose its biggest revenue generator, the letter stated. One of the other concerns they share is America returning to dependence on foreign oil.

The four Texans also took time in their letter to stand up for our neighbor, New Mexico, which funds its school system largely from oil and gas tax revenue that goes into a reserve fund for that purpose.

"New Mexico, a small, poor state that receives a huge portion of their revenue for things like funding Albuquerque schools, will find this rule devastating," they wrote.

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