ESS News: ERCOT proposes $1,500/MW incentive for legacy Texas storage to adopt grid stability support
April 8 — Older storage and renewables might be incentivized to add grid stability services in Texas if current plans continue with a $25 million program.
https://www.ess-news.com/2026/04/08/ercot-proposes-1500-mw-incentive-for-legacy-texas-storage-to-adopt-grid-stability-support/
NBC DFW: Power outages disrupt businesses, raise concerns in Celina
April 7 — Frustration is mounting in North Texas’ Celina as residents and downtown businesses deal with repeated power outages.
https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/celina-businesses-lose-money-power-outages/4007065/
Center For Strategic Studies: The Texas Energy Reference Design: Stress-Testing Load Growth Challenges for an AI Century (COMMENTARY)
April 7 — Texas long stood apart from national energy policy—its own grid, its own rules. In 2026, that independence has made it the top destination for AI-driven electricity demand. While Washington grapples with the pressures of building data centers, ensuring reliability, and controlling costs, Texas is tackling everything at once.
https://www.csis.org/analysis/texas-energy-reference-design-stress-testing-load-growth-challenges-ai-century
American Public Power Association: How Public Power Utilities Deliver Savings Amid Rising Energy Costs
April 6 — It’s been more than a year since the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that electricity rates have outpaced inflation since 2022, and the agency predicts that trend will continue through 2026. The higher bills have been a focus of local elections and spurred public interest in public utility commission proceedings.
https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/maintaining-energy-affordability-how-public-power-utilities-deliver-savings-amid-rising-energy-costs
Houston Chronicle: Data centers balloon demand in ERCOT
April 6 — The agency said peak demand could reach 145 GW by 2030, and it currently has about 453 GW of requests to connect to the grid. ERCOT’s all-time peak demand was 85 GW in August 2023.
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/houston-chronicle/20260406/282050513620553
Sweetwater Reporter: Patrick Rhode Sworn in as Commissioner of the Public Utility Commission of Texas
April 4 — Patrick Rhode was sworn in today as Commissioner of the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT). Commissioner Rhode was appointed by Governor Greg Abbott effective April 1, 2026. His career spans public and private sector experiences from the White House to industry leading corporations.
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/sweetwater-reporter/20260404/281543707476524
Foley & Lardner: Texas Legislature Sets Its Sights on Data Centers and AI: What You Need to Know
April 3 — Texas House and Senate leadership recently released their interim charges, which serve as “homework assignments” for legislative committees to study before the 2027 session. These directives often form the foundation for future legislation, and can signal leadership priorities for the upcoming session. This year’s charges show a clear focus on the rapid growth of data centers, artificial intelligence (AI), and their impact on the state’s infrastructure and the conduct of private and public business in the state.
https://www.foley.com/p/102mot7/texas-legislature-sets-its-sights-on-data-centers-and-ai-what-you-need-to-know/
Houston Today: Texas Governor Candidate Warns of Potential Power Outages
April 3 — Jenn Mack Raphoon, a candidate for Texas governor, has issued an urgent message to Texans, warning them to prepare for potential power outages this summer. Raphoon’s warning comes as the state’s electric grid operator, ERCOT, projects tightening reserve margins in the coming months.
https://nationaltoday.com/us/tx/houston/news/2026/04/03/texas-governor-candidate-warns-of-potential-power-outages/
Texas Energy & Power Newsletter: More Generation, More Transmission, More Load, More Challenges
April 2 — ERCOT’s latest operational and interconnection updates show continued growth in new power generation projects. Since December, roughly 9,275 megawatts of new capacity have been added to the interconnection queue, including solar, wind, battery storage, and gas projects.
https://www.texasenergyandpower.com/p/more-generation-more-transmission?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share
My San Antonio: How does artificial intelligence, data centers use so much water in Texas?
April 1 — Texas has become a major hotbed amid rampant efforts to expand and construct data centers across the country. But with the advancement of this technology comes concerns about the volume of water needed to operate these facilities and support artificial intelligence technology.
https://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/how-does-ai-use-water-22155910.php
Community Impact: ERCOT, developers detail plans to manage data center growth amid legislative scrutiny
April 1 — The Texas power grid is undergoing “generational” growth, experts said during the Electric Reliability Council of Texas’ annual summit March 31 in Round Rock. Much of that growth is due to data centers—an industry under scrutiny from state lawmakers as some Texas communities push back against proposed data center developments.
https://communityimpact.com/austin/round-rock/texas-legislature/2026/04/01/ercot-developers-detail-plans-to-manage-data-center-growth-amid-legislative-scrutiny/
Texas Energy and Power Newsletter: More Generation, More Transmission, More Load, More Challenges
April 2 — Recent reports and rulemakings from ERCOT and PUCT point to three major trends shaping the Texas grid: rapid growth, rising transmission investment, and large load management.
https://www.texasenergyandpower.com/p/more-generation-more-transmission?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share
Transformer Magazine: Texas plans massive 765-kV transmission line
April 1 — Oncor and LCRA propose up to 390 km of high-voltage line to meet Permian Basin’s growing electricity demand.
https://transformers-magazine.com/tm-news/texas-plans-massive-765-kv-transmission-line/
E&E News: Texas launches $350M nuclear fund ahead of data center boom
April 1 — The plan arrived the same day the state Senate’s Business and Commerce Committee is holding a hearing to ask regulators and grid managers how they plan to connect large power users to the grid without causing outages or raising prices for residents and small businesses. Abbott said in a statement that the fund will help jump-start a new nuclear energy ecosystem in Texas.
https://www.eenews.net/articles/texas-launches-350m-nuclear-fund-ahead-of-data-center-boom/
Fort Worth Report: Fort Worth bestows historic protection on TXU North Main plant
March 31 — The historic TXU North Main power plant at the Trinity River north of downtown now has significant protection against demolition under rezoning the Fort Worth City Council approved Tuesday.
https://fortworthreport.org/2026/03/31/fort-worth-bestows-historic-protection-on-txu-north-main-plant/
Utility Dive: Oncor, LCRA propose up to 244 miles of 765-kV Texas transmission
March 31 — The proposal supports Texas’ effort to build a network of high-voltage transmission lines to serve growing demand in the Permian Basin.
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/oncor-lcra-propose-up-to-244-miles-of-765-kv-texas-transmission/816207/
KCENTV: Holland homeowner shares how $2 Billion ONCOR transmission line project would run next to their property
March 31 — Christine Thies and her husband finally found their piece of Texas in Bell County. Now, a nearly $2 billion transmission line could change everything.
https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/holland-homeowner-2-billion-oncor-transmission-line-project-would-run-next-to-property/500-732b0f24-55b0-49e5-a61e-c2b0c9d37a1e
Broadband Breakfast: Microsoft Takes Over a Texas AI Data Center Expansion After OpenAI Backs Away
March 30 — Microsoft is taking over a data center construction project in Texas after OpenAI declined to pursue it.
https://broadbandbreakfast.com/microsoft-takes-over-a-texas-ai-data-center-expansion-after-openai-backs-away/
American Public Power Association: Oncor, LCRA Transmission Services File Application to Build 765- kV Transmission Line in Texas
March 30 — Oncor and LCRA Transmission Services Corporation have filed an application to build a 765-kV transmission line from Schleicher to Bell Counties in Texas to help meet the state’s current and future electric reliability needs.
https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/oncor-lcra-transmission-services-file-application-build-765-kv-transmission-line-texas
Foley Viewpoints: The “But For” Dilemma – How Proposed Texas Public Utility Commission Large Load Interconnection Rules Impact Government Incentives Strategies
March 30 — Companies seeking governmental incentives for expansion or relocation projects, such as tax abatements or state-level grants, must typically demonstrate that the project would not be viable “but for” the receipt of those incentives.
https://www.foley.com/p/102mofl/the-but-for-dilemma-how-proposed-texas-public-utility-commission-large-load-i/
Dallas Business Journal: Fort Worth weighs tax breaks for $1.1 billion data center project
March 30 — Fort Worth city leaders will decide whether to approve a substantial tax incentive package for an East Coast data center company considering a major investment. DART’s CEO search and the Dallas Wings’ training facility are also at pivotal points, as is the historic TXU Power Plant on Panther Island.
https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news/2026/03/30/edged-us-dart-ceo-dallas-wings-txu-panther.html
Latitude Media: The multimillion dollar debate over powering data centers in Texas
March 30 — But as the rulemaking process for SB6 has unfolded, it’s becoming clear just how far apart regulators and the AI industry are when it comes to the price of grid admission. Other markets around the country are closely watching the back-and-forth between Texas and developers over the size of financial commitments, and whether to grandfather in existing projects, explained Anne Liu, the research lead for ERCOT at Aurora Energy Research.
https://www.latitudemedia.com/news/the-multimillion-dollar-debate-over-powering-data-centers-in-texas/
National Law Review: Request for Comments on Texas PUCT Draft Report Regarding Transmission Cost Recovery in the ERCOT Region
March 30 — On 16 March 2026, following a workshop and two rounds of public comments, the Commission issued a draft report (the Draft Report) providing six draft recommendations. Commission Staff invites comments on the draft recommendations, due by 13 April 2026, prior to the issuance of a final report.
https://natlawreview.com/article/request-comments-texas-puct-draft-report-regarding-transmission-cost-recovery-ercot
KVUE: ERCOT partnering with UT to study next-generation energy technology
March 27 — ERCOT, the state’s power grid operator, is partnering with the University of Texas to study next-generation energy technology.
https://www.kvue.com/video/news/education/university-of-texas/ercot-ut-next-generation-energy-technology/269-14304504-db4f-4fd8-82cd-4cf1f1c20bfd
KSAT: Texas Supreme Court ends lawsuits against power generators over 2021 winter storm
March 27 — But Sandie Haverlah, president of the Texas Consumer Association, said Friday that the 2021 storm likely will not be the only extreme weather event of that caliber. She pointed to the state Legislature’s efforts to better prepare power generation companies for extreme weather as an acknowledgement of that — and of energy providers’ own culpability in the fallout.
https://www.ksat.com/news/texas/2026/03/27/texas-supreme-court-ends-lawsuits-against-power-generators-over-2021-winter-storm/
KVUE: ERCOT partnering with UT to study next-generation energy technology
March 27 — ERCOT, the state’s power grid operator, is partnering with the University of Texas to study next-generation energy technology.
https://www.kvue.com/video/news/education/university-of-texas/ercot-ut-next-generation-energy-technology/269-14304504-db4f-4fd8-82cd-4cf1f1c20bfd
KXXV: Oncor, LCRA TSC seek state approval for 765kV transmission line across Central Texas
March 27 — Oncor and LCRA Transmission Services Corporation have applied for state approval to build a high-voltage transmission line spanning from Schleicher to Bell counties, a project officials say is critical to keeping pace with Texas’ surging electricity demand.
https://www.kxxv.com/news/texas-news/oncor-lcra-tsc-seek-state-approval-for-765kv-transmission-line-across-central-texas
KCEN TV: Proposed transmission line project continues to raise alarms in Central Texas
March 27 — Oncor and LCRA Transmission Services Corporation are seeking approval from the Public Utility Commission of Texas to build a 765-kilovolt transmission line stretching from Central to West Texas. The project would impact more than a dozen counties.
https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/proposed-power-line-project-continues-raise-alarms-central-texas/500-6c64b576-b2f7-490e-a921-bf2600b4ca61
Houston Public Media: Texas energy regulators, industry leaders face power demand questions amid growth of data centers
March 26 — The AI boom has dominated conversations at CERAWeek, the annual energy conference in Houston.
https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/infrastructure/2026/03/26/547233/ai-data-centers-texas-ercot-power-ceraweek/?amp=1
Business Wire: Oncor Electric Acquires Key Land in Ellis County for 765-kV Substation Project
March 26 — In addition to the close proximity of the property to the Stainback 345-kV substation, Oncor’s acquisition of land in Ellis, County for the development of the future 765-kV/345-kV substation and switch station, is a significant step forward in connecting the pieces of Texas’ emerging extra-high-voltage transmission backbone.
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260326178579/en/Oncor-Electric-Acquires-Key-Land-in-Ellis-County-for-765-kV-Substation-Project