Texas is a leader in renewable energy production, but Republican lawmakers are pushing for a shift away from renewables and towards fossil fuels. In 2021, Texas generated 136,118 gigawatt-hours from wind and utility-scale solar, making it the top producer of renewable energy in the US. However, fossil fuels still make up the majority of Texas’ power sources.
Yesterday, Republican state senators Charles Schwertner and Phil King filed nine bills designed to restrict renewable energy in Texas and boost fossil-fuel power plant development. These bills include Senate Bill 6, which would create a 10,000-megawatt reserve of gas-fueled power plants for times of high demand as well as a low-interest loan program for the construction of new gas plants. SB 7 would put in place a market construct that would steer electricity sources towards natural gas power plants and would force wind and solar power sources to either have dispatchable power on site or buy electricity to place in the market when they are not producing. SB 2014 would eliminate any remaining state incentives for building renewable energy, and SB 2015 would prevent the development of renewable energy in Texas from outpacing natural gas by placing a cap on the amount of new renewable megawatts based on the amount of natural gas generation in the pipeline.
The proponents of these bills cite the Big Freeze in 2021 as a reason for boosting natural gas, claiming that renewables were the biggest reason for grid failure. However, Governor Greg Abbott released a statement during the extreme weather incident in 2021 that natural gas production, transportation, and supply were significantly impacted due to the freezing temperatures and high heating demand, leading to a shortage of electricity supply. Wind and solar also experienced reduced output, but they didn’t fail to the extent that natural gas did.
If these bills pass, they would have the potential to disrupt billions of dollars in upcoming renewable energy investment in Texas while placing a thumb on the scale on the side of fossil fuel. Texas has been successful with wind and solar due to a previously friendly regulatory system, and it would be a shame to see that progress reversed. It is up to Texas lawmakers to do the smart thing and throw out these bills before it is too late.
FAQ
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