Blog

By Melanie Hwang, IEDC Staff

President Biden signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 on March 11. Here’s an overview of how the package will help local communities:

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. 

By Colton Campbell, IEDC Intern

The North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s (NAERC) power transmission area consists of five separate power grids. The Eastern Interconnection extends East of the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic Coast, excluding Texas and Quebec. The Western Interconnection extends from the Rockies to the Pacific Coast and from the Southern United States border to the top of British Columbia and Alberta. There are also three minor interconnections, which are Alaska, Quebec, and of course, the Texas Interconnection.

Over the course of the last couple weeks, Texas has seen one of the worst winter storms in its history. On February 14, President Joe Biden officially approved the emergency declaration for individual assistance in 77 counties across Texas. This ...