Good morning! Texas Republicans have tried for years to undercut renewables, even blaming them for widespread outages during the 2021 winter storm despite evidence pointing to gas plant freeze-ups as the primary cause. Texas solar, wind and batteries have boomed anyway — and now, amid skyrocketing projections for energy demand, Gov. Greg Abbott and some state lawmakers are starting to embrace clean energy.
Also in Texas, a county board approved a sizable tax abatement for Tesla, suggesting the electric vehicle maker plans to build a new factory near Houston.
For those stories and more, read on.
TODAY'S TOP NEWS
RENEWABLES
After years of targeting renewables and blaming them for widespread outages during the 2021 winter storm, Texas lawmakers and the governor are starting to shift to embrace wind, solar and batteries along with other energy sources to meet a massive surge in electricity demand. (Texas Tribune)
Memphis, Tennessee’s municipal utility solicits bids for companies to build 100 MW of solar and 80 MW of battery storage. (WMC)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES
A Texas county board approves a tax abatement agreement that seems to confirm Tesla’s plans to build a new megafactory near Houston. (Electrek)
NUCLEAR
The U.S. Supreme Court considers Texas’ arguments against federal regulatory approval of a company’s plan to build a temporary nuclear waste site. (Houston Chronicle)
U.S. Energy Sec. Chris Wright advocates for nuclear energy and natural gas-fired plants during a visit to a national laboratory in Tennessee. (Knoxville News Sentinel)
WIND
Oklahoma lawmakers advance legislation to establish setbacks for wind turbines despite warnings that doing so could limit investment and violate private property rights. (Oklahoma Voice)
FOSSIL FUELS
Shell considers selling a Texas petrochemical facility that’s being sued by the state over a chemical fire and was the subject of a 2023 federal investigation. (Houston Chronicle)
Austin, Texas’ city council considers delaying gas companies’ proposal to raise rates to recover costs from capital projects. (Austin Monitor)
SOLAR
Construction begins on a 100 MW solar farm in Arkansas. (KATV)
CLIMATE
Louisiana disaster experts warn Trump’s proposal to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency would create more problems in the storm-beleaguered state. (Louisiana Illuminator)
North Carolina lawmakers approve a half billion-dollar disaster relief spending program, their third dedicated relief bill after Hurricane Helene. (NC Newsline)
Virginia community leaders and nonprofits partner to turn a church into a climate resilience hub with solar panels, an electric vehicle charger and educational programming about climate change. (WHRO)
The Texas insurance industry pushes back on state lawmakers’ attempts to force insurers to provide an explanation whenever they cancel or refuse to renew homeowner policies. (Houston Chronicle)
EMISSIONS
Charlotte, North Carolina, will hold a public meeting on its plan to increase electrification and energy efficiency and add 600 MW of renewables to cut carbon pollution. (WFAE)
UTILITIES
Arkansas lawmakers vote down a bill to allow utilities to increase rates at the start of construction of new facilities rather than when they’re completed. (KARK)
COMMENTARY
A Virginia bill would let localities require developers to build solar arrays on parking lots of a certain size, but there are still questions about cost and how much energy it would produce, writes an editor. (Cardinal News)
Forward-thinking grid improvements, the addition of 1,100 MW in solar and battery storage, and increased use of nuclear and gas will help Georgia meet a projected 50% growth in power demand by 2035, writes a communications professional. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
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