Texas

This forward-thinking legislation establishes the Texas Energy Waste Advisory Committee, composed of leaders from key state agencies, including the Public Utility Commission, ERCOT, and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, to coordinate efforts aimed at reducing energy waste, improving efficiency, and enhancing grid reliability.

Federal tax credits have led to an economic boom in Texas, creating thousands of jobs and strengthening the state’s grid, and helping families save money on electric bills. In an opinion piece featured in San Antonio Express-News, Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance Executive Director Matthew Boms and Freedom Solar Chief Executive Officer Bret Biggart highlight the importance of the tax credits and argue why Congress should leave them in place.

The Houston Chronicle discusses the challenges and defenses surrounding the Texas Energy Fund, a $5 billion initiative aimed at bolstering the state’s power grid through the construction of new natural gas power plants. Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance’s Executive Director Matthew Boms urged lawmakers to embrace battery storage, solar, and wind resources as the fastest and most affordable way to meet new load growth.

POLITICO reports the Public Utility Commission of Texas has approved the state’s first-ever high-voltage transmission lines. Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance’s Executive Director Matthew Boms explains why this is an important step for the future of Texas’ energy grid.

The Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance (TAEBA) applauds the Public Utility Commission of Texas’ (PUCT) historic vote to build the state’s first-ever 765-kilovolt (kV) high voltage transmission lines.

The Texas Senate passed a bill that would require half of new power plant energy capacity to come from changeable resources other than batteries. Matthew Boms, Executive Director of the Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance, spoke with KBTX-TV about the negative impacts the legislation would have on renewable resources such as wind and solar.

The Texan reports on State Senator Hancock’s SB 2455, which would establish the Texas Energy Waste Advisory Committee to make recommendations for coordinating and improving state agency programs that reduce energy waste. Matthew Boms, Executive Director of the Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance, highlighted the benefits of the legislation, including improved grid reliability, increased regional coordination, and meeting soaring energy demand across the state.

Facing unprecedented load growth due to population increases and energy-intensive industries, Texas lawmakers are reevaluating their energy strategies by incorporating diverse energy resources, including renewables. The Texas Tribune spoke with clean energy experts, including Matthew Boms, Executive Director of United’s state affiliate Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance (TAEBA), who encouraged the use of advanced energy technologies to meet rising electricity demand within the state.

In Texas, Bandera Electric’s virtual power plant (VPP) pilot program is utilizing distributed energy resources to bolster the grid and lower energy costs for consumers. Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance’s Executive Director Matthew Boms spoke with The Texas Tribune about the many benefits of VPPs in creating a more reliable, affordable, and sustainable grid while meeting growing energy demand.

Texas has come a long way since 2021, when Winter Storm Uri left millions of Texans without power for days during a stretch of below-freezing temperatures. In the four years since Uri hit, Texas has made enormous improvements toward making the grid more reliable, in part by significantly increasing energy capacity. This growth is driven almost entirely by increases in advanced energy deployment.

E&E News identifies key energy topics under consideration in Texas’ 2025 legislative session, including new permitting requirements for wind, solar, and battery storage projects. Matthew Boms of Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance (United’s state affiliate) stated that industry standards are making battery storage safer, encouraging lawmakers to recognize the role batteries have in creating a more reliable and resilient grid.

Inside Climate News interviewed several energy experts about what to expect from state governments on renewable energy policies in the new year. United’s Amisha Rai pointed to the California Legislature’s opportunity to support the development of a regional transmission grid through the West’s Pathways Initiative. She also highlighted the bipartisan support for advanced energy solutions in Texas.