Water for the 21st Century

Reinvigorating Federalism and Fiscal Discipline in Texas: Establishing the Office of State Sovereignty

Texas governments received $84.3 billion in federal funding in 2023, raising concerns over financial dependency and regulatory consequences. Creating an Office of State Sovereignty to monitor the application, receipt, and conditions of this aid could mitigate fiscal risk and improve transparency. Key points: Texas lacks a centralized system to oversee federal grants potentially flowing to...

$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...

Dr. Brent Bennett’s Testimony Before the Senate Business and Commerce Committee: 765-kV Lines

Testimony of Brent Bennett, Ph.D. Policy Director, Life:Powered Texas Public Policy Foundation July 29, 2026 Chairman Schwertner and Members of the Committee: Thank you for another opportunity to testify about the important challenges facing the Texas electric grid and particularly on the urgent challenge of transmission planning. We all agree that Texas needs more reliable...