Dead gardens, dusty cars: Frustrated Corpus Christi residents take precautions as water crisis nears
Read full article: Dead gardens, dusty cars: Frustrated Corpus Christi residents take precautions as water crisis nearsThe city’s water supply has been nearly depleted by a prolonged drought and a recent boon of oil refineries in the area. Locals have been limiting outdoor watering, shower time and car washes.
Corpus Christi’s crucial refineries look for alternate water supplies amid looming water crisis
Read full article: Corpus Christi’s crucial refineries look for alternate water supplies amid looming water crisisThe city produces 5% of the nation’s refined products like gas and jet fuel, and experts say a serious water shortage could force production down and push fuel prices up even further.
A plan to get more electricity to West Texas may come undone
Read full article: A plan to get more electricity to West Texas may come undoneOil and gas companies have said the region needs more power. Environmentalists and a conservative think tank worry the state is moving too fast — and ratepayers will see the costs in their bills.
Texas oil companies stand to profit from Iran war disruptions while consumers face higher gas prices
Read full article: Texas oil companies stand to profit from Iran war disruptions while consumers face higher gas pricesThe U.S.-Israel war with Iran means higher profits for Texas oil companies and higher costs for its consumers, according to Texas experts who are tracking suddenly-volatile energy markets.
Texas oil companies stand to profit from Iran war disruptions while consumers face higher gas prices
Read full article: Texas oil companies stand to profit from Iran war disruptions while consumers face higher gas pricesTexas’ status as the nation’s largest oil producer will partially insulate its residents from some gas price hikes, but it’s not immune to disruptions, experts say.
ExxonMobil set to to move its legal home to Texas, citing business friendly environment
Read full article: ExxonMobil set to to move its legal home to Texas, citing business friendly environmentGov. Greg Abbott celebrated the announcement on Tuesday, crediting Texas’ legal environment. Exxon has based its operations in the Houston area since 1989.
After a decade of missteps, Corpus Christi careens toward water catastrophe
Read full article: After a decade of missteps, Corpus Christi careens toward water catastropheCity officials expect to reach a “water emergency” within months and run out of water next year. That would halt jet fuel deliveries to Texas airports, hike gas prices and trigger a local economic disaster without precedent, former officials say.
Bo French, Jim Wright head to runoff for seat on Texas Railroad Commission
Read full article: Bo French, Jim Wright head to runoff for seat on Texas Railroad CommissionThe Texas Railroad Commission is responsible for regulating the state’s oil and gas industry. The election included a clash over China and diversity rules.
‘We’ve got to win the midterms’: President Trump talks energy, primary races in Corpus Christi
Read full article: ‘We’ve got to win the midterms’: President Trump talks energy, primary races in Corpus ChristiPresident Donald Trump arrived Friday in Corpus Christi and offered remarks on energy and important Republican primary races four days before Election Day.
Donald Trump to visit Port of Corpus Christi as locals seek spotlight on energy exports, water crisis
Read full article: Donald Trump to visit Port of Corpus Christi as locals seek spotlight on energy exports, water crisisTexas’ Coastal Bend is about to take center stage as President Donald Trump is expected to visit the Port of Corpus Christi on Friday.
Texas refineries see opportunity in Venezuelan oil amid Mexico export declines
Read full article: Texas refineries see opportunity in Venezuelan oil amid Mexico export declinesAs President Donald Trump seeks to boost U.S. investment in Venezuela’s oil fields, Mexico is poised to export less heavy crude to Gulf refineries, creating an opening for Venezuelan oil.
How to spot AI-generated images and online content during the 2026 primary elections
Read full article: How to spot AI-generated images and online content during the 2026 primary electionsIdentifying falsified or digitally enhanced videos, photos and ads takes attention and awareness, but helpful tools are out there.
Momentum is building to meet electricity demand in Texas with small nuclear reactors
Read full article: Momentum is building to meet electricity demand in Texas with small nuclear reactorsThe first small modular nuclear reactor could be powering an industrial plant in Texas early in the next decade. And the state is pushing to become the leading site for testing and building the technology.
Texans are demanding their local governments push pause on data centers. Can they?
Read full article: Texans are demanding their local governments push pause on data centers. Can they?Texans from Waco to Harlingen are raising concerns over how much energy and water data centers are poised to use. Local officials, some enticed by a tax boon, say they have little power to stop the rush.
In a contest to regulate Texas’s oil and gas industry, one Republican wants to talk DEI and China
Read full article: In a contest to regulate Texas’s oil and gas industry, one Republican wants to talk DEI and ChinaJim Wright, the GOP incumbent, and several other Republican candidates dismissed Bo French’s campaign rhetoric as distracting from the Railroad Commission’s mission.
Texas Railroad Commission primary: Who is running and what to know
Read full article: Texas Railroad Commission primary: Who is running and what to knowThe Railroad Commission regulates energy infrastructure across Texas. Here’s a look at who’s running in the 2026 Democratic and Republican primaries and where they stand.
“A disaster waiting to happen”: How the fracking boom put an oil field in the Guadalupe River floodplain
Read full article: “A disaster waiting to happen”: How the fracking boom put an oil field in the Guadalupe River floodplainLack of a state floodplain policy enabled oil companies to build in parts of Texas hit by an epic inundation less than 30 years ago.
In the West Texas oil patch, companies plan gas power plants to run new data centers
Read full article: In the West Texas oil patch, companies plan gas power plants to run new data centersThe developer of one project, in Pecos County, calls it the largest power project in the U.S. Data centers are sparking a surge of gas power plant construction in Texas.
Texas’ power grid weathered another winter storm. Is it ready for the future?
Read full article: Texas’ power grid weathered another winter storm. Is it ready for the future?Five years after Winter Storm Uri caused catastrophic blackouts that killed hundreds, the electric grid has changed significantly, but increasing demand means it will have to adapt even more.
Thousands of East Texans remain without power after winter storm shuts down most of state
Read full article: Thousands of East Texans remain without power after winter storm shuts down most of stateEast Texas experienced some of the worst freezing rain. Dense forests and icy roads are making it more difficult to restore electricity.
El Paso’s plan to build natural gas power plant for massive data center kicks up opposition
Read full article: El Paso’s plan to build natural gas power plant for massive data center kicks up oppositionMeta’s planned data center could be El Paso’s biggest electricity user. Some residents worry that a new power plant to run it would worsen air pollution and guzzle water.
San Antonio officials, utility leaders update community on cold weather response, warming centers
Read full article: San Antonio officials, utility leaders update community on cold weather response, warming centersSan Antonio city officials and utility representatives held a news conference on Saturday morning to provide an update on cold-weather response efforts.
A small oil company polluted Midland’s water reserve. The cleanup has dragged on for years.
Read full article: A small oil company polluted Midland’s water reserve. The cleanup has dragged on for years.Cleaning up oilfield pollution in arid West Texas is costly and complicated. The bankruptcy process allows companies to move on while the public pays the price.
Texas forecast to be top market for data centers in two years, increasing grid demand
Read full article: Texas forecast to be top market for data centers in two years, increasing grid demandAs artificial intelligence pushes demand for more data centers, companies are drawn to the state’s relatively inexpensive land and natural gas that can run on-site power plants.
As data centers jostle to get on Texas’ grid, ERCOT promises new rules for planning
Read full article: As data centers jostle to get on Texas’ grid, ERCOT promises new rules for planningERCOT is making a first attempt at a planning process in which multiple requests will be considered simultaneously.
After killing planned desalination plant, Corpus Christi tries to drill its way out of a water crisis
Read full article: After killing planned desalination plant, Corpus Christi tries to drill its way out of a water crisisAfter an industrial building boom on Corpus Christi Bay, the city is drilling wells to meet water demand, and rural Nueces County residents say their own wells are being impacted.
Why a Panhandle businessman wants to take over the region’s electric utility
Read full article: Why a Panhandle businessman wants to take over the region’s electric utilitySalem Abraham claims Minnesota-based Xcel Energy has not lived up to its promise of protecting the region from wildfires. The company vehemently disagrees.
Trump says the U.S. will fix Venezuela’s oil industry. Texas experts say the idea faces hurdles.
Read full article: Trump says the U.S. will fix Venezuela’s oil industry. Texas experts say the idea faces hurdles.Texas-based oil companies have largely been silent on Trump’s assertion that they would help to rebuild Venezuela’s oil infrastructure.
Trump's return brought stiff headwinds for clean energy. So why are advocates optimistic in 2026?
Read full article: Trump's return brought stiff headwinds for clean energy. So why are advocates optimistic in 2026?Dozens of energy developers, experts and politicians say there were some highs amid a lot of lows in a roller coaster year for clean energy as President Donald Trump worked to boost polluting fuels while stymying wind and solar.
One year after a deadly train wreck, a West Texas town awaits help to avoid more tragedy
Read full article: One year after a deadly train wreck, a West Texas town awaits help to avoid more tragedyAs oil and gas industry traffic continues to speed through Pecos, TxDOT said it is working to find $194 million to build an alternative route away from the heart of the city.
Texas AG Ken Paxton seeks damages from energy company linked to Texas’ largest wildfire
Read full article: Texas AG Ken Paxton seeks damages from energy company linked to Texas’ largest wildfireThe lawsuit alleges Minnesota-based Xcel Energy failed to maintain utility poles that started the 2024 Panhandle fire that killed three people and thousands of livestock.
Residents protest high-voltage power lines that could skirt Dinosaur Valley State Park
Read full article: Residents protest high-voltage power lines that could skirt Dinosaur Valley State ParkOne of three possible routes would border the North Texas park. The project is part of a statewide effort to keep pace with Texas’ rapidly growing energy needs.
Proposed data center project for Waco area would be “paradigm-changer”
Read full article: Proposed data center project for Waco area would be “paradigm-changer”The project is at a scale of industrial development and investment unmatched in McLennan County’s history: acres of computer hardware, substations and a 1.2-gigawatt gas-fired plant capable of powering about 300,000 homes.
Texas oil and gas regulators win new power to approve projects that shoot carbon underground
Read full article: Texas oil and gas regulators win new power to approve projects that shoot carbon undergroundThe EPA handed over power to the Railroad Commission after a two-year review. Critics say the commission has been too lax with the industry.
Tarrant County GOP Chair Bo French announces run for Texas Railroad Commission
Read full article: Tarrant County GOP Chair Bo French announces run for Texas Railroad CommissionFrench will face commission Chair Jim Wright in the Republican primary. The three-person panel is in charge of the agency that oversees Texas’ oil and gas industry.
Gov. Greg Abbott launches reelection campaign for fourth term
Read full article: Gov. Greg Abbott launches reelection campaign for fourth termAbbott framed his campaign as a means to keep Texas as a conservative bastion, touting efforts to lower property taxes, bolster education and strengthen public safety.
Explosion of data centers causes planning struggles for Texas power grid
Read full article: Explosion of data centers causes planning struggles for Texas power gridAs companies look to build projects that consume more power than cities, the state’s grid manager is trying to plan how to provide enough electricity to meet the demand.
A North Texas community will vote to form a city in an effort to quiet down a crypto mine
Read full article: A North Texas community will vote to form a city in an effort to quiet down a crypto mineLeaders of the effort say they moved to rural Hood County for its quiet country charm, which was shattered by what locals call “that roar” from the facility.
Economic boom or environmental disaster? Rural Texas grapples with pros, cons of data centers
Read full article: Economic boom or environmental disaster? Rural Texas grapples with pros, cons of data centersLocal leaders see data centers, which help power the world’s shift to artificial intelligence, as a way to keep their towns open. Residents worry their way of life — and water — is at stake.
TribCast: Will the Texas renewable energy powerhouse survive?
Read full article: TribCast: Will the Texas renewable energy powerhouse survive?This week, Matthew and Eleanor speak with Eric Goff, founder of an energy policy advising firm, about the growth of wind and solar power in Texas and whether it will continue after recent federal efforts targeting the industry.
Democratic Rep. Jon Rosenthal will run for Texas Railroad Commission
Read full article: Democratic Rep. Jon Rosenthal will run for Texas Railroad CommissionThe day after the four-term Houston lawmaker launched his statewide bid, his former chief of staff, Odus Evbagharu, announced he was running to succeed his former boss in the Texas House.
About $675 million earmarked for Texas projects is in limbo as Congress careens toward shutdown
Read full article: About $675 million earmarked for Texas projects is in limbo as Congress careens toward shutdownTexas’ congressional delegation obtained tentative funding for infrastructure improvements, university research and other initiatives, but the nearly 350 earmarks are all in jeopardy.
State approves $562 million Texas Energy Fund loan for power plant near Baytown
Read full article: State approves $562 million Texas Energy Fund loan for power plant near BaytownThe low-interest loan to NRG Energy for a gas-fired power plant is the largest of three loans approved through the $7 billion fund since its creation in 2023.
Brook Hollow Branch Library nears completion of parking lot solar panel project
Read full article: Brook Hollow Branch Library nears completion of parking lot solar panel projectA City of San Antonio news release on Monday said a planned temporary closure of the Brook Hollow Branch Library would be canceled. The library was closing for one day to expedite the completion of a planned solar panel project.
Texas solar program left in limbo after Trump administration pulls the plug on $250 million grant
Read full article: Texas solar program left in limbo after Trump administration pulls the plug on $250 million grantTexas’ Solar for All program was intended to bring solar panels and batteries to low-income neighborhoods and create jobs by training workers to install the technology.
Texas power plants and chemical companies benefit as Trump eases pollution rules, experts say
Read full article: Texas power plants and chemical companies benefit as Trump eases pollution rules, experts sayA two-year delay on new mercury rules benefits coal-fired power plants, while chemical plants got an exemption from stricter air pollution standards.
Texas’ $7.2 billion loan program for gas power plants has approved two projects in two years
Read full article: Texas’ $7.2 billion loan program for gas power plants has approved two projects in two yearsExperts say the Texas Energy Fund is facing an energy market that makes new power plants more expensive and less profitable.
Opportunity Home to lose $24 million in funding after EPA cancels Solar for All program, nonprofit says
Read full article: Opportunity Home to lose $24 million in funding after EPA cancels Solar for All program, nonprofit saysOpportunity Home is set to lose $24 million in funding after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) canceled the Biden-era Solar for All program last week, a spokesperson for the nonprofit said in an email to KSAT.
Hundreds of old EV batteries have new jobs in Texas: Stabilizing the power grid
Read full article: Hundreds of old EV batteries have new jobs in Texas: Stabilizing the power gridAfter reaching the end of their automotive lives, the batteries are being reused to provide lower-cost grid energy storage.
Severe weather in Kerr County knocks out power for thousands of customers, utility says
Read full article: Severe weather in Kerr County knocks out power for thousands of customers, utility saysSevere weather early Friday morning has caused significant power outages across Kerr County from sunup to sundown, according to a Kerrville Public Utility Board (KPUB) outage map.
Senate passes GOP’s tax and spending bill with Cornyn, Cruz priorities included
Read full article: Senate passes GOP’s tax and spending bill with Cornyn, Cruz priorities includedThe package includes $13.5 billion to reimburse states for border spending. It is expected to meet resistance in the House from some Texas Republicans.
Data centers are building their own gas power plants in Texas
Read full article: Data centers are building their own gas power plants in TexasNot long ago, developers of the massive server farms talked about powering them with wind and solar energy. Now they’re bypassing the grid and building their own gas-fired power plants on site.
CPS Energy officials say it is prepared for above-average South Central Texas summer heat
Read full article: CPS Energy officials say it is prepared for above-average South Central Texas summer heatCPS Energy’s executive team shared a single message Friday on all company fronts: the utility company is ready for the summer. The message was affirmed by Rudy Garza, the utility’s president and CEO.
Oil companies win protections from Texas Legislature ahead of selling fracking water
Read full article: Oil companies win protections from Texas Legislature ahead of selling fracking waterAt least four companies say they are prepared to treat the water well enough to be released into rivers in West Texas. Environmental groups say the state is moving too fast.
Lawmakers near deal to spend $20 billion over two decades on water crisis
Read full article: Lawmakers near deal to spend $20 billion over two decades on water crisisThe deal allocates $1 billion a year to water projects for 20 years, which some groups estimate is a fraction of what Texas needs to save its water supply.
Bill that gives Texas increased oversight of largest energy users wins Legislature’s approval
Read full article: Bill that gives Texas increased oversight of largest energy users wins Legislature’s approvalSenate Bill 6, which now heads to the governor’s desk, gives the state’s electricity managers the ability to shut power to large consumers during emergencies.
It’s “Texas Time”: Legislature OKs permanent daylight saving time, but Congress must also act
Read full article: It’s “Texas Time”: Legislature OKs permanent daylight saving time, but Congress must also actFederal action would be needed to make the change legal. Lawmakers at both the state and federal levels have debated the question for decades.
ERCOT: Will the power stay on through this record heat wave? Details here
Read full article: ERCOT: Will the power stay on through this record heat wave? Details hereThe Electric Reliability Council of Texas anticipates that the power grid will handle the increased demand, largely thanks to solar power.
Texas has thousands of abandoned oil and gas wells. Who is responsible for cleaning them up?
Read full article: Texas has thousands of abandoned oil and gas wells. Who is responsible for cleaning them up?Across Texas, abandoned wells are erupting with chemical-infused liquid and some have created massive lakes of contaminated water. Regulators say they need more money to address the problem.
Can Texas clean up fracking water enough to use for farming? One company thinks so.
Read full article: Can Texas clean up fracking water enough to use for farming? One company thinks so.The Texas Legislature has also invested millions in research to clean the fracking wastewater. Critics say it’s not a viable solution to the state’s water crisis.
Renewable energy companies face little regulation in Texas. A state lawmaker wants to change that.
Read full article: Renewable energy companies face little regulation in Texas. A state lawmaker wants to change that.The legislation would put new requirements on wind and solar companies that oil and gas companies in Texas do not face.
South Texas county leaders will lose some authority over SpaceX launches under new bill
Read full article: South Texas county leaders will lose some authority over SpaceX launches under new billThe lawmakers behind the bill promised there would not be an increase in the number of days the beach is closed.
West Texas lawmakers push bills to divert some oil and gas taxes to help oil-producing counties with roads, other needs
Read full article: West Texas lawmakers push bills to divert some oil and gas taxes to help oil-producing counties with roads, other needsReps. Tom Craddick and Brooks Landgraf want to divert 10% of taxes collected on oil and gas production to help budget-strapped counties keep up with growth.
Texas is running out of water. Here’s why and what state leaders plan to do about it.
Read full article: Texas is running out of water. Here’s why and what state leaders plan to do about it.The state’s water supply faces numerous threats. And by one estimate, the state’s municipal supply will not meet demand by 2030 if there’s a severe drought and no water solutions are implemented.
A Republican effort to set deadlines to plug orphan wells in Texas hits resistance
Read full article: A Republican effort to set deadlines to plug orphan wells in Texas hits resistanceThe bill would have set deadlines for the oil and gas industry to plug inactive wells, which can pose a danger to the environment.
With Texas facing soaring electricity demand, the politics of energy quietly shift at the Capitol
Read full article: With Texas facing soaring electricity demand, the politics of energy quietly shift at the CapitolThe Legislature has tried to clamp down on renewable energy resources in the past, but many lawmakers are recognizing the need to support all types of generation to meet record demand growth.
San Antonio Public Library trustees approve solar installation designs at two branches
Read full article: San Antonio Public Library trustees approve solar installation designs at two branchesThe San Antonio Public Library (SAPL) Board of Trustees approved the designs for two libraries to receive rooftop and parking canopy solar installations amid a larger push to retrofit municipal structures underway across the city.
San Antonio Public Library trustees to consider solar panel installations at nine branches
Read full article: San Antonio Public Library trustees to consider solar panel installations at nine branchesSan Antonio Public Library Board of Trustees will consider approving a project to install solar panels at nine branches across the city, part of an ongoing city initiative to retrofit municipal infrastructure.
ERCOT approves $54 million plan to move CenterPoint’s mobile generators to San Antonio
Read full article: ERCOT approves $54 million plan to move CenterPoint’s mobile generators to San AntonioAll Texans connected to the state grid will now pay for the generators rather than just CenterPoint customers.
‘Mediocre, poor’ describe bulk of Texas infrastructure grades in new statewide report card
Read full article: ‘Mediocre, poor’ describe bulk of Texas infrastructure grades in new statewide report cardThe American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) released its Texas Infrastructure Report Card on Tuesday, which provides a sobering assessment of the state's ailing infrastructure.
In Odessa, multiple efforts are underway to help immigrants stay and work
Read full article: In Odessa, multiple efforts are underway to help immigrants stay and workA naturalized citizen, along with other business leaders, are working to create new resources for undocumented people living in the Permian Basin.
Feds approve another deepwater oil export terminal off Texas coast
Read full article: Feds approve another deepwater oil export terminal off Texas coastThe terminal continues an oil export infrastructure buildout that pushes growth in U.S. oil production as momentum fades on a phase-out of fossil fuels.
As Texas’ energy demand soars, a pilot program looks to bolster grid with “virtual power plants” fueled by people’s homes
Read full article: As Texas’ energy demand soars, a pilot program looks to bolster grid with “virtual power plants” fueled by people’s homesSome Texans who install residential batteries, solar panels and smart thermostats can now send power back to the grid and get a credit on their bill.
Large earthquake strikes West Texas, among strongest ever in state
Read full article: Large earthquake strikes West Texas, among strongest ever in stateThe 5.0 magnitude earthquake is tied for the sixth strongest in state history. Scientists have warned for years that increased fracking in West Texas is causing higher earthquake activity.
Texas’ energy demand may exceed supply in 2026, but experts caution against panic
Read full article: Texas’ energy demand may exceed supply in 2026, but experts caution against panicSome experts are skeptical the grid would see as much demand growth as ERCOT predicts, and other ERCOT models showed things getting tight but not tipping into a deficit.
San Antonio’s plans for the largest on-site government solar program in Texas are moving forward
Read full article: San Antonio’s plans for the largest on-site government solar program in Texas are moving forwardSan Antonio city officials hope the construction of a large-scale solar program can push the city closer to sustainability and efficiency while also saving taxpayer dollars.
Project 2025 adviser takes the reins at EPA region including Texas
Read full article: Project 2025 adviser takes the reins at EPA region including TexasScott Mason IV, a former deputy energy secretary for Oklahoma and member of the Cherokee nation, is the new administrator for the region that covers Texas and four neighboring states.
How a repowered wind farm near the border is powering nearly 40,000 homes in San Antonio
Read full article: How a repowered wind farm near the border is powering nearly 40,000 homes in San AntonioNearly 40,000 homes in San Antonio are receiving part of their electricity from a newly repowered wind farm located almost 150 miles south of the city.
Texas regulators grapple with a growing problem: old oil wells leaking polluted water
Read full article: Texas regulators grapple with a growing problem: old oil wells leaking polluted waterTwo years after lawmakers created a $10 million program to address leaking wells in rural counties, none of the money has been distributed.