As peak demand on the Texas grid grew by leaps and bounds over the past few years, so did the amount of new wind, solar and battery power.
But now with peak demand set to nearly double in just six years, state lawmakers are considering proposals that could make it harder to build those renewable energy sources. The bills are designed to boost reliability on the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) grid amid fears that renewable power can’t meet the growing demand.
Three state Senate-passed bills have attracted the most attention:
None of those bills has been scheduled for a state House committee hearing yet.
Energy developers are also watching the fate of H.B. 3556, which passed the House this week. The bill would grant the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission the ability to veto offshore wind projects in all but two coastal counties, ostensibly to protect national wildlife refuges. That bill has not been scheduled for Senate consideration.
