In 2021, the Texas state Legislature knew it had a problem with the electric grid. A February storm knocked out power for 4.5 million homes and businesses when electricity demand overtook supply, leaving many in the dark for weeks. In the years since, weather-induced power outages have continued across the seasons.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT, which operates Texas’ main power grid in isolation from other states, warned in 2024 that it was facing a new challenge: skyrocketing energy demand from industrial growth, manufacturing and data centers meant the state needed to nearly double its electricity capacity – fast.
When state lawmakers met in Austin in 2025, the dual challenges of ensuring the grid withstands weather-related outages and that developers build enough new resources to power future growth loomed large. The 89th biennial legislative session officially ended Monday, June 2. Its…
