Texas’ Renewable Energy Experiment

December 21, 2010

Government-mandated energy efficiency programs today generally work by increasing the cost of electricity in order to reduce electricity consumption. In all of these cases, consumers or taxpayers pay more for electricity. The result is reduced economic growth and decreased wealth for most Texans.

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$100 Billion in the Wrong Direction

The debate over Texas’s 765-kV transmission lines is heating up, and your wallet is caught in the middle. Last Friday, the Public Utility Commission of Texas held a hearing on the 765-kV Strategic Transmission Expansion Plan (STEP), and this Friday, the Commission will decide whether to approve or deny the northernmost line of the three...

August 18, 2026

Energy & Environment

Forecasting the Future of the ERCOT Grid, Part 1: The Ongoing Winter Reliability Challenge

Forecasting the Future of the ERCOT Grid, Part 1: The Ongoing Winter Reliability Challenge Written By: Michael Reed and Brent Bennett, Ph.D. Download the full research paper here. Key Points While the operational performance of the ERCOT grid has improved since Winter Storm Uri in 2021, the increasing reliance of the grid on wind, solar,...

June 8, 2026

Local Government

Growing Pains: The Cost and Contribution of Impact Fees in Texas

Texas’s rapidly growing population requires new infrastructure and improvements, which oftentimes come at great expense. To fund these projects, local officials often impose impact fees on new development—but their use comes at a cost. Key points: Texas is the fastest-growing state in the nation. As such, it has robust infrastructure requirements. To help finance capital...

August 12, 2026

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$100 Billion in the Wrong Direction

Forecasting the Future of the ERCOT Grid, Part 1: The Ongoing Winter Reliability Challenge

Growing Pains: The Cost and Contribution of Impact Fees in Texas