The Cool Down: Texas power bills could jump 7.7%, with households charged back to March
Oct. 28 — A proposed settlement could raise monthly electric bills by 7.7% for more than 191,000 Southwestern Electric Power Company customers in Texas. It would also allow the utility to collect the higher rate retroactively through a surcharge.
https://www.thecooldown.com/green-business/texas-swepco-electricity-rate-increase-surcharge/
Morgan Lewis: The Fifth Circuit Gives Texas a ‘Free Lane’ on Foreign-Linked Grid Access
Oct. 28 — US federal foreign investment review does not guarantee access to the Texas grid—Texas is free to add its own foreign ownership restrictions beyond those applied at the federal level. On October 16, 2026, the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed a district court’s dismissal of a developer’s challenge to the denial of its request to interconnect a solar energy project to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) grid.
https://www.morganlewis.com/blogs/powerandpipes/2026/10/the-fifth-circuit-gives-texas-a-free-lane-on-foreign-linked-grid-access
Texas Public Policy Foundation: Addressing the Environmental Challenges of Wind, Solar, and Energy Storage in Texas
Oct. 27 — Most states around the country, including Texas, are just now catching up to crafting regulations to govern the siting and disposal of wind, solar, and energy storage, and gaps exist that will create billions of dollars in future unfunded liabilities.
https://www.texaspolicy.com/addressing-the-environmental-challenges-of-wind-solar-and-energy-storage-in-texas/
Utility Dive: CenterPoint expands 10-year capital plan by $4B to handle load growth
Oct. 27 — The Houston-based utility’s investment plan through 2035 stands at almost $71 billion, and the company is accelerating some investments to support growing customer demand.
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/centerpoint-expands-10-year-capital-plan-4b/872850/
Texas Monthly: A Billionaire GOP Donor’s Ranch Was in the Path of Proposed Transmission Lines. Then It Wasn’t.
Oct. 27 — Few landowners saw wholesale relief from links being moved off their properties or deleted altogether. In fact, the number of potentially affected property owners went up, from 2,800 to roughly 4,200. But one prominent Texan had reason to celebrate: Dallas billionaire Kelcy Warren, CEO of Energy Transfer Partners, a major midstream oil and gas company whose assets include many pipelines. Under the preliminary maps, Warren’s 20,000-plus-acre Los Valles Ranch was crisscrossed by five links; now it would host none.
https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/kelcy-warren-transmission-line/
Politico: Texas officials huddled with tech companies before grid blitz
Oct. 27 — Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has been cracking down on data centers for months, but less than a year ago his appointees and staffers were actively trying to bring projects to the state. On Dec. 16, 2025, two days before Texas announced sweeping changes to expedite grid access to data centers, Abbott’s top staff held a closed-door meeting with representatives of the state’s largest tech and transmission companies, according to records obtained by POLITICO.
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/10/27/how-big-tech-and-abbott-made-texas-the-epicenter-of-data-centers-01135261
KFOX: Hudspeth County residents demand answers on $15B data center’s noise, water and power
Oct. 26 —In a remote stretch of Hudspeth County, residents traveled several miles to the proposed site of a massive data center project to press company leaders for details — and to raise concerns about how the development could affect their community.
https://kfoxtv.com/news/local/hudspeth-county-residents-demand-answers-on-15b-data-centers-noise-water-and-power
Houston Public Media: Data centers & air quality (Oct. 26, 2026)
Oct. 26 — We find out why Fort Bend County Tax Assessor-Collector Carmen Turner was arrested last week. And we examine what a new report says about the effect of data centers on air quality.
https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/shows/houston-matters/2026/10/26/564834/data-centers-air-quality-oct-26-2026/
The Texas Energy and Power Newsletter: Data Center Pause?
Oct. 26 — Data centers are still receiving permits; Solar lowers prices; How data center’s reverse air pollution wins; Electric air taxis in Dallas; and Catalyst podcast on natural gas for the AI boom.
https://www.texasenergyandpower.com/p/data-center-pause-reading-and-podcast
KTRK: Brazoria County residents raise concerns over potential data center project
Oct. 25 — A potential data center in Brazoria County is raising concerns among residents, who told ABC13 they’re being left in the dark. Landowners in Damon said they noticed a company buying more than 400 acres along the Brazos River, which is when they started asking questions.
https://abc13.com/post/brazoria-county-residents-raise-concerns-potential-data-center-project/19979471/
San Antonio Report: How can San Antonio regulate data centers? Breaking down the options in front of City Council
Oct. 25 —Should data centers be approved on a case-by-case basis or can they be built by-right, whenever they meet a set of pre-determined city standards?
https://sanantonioreport.org/how-can-san-antonio-regulate-data-centers-breaking-down-the-options-in-front-of-city-council/
Concho Valley: Abbott halts permit reviews for a proposed Tom Green County data center
Oct. 23 — Gov. Greg Abbott has directed the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to halt its review of permit applications for a proposed data center in Tom Green County until an ongoing audit by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas is completed.
https://www.conchovalleyhomepage.com/news/local-news/concho-valley-data-centers/abbott-halts-beacon-data-center-permits/
Texas Tribune: Fed up with data centers and Big Tech, rural Republican crossover could decide Democrats’ fate in Texas
Oct. 23 — Rural Republicans have long been the floodwall that’s held back hopes of a blue wave big enough to flip Texas. While they make up less than one-fifth of the electorate, rural voters turn out and vote red at such high rates they’ve reliably undercut Democratic gains in cities and suburbs. In what’s shaping up to be a razor-tight midterm election, Republicans are counting on these votes more than ever to hold onto Texas’ powerful statewide offices.
https://www.texastribune.org/2026/10/23/texas-rural-voters-data-centers-backlash-big-tech-2026-election/
NBC DFW: Facing pushback on data centers, tech giants are promising more money, fewer secrets
Oct. 22 — Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft — project they’ll spend more than $600 billion this year combined on capital projects, primarily data center construction in the U.S.
https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/national-international/data-centers-tech-giants-promises/4094498/
KPRC: What Houston Heights residents should know about CenterPoint projects, power lines and street repairs
Oct.22 — CenterPoint Energy representatives answered questions from Houston Heights residents about ongoing utility work, street repaving, underground power lines and flickering lights during a community meet-and-greet.
https://community.click2houston.com/n/the-heights/2026/10/22/what-houston-heights-residents-should-know-about-centerpoint-projects-power-lines-and-street-repairs
National Law Review: A New 765-kV Line Is Coming to the Permian. Here’s What Pipeline Owners and Contractors Should Watch.
Oct. 22 — Two Permian midstream companies have asked the Public Utility Commission of Texas to rehear part of its August 28 order approving Oncor’s first 765-kV transmission lines. They argue Oncor should be required to coordinate with owners of pipelines that cross the route, not just those that run parallel to it, and to allow time for mitigation before the lines are energized.
https://natlawreview.com/article/new-765-kv-line-coming-permian-heres-what-pipeline-owners-and-contractors-should
The Texas Tribune: Texas environmental agency shuts down online permit filing system after data center controversy
Oct. 22 — Texas environmental officials disabled an online filing system after watchdog groups raised concerns about the agency issuing permits related to data centers.
https://www.texastribune.org/2026/10/21/data-center-permits-tceq-texas/
Houston Public Media: TCEQ closes online permitting system, after watchdogs accuse agency of violating data center pause
Oct. 22 — Watchdog groups Public Citizen and FracTracker said the agency approved stormwater permits related to data centers. The TCEQ says it hasn’t violated the governor’s pause on data center permits.
https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/energy-environment/2026/10/22/565038/tceq-closes-online-permitting-system-after-watchdogs-accuse-agency-of-violating-data-center-pause/
San Antonio Report: Despite Abbott moratorium, Texas kept on issuing data center permits. Now, the state agency is shutting down its automatic filing system.
Oct. 22 — Officials from Abbott’s office and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) initially denied that permits were still being issued, but later said a permit for the one San Antonio-area data center had been suspended.
https://sanantonioreport.org/tceq-data-centers-abbotts-moratorium-automatic-filing-system-texas/
Texas Scorecard: Fifth Circuit Upholds Texas Law Blocking Chinese-Owned Company From Power Grid
Oct. 21 — Texas may continue its ban on critical infrastructure agreements with companies tied to China and other hostile foreign nations.
https://texasscorecard.com/state/fifth-circuit-upholds-texas-law-blocking-chinese-owned-company-from-power-grid/
The Cool Down: Texas’ Electric Reliability Council gave itself a 30% raise the same day it nearly doubled the CEO’s pay
Oct. 21 — The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT, approved a 30% pay bump for its own board members during the same Sept. 15 meeting where it nearly doubled CEO Pablo Vegas’ compensation.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/texas-electric-reliability-council-gave-232700187.html
Texas Scorecard: Regulators To Consider Extension on Rehearing Motions for Second 765-kV Line
Oct. 21 — The Howard to Solstice line is a project of electric utilities AEP Texas and CPS Energy. It would span approximately 370 miles in South and West Texas from the San Antonio to Fort Stockton areas.
https://texasscorecard.com/state/regulators-to-consider-extension-on-rehearing-motions-for-second-765-kv-line/
CBS Austin: Study warns Texas data center boom could reverse decades of air quality gains
Oct. 21 — A new study from the Houston Advanced Research Center is warning that the rapid growth of data centers could erase much of Texas’ air-quality progress over the past two decades, depending largely on how those facilities are powered.
https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/study-warns-texas-data-center-boom-could-reverse-decades-of-air-quality-gains
Tech Times: Texas Battery Built for AI GPU Power Spikes Goes Online; $21B Market Forecast Follows
Oct. 21 — What the $21 billion forecast validates — and what Project Soho now proves at scale — is that AI-dedicated BESS is no longer a concept. It is a bankable, operational asset class.
https://www.techtimes.com/articles/329309/20261021/texas-battery-built-ai-gpu-power-spikes-goes-online-21b-market-forecast-follows.htm
The Texas Tribune: Texas data center boom could erase decades of progress on air quality
Oct. 20 — A new report warns that the state’s air quality progress could be reversed by the end of the decade, especially if facilities use natural gas power.
https://www.texastribune.org/2026/10/20/data-centers-texas-air-quality-report-pollution-health-risks/
KPRC: Houston’s power grid gets a $50M upgrade and your electricity bill could feel it
Oct. 20 — The federal government is directing $50 million toward Houston’s power grid, with Energy Secretary Chris Wright saying the investment is aimed at reducing transmission bottlenecks and lowering electricity costs for consumers.
https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2026/10/20/doe-announces-dollar50-million-grid-resilience-investment-for-houston-region/
Enverus: Established operators lead ERCOT large-load queue
Oct. 20 — The report finds that 81% of identified hyperscaler capacity falls within ERCOT’s base-load classification, compared with just 31% for new entrants. The findings suggest that operating history, construction progress and interconnection evidence are more closely associated with transmission-path certainty than sponsor type alone.
https://www.enverus.com/newsroom/established-operators-lead-ercot-large-load-queue/
Inside Climate News: Texas Continued Permitting Data Centers After Abbott’s Pause, Report Finds
Oct. 19 — FracTracker and Public Citizen identified 35 permitting actions taken by regulators in Texas in the weeks after Gov. Greg Abbott ordered a moratorium.
https://insideclimatenews.org/news/19102026/texas-continued-permitting-data-centers-after-moratorium/
The Texas Tribune: In Senate race, Paxton and Talarico each promise relief from rising energy costs in Texas
Oct. 18 — The candidates are miles apart on climate, but both are making affordability a central issue as Texans grapple with spiking prices.
https://www.texastribune.org/2026/10/18/paxton-talarico-energy-prices-senate-race-texas/
The Texas Energy and Power Newsletter: Costing Consumers
Oct. 18 — Entergy Texas is betting on a massive new natural gas plant in Beaumont to help meet the need for reliable power. But it comes with a cost to both the company and consumers. The plant will be located in an area of the state outside of ERCOT, served by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator.
https://www.texasenergyandpower.com/p/costing-consumers-reading-and-podcast
The Cool Down: 5,600 Texas customers face planned outages as CenterPoint buries 4 miles of power Lines
Oct. 17 — About 4 miles of power lines in Katy, Texas, will be moved underground, and CenterPoint Energy says the work will involve planned outages before eventually shortening storm-related interruptions for roughly 5,600 customers.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/5-600-texas-customers-face-153700336.html
Texas Scorecard: Uvalde Water District Warns of 765-kV Line’s Potential ‘Catastrophic Effect’ on Aquifers
Oct. 16 — It is part of the Strategic Transmission Expansion Plan (STEP) Permian, a key part of the Permian Basin Reliability Plan (PBRP). STEP-Permian proposes three 765-kV transmission lines spanning more than 1,200 miles to move power from East Texas to the natural gas-rich Permian Basin. Howard to Solstice is the southernmost line.
https://texasscorecard.com/state/uvalde-water-district-warns-of-765-kv-lines-potential-catastrophic-effect-on-aquifers/
Texas Scorecard: Will Texas Protect Its Critical Infrastructure?
Oct. 16 — DeVore noted that the term “critical infrastructure” does not solely encompass the electric grid and transportation networks, but also includes energy production facilities, refining facilities, water and wastewater systems, food production and distribution, ports, communications, and financial centers. He argues that all of these systems are vulnerable to natural disasters and attacks.
https://texasscorecard.com/state/will-texas-protect-its-critical-infrastructure/
Texas Scorecard: Regulators Extend Time To Consider Rehearing on Oncor’s Controversial Transmission Line
Oct. 15 — This project is part of the Strategic Transmission Expansion Plan (STEP) Permian, a key part of the Permian Basin Reliability Plan (PBRP). STEP Permian proposes three 765-kV transmission lines spanning more than 1,200 miles to move electricity from East Texas to the natural gas-rich Permian Basin. Dinosaur to Drill Hole is the northern line.
https://texasscorecard.com/state/regulators-extend-time-to-consider-rehearing-on-oncors-controversial-transmission-line/
KPRC: Harris County has 46 data centers and almost no power to regulate them
Oct. 15 — Harris County officials are pushing for greater local control over data center development, citing concerns about electricity demand, water consumption, air quality and neighborhood safety as the industry expands across Texas.
https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2026/10/15/harris-county-has-46-data-centers-and-almost-now-power-to-regulate-them/
US EIA: PJM, ERCOT, and SWPP all set peak load records this summer
Oct. 15 — The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) peaked at 91.1 GW on July 22, 2026, 6.5% higher than the pre-2026 record of 85.5 GW on August 20, 2024.
https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=68305
KSAT: How tightly will San Antonio regulate data centers?
Oct. 14 — Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones also tossed in a third option of her own that would also require council approval for new data centers, as well as requirements like replacing double the greenspace eliminated during construction.
https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2026/10/15/how-tightly-will-san-antonio-regulate-data-centers/
Texas Tribune: Despite tough talk from Abbott and Paxton, Texas penalties for data center violations are light
Oct. 14 — Texas officials are promising tougher enforcement on data centers, but the existing law may offer limited leverage over the industry that has largely failed to report its water use.
https://www.texastribune.org/2026/10/14/texas-data-centers-water-use-penalties-enforcement/
KPRC: More than 1 million Texans affected by CenterPoint data breach, AG report shows
Oct. 14 — More than one million Texans were affected by a CenterPoint Energy data breach that compromised sensitive personal information, according to newly published information from the Texas Attorney General’s Office.
https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2026/10/14/more-than-1-million-texans-affected-by-centerpoint-data-breach-ag-report-shows/
Houston Chronicle: CenterPoint Energy data breach affects over 1M Texans, new attorney general repo
Oct. 14 — A data breach at CenterPoint Energy has affected more than 1 million Texans, according to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/centerpoint-energy-data-breach-affects-132217937.html
Community Impact: CenterPoint Energy to install 4 miles of underground power lines in Katy
Oct, 13 — The new power lines will be more resilient through storms, reduce outage times for roughly 5,600 Katy customers and support the city’s growth with the new capacity, said Aaron Coronis, CenterPoint Energy service area manager.
https://communityimpact.com/katy-fulshear/government/centerpoint-energy-to-install-4-miles-of-underground-power-lines-in-katy/
Midland Reporter Telegram: Oncor hosts landowner meeting on transmission lines
Oct. 13 — West Texas landowners had an opportunity to discuss concerns and ask questions as Oncor hosted a public meeting regarding the 765-kilovolt transmission lines that are part of the Permian Electric Reliability Plan.
https://www.mrt.com/news/article/oncor-hosts-landowner-meeting-transmission-lines-22475753.php
WFAA: Hinojosa calls for halt on Texas data centers as Abbott shifts message
Oct. 13 — Gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa wants a pause on data centers until protections pass, while Abbott has paused permits amid rural backlash.
https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/politics/elections/hinojosa-calls-for-halt-on-texas-data-centers-as-abbott-shifts-message/287-3ab776ef-2861-458a-ad8f-5baa17f764e8
Forbes: Texas Orders Data Center Audit As Grid Requests Reach 474 Gigawatts
Oct. 13 — Texas faces roughly 474 gigawatts of new demand requests, primarily from data centers, far exceeding its previous peak demand of about 91 gigawatts. In response, Governor Greg Abbott ordered the state’s Public Utility Commission and ERCOT to audit and verify these projects before connecting them.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/daraabasiita/2026/10/13/texas-orders-data-center-audit-as-grid-requests-reach-474-gigawatts/
Fox7: City of Taylor moves forward with data center despite pushback from community
Oct. 12 — The city of Taylor is one step closer to getting another massive data center and power plant despite strong pushback from the community.
https://www.fox7austin.com/news/city-taylor-moves-forward-data-center-despite-pushback-from-community
Fox25: Killeen leaders work to craft data center zoning requirements as Texas moratorium pauses new projects
Oct. 12 — Killeen city leaders are working to find the right regulatory approach for potential data center developments, even as a statewide moratorium has temporarily halted all new data centers from opening.
https://www.kxxv.com/news/local-news/in-your-neighborhood/bell-county/killeen/killeen-leaders-work-to-craft-data-center-zoning-requirements-as-texas-moratorium-pauses-new-projects
Simply Wall Street: Will Texas Power Limits on Hutto Data Center Rethink Prologis’ (PLD) Development-Led Growth Narrative
Oct. 10 — In late September 2026, Prologis’s Texas data center venture with Skybox Data centers ran into uncertainty as new statewide limits on large power grid hookups raised questions about the project’s timing, scale and potential rental income.
https://finance.yahoo.com/real-estate/articles/texas-power-limits-hutto-data-121515313.html
KPRC TV: CenterPoint sends Houston-area crews to Florida to help restore power after Hurricane Isaias
Oct. 10 — CenterPoint Energy has sent line workers and other personnel from the Houston area to Pensacola, Florida, to help restore power as communities recover from Hurricane Isaias.
https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2026/10/10/centerpoint-sends-houston-area-crews-to-florida-to-help-restore-power-after-hurricane-isaias/
WOAI: Data Center Allies Form a Coalition to Discuss Economic Benefits Amid Opposition
Oct. Tech and Energy leaders have formed the Lone Star Infrastructure Coalition (LSIC) that includes Lancium, Oncor, Siemens Energy, and others. Led by former energy executive and Public Utility Commissioner, Jimmy Glofelty, who says he ‘wants to make sure the economic story gets told’. AI Expert, Matt Rosen, says this should help get the message across. “To understand what value the data centers actually bring into their communities- so that they’re better informed. The whole- ‘we’re all for it or we’re not going to do it all?’ is just too extreme.” He said.
https://woai.iheart.com/featured/san-antonios-first-news/content/2026-10-08-data-center-allies-form-a-coalition-to-discuss-economic-benefits-amid-opposition/
KUT News: Taylor City Council approves deal to clear the way for a nearby data center and power plant
Oct. 9 — Council members and city staff said that the agreement will allow Taylor to better manage the effects of the project, which includes data center facilities and an on-site power plant, by imposing regulations on things such as water use, noise and air quality. Without the agreement, they said, the city would have no authority over the project, which currently sits in an unincorporated part of Williamson County.
https://www.kut.org/energy-environment/2026-10-09/taylor-tx-annex-data-center-power-plant
ABC 7 Amarillo: Xcel Energy launches transparency pledge as data center power demand raises cost fears
Oct. 9 — As energy demand grows across the Texas Panhandle and large data centers expand elsewhere, Xcel Energy is rolling out a new transparency initiative it says is designed to address customer concerns about who will pay for the infrastructure needed to keep the lights on.
https://abc7amarillo.com/news/local/xcel-energy-launches-transparency-pledge-as-data-center-power-demand-raises-cost-fears-justin-smiley-southwest-power-pool-ercot-our-energy-pledge
KSSTRadio: Texas Public Utility Commission Sues Attorney General to Block Release of Data Center Locations
Oct. 9 — The dispute traces back to action taken by the Texas Legislature, which directed the PUC to collect and report water use data from specific heavy-resource industries, including data centers.
https://www.ksstradio.com/2026/10/texas-public-utility-commission-sues-attorney-general-to-block-release-of-data-center-locations/
Texas Scorecard: Regulators to Consider Extension on 765-kV Line Rehearing Motions
Oct. 8 — American Stewards of Liberty requested that regulators overturn their previous approval.
https://texasscorecard.com/state/regulators-to-consider-extension-on-765-kv-line-rehearing-motions/
The Dallas Express: Texas Energy Fund Buildout Tops 5,400 MW With New Pecos Power Plant Loa n
Oct.8 — Texas is moving another major power project toward completion as electricity demand reaches record territory on the state’s main electric grid.
https://dallasexpress.com/state/texas-energy-fund-buildout-tops-5400-mw-with-new-pecos-power-plant-loan/
KVUE: Texas agency sues to stop release of data center records that it says could aid terrorists
Oct. 7 —The lawsuit filed Monday pits the state agency responsible for regulating utilities against Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office over the scope of Texas’ public-records law and the state’s protections for critical infrastructure.
https://www.kvue.com/article/news/community/data-centers/texas-puc-sues-stop-release-data-center-records-terrorists/269-f34a3ab3-04c8-4f49-afa0-72399e56bef7
Texas Scorecard: Public Utility Commission Sues Attorney General To Block Data Center Records Release
Oct. 8 — The court must determine whether the withheld data concerns critical infrastructure vulnerable to acts of terrorism.
https://texasscorecard.com/state/public-utility-commission-sues-attorney-general-to-block-data-center-records-release/