Moving Forward in Texas

By Colton Campbell, IEDC intern

After any climate event, there are going to be multiple short- and long-term consequences. Following the recent storm in Texas, several Electric Reliability Council of Texas board members and now the chair of the Texas Public Utility Commission have resigned. Residents across the state in need of plumbing and electrical home repairs from skilled trade workers have encountered shortages of both laborers and parts. Many Texans are still trying to find their footing while long-term changes remain unclear. 

Possible halt in business migration

Over the past couple of years, large technology companies like Oracle, Hewlett Packard, and Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Tesla ventures have moved or planned to move from locations in California to Texas. Escaping the California tax structure for a more business-friendly model has been the driving factor, but it may not be favorable for companies to relocate to Texas. Less tax collection means less money for infrastructure. The deregulation and island mentality of Texas’ energy grid could also dissuade large companies from making the move. The idea of having to establish their own reliable utilities is a possible deterrent.

Future of Texas energy

As the leading state in electricity production, Texas gets its energy mainly from natural gas (around 56 percent) followed by wind (24 percent) and coal (19 percent). During big storms, coal generation falls but renewables like wind also perform poorly. Many have blamed failures on renewable plants while others believe disaster mitigation can be found through wind and solar power. Home weatherization and embracing cleaner sources of energy could be what Texas needs as climate events become more frequent.

Another interesting proposal for Texas, and nationwide, is smart grid technology. In a recent NPR interview, Professor Le Xie of Texas A&M University said that shifting the focus from supply to demand could prevent future problems. An example is installing smart meters on a wider scale so that only essential electrical needs are fulfilled during a crisis. This would allow energy to be routed to keep the lights on while less crucial appliances such as washing machines stay off for a couple of days.