E&E News: Solar to produce more power than coal in Texas, EIA says
Federal researchers say solar on Texas’ main power grid may reach new heights in 2026, while Republicans continue to criticize renewable energy.
https://www.eenews.net/articles/solar-to-produce-more-power-than-coal-in-texas-eia-says/
KCEN: Texas lawmakers push back against major Oncor transmission line project
May 14 — Nearly two dozen Texas lawmakers are challenging Oncor’s proposed transmission line expansion, citing concerns for property owners across the state.
https://www.kcentv.com/video/news/local/texas-lawmakers-push-back-against-major-oncor-transmission-line-project/500-987a7b6f-3b03-4c42-8bf9-b0026afc387d
Data Center Knowledge: Gridlock or Growth? ERCOT Warns Texas AI Power Boom May Not Materialize
May 14 — Texas is planning its grid around an unprecedented wave of AI-driven power demand that the state’s energy regulator says may not fully materialize on projected timelines.
https://www.datacenterknowledge.com/energy-power-supply/gridlock-or-growth-ercot-warns-texas-ai-power-boom-may-not-materialize
Fox7: Solar will pass coal in power generation in Texas in 2026
May 13 — Annual electric power generated from solar will surpass that of coal in Texas for the first time in 2026, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s latest Short-Term Energy Outlook.
https://www.fox7austin.com/news/texas-solar-coal-ercot
US Energy Information Administration: Electricity generation from solar could exceed coal in ERCOT for the first time in 2026
May 13 — Utility-scale solar generation has been increasing steadily in ERCOT as solar capacity additions help meet rapid electricity demand growth. Although natural gas remains the dominant source of electricity generation in ERCOT, accounting for an average 44% of electricity generation from 2021 to 2025, solar’s share of the generation mix has increased from 4% to 12% in those years, while coal’s share has decreased from 19% to 13%.
https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=67685
National Review: Study: Expect Texas Electric Bills to Rise Further
May 12 — Between 2015 and 2025, the number of residential electricity customers in Texas grew by roughly 2.73 million, a 27% increase. The investor-owned utilities that deliver power to their growing pool of residential customers have been steadily raising their rates to pay for expansions and repairs.
https://natlawreview.com/press-releases/study-expect-texas-electric-bills-rise-further
CW39: CenterPoint: Houston’s energy grid ready for FIFA World Cup 2026
May 12 — CenterPoint Energy announced it has been working in the field for more than a year, strengthening electric and natural gas infrastructure around game venues, the Fan Festival, and hospitality areas – completing nearly 700 reliability upgrades along the way.
https://cw39.com/news/local/centerpoint-energy-fifa-world-cup-upgrades-houston/
Utility Dive: Vistra adds 4.5 GW of capacity in line with ‘reasonable’ forecasts for PJM, ERCOT
May 11 — “While these views remain below many third-party forecasts and ISO projections, they reflect what we believe to be the pace of physical development,” Vistra CEO Jim Burke said.
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/vistra-adds-45-gw-of-capacity-in-line-with-reasonable-forecasts-for-pjm/819845/
Utility Dive: (Commentary) Competitive power markets have delivered. Abandoning them would be a mistake.
May 11 — Electricity markets are not perfect, but they remain one of the most powerful tools we have for delivering reliable, affordable power at scale, writes former FERC Commissioner Nora Mead Brownell.
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/competitive-power-markets-pjm-data-center-virginia/819075/
San Antonio Report: Gas power leapfrogs wind for first time in 10 years in Texas’ grid connection queue
May 10 — A decade ago, wind power was surging in popularity and attracting huge investments that made Texas a national leader in renewable energy. But today, gas generation is making a big comeback, driven by a wave of data centers flooding into the state.
https://sanantonioreport.org/gas-power-leapfrogs-wind-for-first-time-in-10-years-in-texas-grid-connection-queue/
JD Supra: ERCOT’s Batch Zero Proposal and What It Means for Large-Load Projects in Texas
May 8 — ERCOT is tightening the large-load interconnection process in response to unprecedented demand, particularly from data centers and other power-intensive digital infrastructure projects.
https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/ercot-s-batch-zero-proposal-and-what-it-1903245/
Seyfarth: ERCOT’s Batch Zero Proposal and What It Means for Large-Load Projects in Texas
May 7 — ERCOT’s proposed Batch Zero framework would move large-load interconnections toward a more structured process that gives greater weight to project maturity, readiness, and system impacts.
https://www.seyfarth.com/news-insights/ercots-batch-zero-proposal-and-what-it-means-for-large-load-projects-in-texas.html
Texas Tribune: Gas power leapfrogs wind for first time in 10 years in Texas’ grid connection queue
May 7 — For the last six months, the volume of gas generation in the Texas grid’s interconnection queue — the yearslong waiting list for electric generators wanting to connect to the grid — has surpassed wind. It’s the first time since January 2016 that gas has overtaken wind in the queue, a shift that reflects the policy and economic headwinds facing the wind industry and data centers favoring gas power as they seek to cash in on the artificial intelligence boom.
https://www.texastribune.org/2026/05/07/texas-power-grid-ercot-interconnection-queue-gas-wind/
Reuters: Texas off-grid power build soars as data centers bridge grid delays
May 6 — The development of behind-the-meter (BTM) power generation is booming in Texas as data center developers seek to deploy facilities faster than grid connections can be completed.
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/texas-off-grid-power-build-soars-data-centers-bridge-grid-delays–reeii-2026-05-06/
KVUE: Calls to amend Texas private partnership law meant to speed up projects, save money
May 6 — Lawmakers also heard from ERCOT officials about a pilot program that started in 2023 that shifts away from building massive new power plants. Instead, the grid operator is turning to thousands of home batteries and electric vehicles to act as a single, giant virtual power plant.
https://www.kvue.com/article/news/politics/texas-legislature/texas-house-committee-public-private-partnerships-ercot-grid/269-fd19992a-71af-4330-905d-63fd70de5951
Texas Energy and Power Newsletter: Process is Killing Texas Data Center Projects
May 6 — Maura Yates, CEO of Mothership Energy, explains why the binding constraint is contract complexity, not technology.
https://www.texasenergyandpower.com/p/process-is-killing-texas-data-center
Utility Dive: TXU Energy EV charging program could work in other competitive markets: ChargeScape CEO
May 6 — Ford electric vehicle drivers get 15 hours per day of “free” home charging under a special retail plan in Texas. The automaker says it shifted 515 MWh of energy to off-peak periods in 2025.
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/txu-energy-ev-charging-program-could-work-in-other-competitive-markets-cha/819483/
Data Center Dynamics: AEP sees contracted capacity surge to 63GW, 90% tied to data centers
May 6 — Due to increased load growth, the utility expanded its capital spending plan by $6 billion to $78bn, primarily to support new transmission and generation projects.
https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/aep-sees/
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Hornet Solar project shares economic impact on Swisher County
May 5 — Hornet Solar, developed by Vesper Energy, announced that in 2025 alone, it contributed more than $5 million to the community and generated 1.5 million megawatt-hours of electricity, according to a company news release.
https://www.lubbockonline.com/story/business/2026/05/05/hornet-solar-project-impacts-swisher-county-west-texas-economy/89935224007/
Dallas Morning News: Time for the nuclear option?
May 4 — Texas is in a historic moment, growing faster than its energy grid can keep up. New families arrive each day as local infrastructure struggles to scale fast enough. Data centers are multiplying at a rate the world has never seen. Oil fields and refineries from Midland to the Gulf Coast anchor our energy economy. And in places like Corpus Christi, water is running out. Texas has never faced a moment as consequential as this, and its infrastructure isn’t ready for it.
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/the-dallas-morning-news/20260504/281638196817057
Victoria Advocate: Louderback takes stance on data center regulations
May 4 — In a statement shared on social media, Louderback said multiple companies have expressed interest in developing data centers at the Port of Victoria, as well as in Bay City, Jackson County and Calhoun County, and emphasized that any projects would be required to supply their own water and power.
https://victoriaadvocate.com/2026/05/04/louderback-takes-stance-on-data-center-regulations/
Houston Public Media: Texas leads nation in utility shutoffs as electric bills rise, federal report finds
March 4 — Texas leads the nation in utilities shutting off electricity and natural gas services to customers who can’t afford their energy bills, according to a report released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/energy-environment/2026/05/04/550798/texas-leads-nation-in-utility-shutoffs-as-electric-bills-rise-federal-report-finds/?amp=1
Williamson County Sun: Power struggle: Neighbors oppose incoming transmission lines
May 4 — Overseen by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas and the Public Utility Commission, the transmission lines will bring power from the eastern part of the state to the Permian Basin in West Texas.
https://www.wilcosun.com/news-jarrell-florence-east-williamson-county/power-struggle-neighbors-oppose-incoming-transmission
Dallas Morning News: (Commentary) Time for the nuclear option in Texas?
May 4 — While there is never a single silver-bullet solution, nuclear energy offers Texas a clean, reliable, scalable path to meet energy, water and economic challenges while strengthening our local communities.
https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/article/time-nuclear-option-texas-22236682.php
HR DRIVE: Oncor Electric could fire employee for publicly disparaging smart meters, DC Circuit Holds
May 1 — Texas-based utility Oncor Electric Delivery Co. did not violate the National Labor Relations Act when it fired a field technician for giving disparaging testimony about its new smart meters during a state senate committee hearing, the District of Columbia U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals held April 28.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/oncor-electric-could-fire-employee-154100594.html
Midland Reporter Telegram: Oncor moving quickly to expand West Texas power supplies
May 1 —Long before Permian Basin energy companies began electrifying their operations, and long before data centers and bitcoin miners began eyeing the area, Oncor, the state’s largest energy delivery company, was aware of surging demand in West Texas.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/oncor-moving-quickly-to-expand-west-texas-power-supplies/ar-AA228418
E&E News: $33B transmission build-out leaves Texas ranchers fuming
May 1 — Texas is among a growing list of places with vocal opposition to electricity projects across the country from Maryland to Maine. At issue are both the physical effects of huge towers and miles of power lines as well as questions about compensation and due process.
https://www.eenews.net/articles/33b-transmission-build-out-leaves-texas-ranchers-fuming/
Texas Energy and Power Newsletter: Texas Bets on Speed
April 29 — But as Gin Kinney, chief administrative officer at NRG Energy, told Energy Capital Podcast hosts Matt Boms and Josh Rhodes at CERAweek in Houston this year, the company’s planning horizon has collapsed to 12-18 months.
https://www.texasenergyandpower.com/p/ceraweek
Business Wire: Resilient Structures Expands Houston Facility, Plans Additional Production Lines to Meet Growing Demand
April 29 — The facility, located in Humble, Texas, will support utilities as they strengthen infrastructure to improve reliability in the face of more frequent severe weather. The site will play a key role in ongoing efforts to enhance service reliability for communities across the Gulf Coast region.
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260429237355/en/Resilient-Structures-Expands-Houston-Facility-Plans-Additional-Production-Lines-to-Meet-Growing-Demand
Guardian: CEOs of US’s top energy firms averaged nearly 16% pay raise to $12.3m, review finds
April 29 — The US’s top utilities’ CEOs enjoyed a 16% pay raise last year – to an average of $12.3m – even as consumers shoulder the pain from high bills spurred by continuing inflation, the Iran war and datacenter growth, a new review of industry financial documents shows.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/29/energy-ceo-pay-raises-2025
Reuters: Graphic Packaging, NextEra to build 250 MW solar plant in Texas
April 29 — Graphic Packaging Holding said on Wednesday it has signed an agreement with NextEra Energy Resources to build a 250-megawatt solar power plant in Texas, aiming to source renewable electricity and cut greenhouse gas emissions.
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/graphic-packaging-nextera-build-250-mw-solar-plant-texas-2026-04-29/
Real Clear Energy: It’s Time for Texas to Get Competitive on Transmission Development
April 29 — Texas operates the most competitive wholesale electricity generation market in the United States. Every day, hundreds of power generators compete in ERCOT-run auctions to deliver the cheapest power to homes and businesses. The retail electric market is equally robust, with retail electric providers (REPs) vigorously competing for customers based on price, service, and preferences.
https://www.realclearenergy.org/articles/2026/04/29/its_time_for_texas_to_get_competitive_on_transmission_development_1179778.html
Utility Dive: What load growth demands of resource planning
April 27 — Utilities and grid operators are facing load growth projections that would have seemed implausible just five years ago. For example, as of last November, the Electric Reliability Corporation of Texas (ERCOT) reported that large loads seeking interconnection by 2030 would increase the peak demand served in ERCOT by 142 gigawatts, or nearly tripling its present-day demand.
https://www.utilitydive.com/spons/what-load-growth-demands-of-resource-planning/818035/
Utility Dive: What load growth demands of resource planning
April 27 — Utilities and grid operators are facing load growth projections that would have seemed implausible just five years ago. For example, as of last November, the Electric Reliability Corporation of Texas (ERCOT) reported that large loads seeking interconnection by 2030 would increase the peak demand served in ERCOT by 142 gigawatts, or nearly tripling its present-day demand.
https://www.utilitydive.com/spons/what-load-growth-demands-of-resource-planning/818035/
Rigzone: CenterPoint Targets 8 GW of Data Center Load in 3 Years
April 26 — CenterPoint Energy Inc on Thursday announced plans to energize 8 gigawatts (GW) of generation projects catered to data centers by 2029. The Houston, Texas-based power and gas utility said in its quarterly report it has 12.2 GW of firmly committed industrial load in Greater Houston.
https://www.rigzone.com/news/centerpoint_targets_8_gw_of_data_center_load_in_3_years-26-apr-2026-183533-article/
Fox26: Can Texas’ power grid handle the meteoric rise of AI data centers?
April 24 — Last week, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) presented a six-year forecast of how much power demand they expect in the near future. When the numbers showed a quadrupled peak demand by 2032, the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) sent them back to the drawing board.
https://www.fox26houston.com/news/ai-data-centers-texas-power-grid
Business Insider: Big Tech’s AI data centers are pushing the power grid to its limits — and one state is feeling it the most
April 24 — Just last week, Electric Reliability Council of Texas, the Lone Star State’s grid operator, told state regulators that power demand is on track to quadruple by 2032, driven by an unprecedented surge in large data center projects seeking to connect to the grid.
https://www.businessinsider.com/texas-power-grid-demand-data-centers-2026-4
Utility Dive: CenterPoint to energize 8 GW of data center load by 2029
April 23 — Houston is now “firmly established as a location of choice for some of the world’s largest hyperscalers,” CenterPoint CEO Jason Wells said in the company’s first quarter earnings call.
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/centerpoint-energy-data-center-load-earnings/818293/
Denton Record-Chronicle: ERCOT says state’s energy demand is growing, but long-term forecast is likely overstated
April 23 — Officials with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas said last week that the state’s energy demand could reach nearly 368 gigawatts by 2032 — enough energy to power more than 73 million homes on a hot summer day or cold winter morning.
https://dentonrc.com/news/state/ercot-says-states-energy-demand-is-growing-but-long-term-forecast-is-likely-overstated/article_ec60419a-a352-4d84-9a72-a645830da07d.html
HillsboroReporter: Texas Data Center Boom Topic Of County Summit
April 23 — Moderated by Carlton Schwab, president of the Texas Economic Development Council, the question-and-answer session featured John Littlefield, president of Southwest Engineers; Larry McManus, from the Office of the Governor, Economic Development and Tourism Division; and Eric Meier, supervisor of Planning Model Administration at ERCOT.
https://hillsbororeporter.com/texas-data-center-boom-topic-of-county-summit-p31596-54.htm
ABC 13 News: Two data centers proposed for Matagorda County, residents pushing back
April 23 — Data centers are large facilities filled with servers that store information people use every day on the internet, fueling AI and the digital data boom.
https://abc13.com/post/data-centers-proposed-matagorda-county-residents-pushing-back/18944946/
KHOU 11: NE Harris County community worried they’ll be left in the dark
April 23 —Residents in a northeast Harris County trailer home community said they’re worried about safety after receiving notice that their neighborhood’s street lights could soon go dark over an unpaid power bill.
https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/harris-county-community-no-lights/285-b8121f98-7985-4193-bc2d-3b1dc2120b01
Texas Standard: ERCOT forecast raises new questions about Texas power demand
April 22 — ERCOT says Texas electric demand could reach nearly 370,000 megawatts by 2032, quadrupling our current capacity. Much of the projected growth is tied to data centers, raising fresh questions about grid planning — including how many of those centers will actually be built.
https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/today-on-texas-standard-april-22-2026/
KCENTV: Salado residents pack meeting, urged to take action against proposed $2 billion transmission line project
April 22 — Dozens of Central Texans gathered to learn how to file as intervenors with the Public Utility Commission of Texas, a step that would give them a formal voice in the decision-making process for the project.
https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/salado-residents-meeting-urged-take-action-proposed-2-billion-transmission-line/500-a7341e98-64c1-41e5-ac9a-a3dc5a7ae242
Texarkana Gazette: Forecast for Texas electricity demand is being multiplied by data centers and crypto
April 21 — Recently, the existing tension between grid preparedness and aggressive projections has been laid bare by official estimates, with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas filing its newest long-term load forecast last week. The state’s grid operator predicted peak electricity demand surpassing 367 gigawatts by 2032 — more than four times the current all-time peak of 85,508 megawatts recorded in August 2023.
https://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/2026/apr/21/forecast-for-texas-electricity-demand-is-being/