News Round-Up: July 2026

TELECOM AND BROADBAND NEWS

Benton Institute: Intelligent Oversight: How AI is Changing BEAD Compliance
The BEAD program represents a once-in-a-generation investment, but it also creates a major oversight challenge for state broadband offices. How can states ensure every project meets specifications without stretching staff or exhausting limited budgets?
https://www.benton.org/event/intelligent-oversight-how-ai-changing-bead-compliance

Broadband Breakfast: Satellite BEAD Awards to be Reduced
July 14 — NTIA said the new FCC broadband coverage map showed expanded terrestrial service in rural areas
https://broadbandbreakfast.com/satellite-bead-awards-to-be-reduced/

Broadband Breakfast: Starlink Best for Rural Areas, Analysts Say
July 13 — The Federal Aviation Administration also closed its review Monday of a May Starship launch in which a booster failed to land safely. That closure was necessary before the company could launch again.
https://broadbandbreakfast.com/starlink-best-for-rural-areas-analysts-say/

Texarkana Gazette: Democratic Texas AG candidate calls for review of Elon Musk Starlink grant
July 13 — Democratic attorney general candidate Nathan Johnson on Friday called for a review of recent state grants giving Elon Musk’s satellite internet provider Starlink about $110 million.
https://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/2026/jul/12/democratic-texas-ag-candidate-calls-for-review-of/

Broadband Breakfast: Texas AG Candidate Vows to Investigate SpaceX’s BEAD Awards
July 10 — Nathan Johnson says the state’s subgrant selection process ‘sure looks like’ corruption.
https://broadbandbreakfast.com/texas-ag-candidate-vows-to-investigate-spacexs-bead-awards/

Fierce Network: (Analysis) Analysis: Starlink is helping close the U.S. digital divide
July 10 — Recently, New Street Research (NSR), working with Recon Analytics’ data, found that SpaceX’s Starlink continues to get close to half of its gross adds from small rural broadband providers and customers that are new to broadband.
https://www.fierce-network.com/broadband/starlink-fact-helping-close-us-digital-divide

Benton Institute: Starlink: What It Is, How It Works, and What We Should Do About It
July 8 — Starlink’s rapid growth has not come without controversy, much of it centered around SpaceX’s founder Elon Musk, the world’s first trillionaire. Musk’s political dealings have caused some users to discontinue their service.
https://www.benton.org/blog/starlink-what-it-how-it-works-and-what-we-should-do-about-it

Broadband Breakfast: SpaceX Planning 100K More Starlink Satellites
July 8 — The company is planning ‘extremely low-latency and multi-gigabit symmetrical’ speeds for consumers and enterprises
https://broadbandbreakfast.com/spacex-planning-100k-more-starlink-satellites/

Reuters: FCC denies US firm with Chinese links approval to provide telecom services
July 7 — The Federal Communications Commission said on Tuesday it is adding California-based Digitalsystem Technology to a list of companies posing risks to U.S. ‌national security, citing links to Chinese telecom firms and its ownership by a Chinese national.
https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/fcc-denies-us-firm-with-chinese-links-approval-provide-telecom-services-2026-07-07/

Broadband Breakfast: Texas Governor Denies SpaceX Favoritism
July 7 — The Texas Governor’s office is pushing back against allegations of favoritism and sweetheart deals.
https://broadbandbreakfast.com/gov-denies-spacex-favoritism/

PC Mag: FCC to Change Rule That Requires ISPs to List All Broadband Fees
July 7 — The FCC wants to make the required broadband ‘nutrition labels’ more useful by cutting bloat. But the proposed changes could also reduce transparency about pricing.
https://www.pcmag.com/news/fcc-to-change-rule-that-requires-isps-to-list-all-broadband-fees

Benton Institute: Texas governor’s office asked for broadband rules that help Elon Musk’s Starlink
July 7 — The Texas office responsible for distributing over $5 billion in state and federal money to expand rural broadband faced allegations of “favoritism” and offering “sweetheart” deals at a recent hearing of the state Senate’s Business and Commerce Committee.
https://www.benton.org/headlines/texas-governor%E2%80%99s-office-asked-broadband-rules-help-elon-musk%E2%80%99s-starlink

Broadband Breakfast: SpaceX President Announces Large Contribution to Trump Accounts
July 7 — Shotwell announced she is gifting SpaceX stock to assist children born in lower income households in central Texas.
https://broadbandbreakfast.com/spacex-president-announces-large-contribution-to-trump-accounts/

Broadband Breakfast: House Republican Introduces Bill to Extend Broadband Deployment Deadlines
July 7 — The bill would extend the timeline for broadband infrastructure projects to Jan. 1, 2028.
https://broadbandbreakfast.com/house-republican-introduces-bill-to-extend-broadband-deployment-deadlines/

Benton Institute: The FCC Wants to Speed Up Wireline Deployment. How Will It Impact Broadband?
July 7 — On June 25, 2026, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would, for the first time, set nationwide limits on how much time state and local governments may take to approve wireline telecommunications deployments (networks delivered over physical lines such as fiber-optic, copper, or coaxial cable) in public rights-of-way and how much they may charge for that access.
https://www.benton.org/headlines/fcc-wants-speed-wireline-deployment-how-will-it-impact-broadband

Broadband Breakfast: Amazon Says It Has Enough Satellites to Launch Leo Broadband Service
July 6 — Amazon says it has deployed enough satellites to launch its Leo commercial service later this year.
https://broadbandbreakfast.com/amazon-says-it-has-enough-satellites-to-launch-leo-broadband-service/

Newsweek: How Many Americans Still Have Landlines as AT&T Wins Fight Over Rules
July 6 — While the vast majority of Americans live in wireless-only households, the regulatory battle of telecommunications giant AT&T in California has sparked concern among customers, particularly those in rural areas, who continue to rely on landline services for emergencies.
https://www.newsweek.com/how-many-americans-still-have-landlines-att-wins-legal-battle-12160877

Futurism: Elon Musk Is Charging Starlink Customers Gigantic Bogus Fees Because Its Network Is Being Crushed by “High Demand”
July 5 — SpaceX CEO Elon Musk maintains an extremely close relationship with Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr.
https://tech.yahoo.com/transportation/articles/elon-musk-charging-starlink-customers-170100747.html

Hoodline: ABBOTT BROADBAND SHAKEUP HAS AUSTIN FUMING OVER STARLINK-FRIENDLY RULES
July 4 — Senators repeatedly pointed to what they called “favoritism” and said the office had boosted up-front payments for low-Earth-orbit satellite providers while turning down similar requests from fiber builders.
https://hoodline.com/2026/07/abbott-broadband-shakeup-has-austin-fuming-over-starlink-friendly-rules/

Houston Public Media: Texas governor’s office asked for broadband rules that help Elon Musk’s Starlink
July 2 — The state office that distributes billions to expand Texas rural broadband is facing allegations of “favoritism” and offering “sweetheart” deals to companies that provide low earth orbit satellite broadband.
https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/infrastructure/2026/07/02/556078/texas-tx-broadband-development-musk-starlink-rural-internet-governor-abbott/

Telecompetitor: Why Astound declined BEAD awards in Oregon and Texas: Interview
July 1 — Broadband providers taking part in the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program have increasingly found that a provisional award does not guarantee a signed contract. Among the companies that recently turned down BEAD funding, Astound is walking away from grants in both Texas and Oregon after determining that the projects no longer made financial sense.
https://www.telecompetitor.com/why-astound-declined-bead-awards-in-oregon-and-texas-interview/

Benton Institute: Starlink Dominates Internet From Space. Can It Disrupt AT&T and Verizon on the Ground?
July 2 — SpaceX has disrupted the satellite industry. Now, its Starlink unit aims to do the same with America’s telecommunications giants.
https://www.benton.org/headlines/starlink-dominates-internet-space-can-it-disrupt-att-and-verizon-ground

Broadband Communities: Rural Texas library helps seniors cross the digital divide
June 30 — In Caldwell County, a rural area between Austin and San Antonio, about 10% of residents lack broadband access, leaving many older citizens struggling to keep pace with an increasingly online world.
https://bbcmag.com/rural-texas-library-helps-seniors-cross-the-digital-divide/

Public CEO New FCC proposal would undermine local government property rights and limit authority over public rights-of-way
June 30 — The NPRM proposes to unconstitutionally deprive local governments’ property rights by capping rental fees for a telecommunications providers’ occupation of the public right-of-way to “a reasonable approximation of the government’s actual, direct costs of managing the rights-of-way,” not market value or just compensation as is the current standard in most communities. Limiting rent to below market rates could prove to be a significant blow to many local government budgets.
https://www.publicceo.com/2026/06/new-fcc-proposal-would-undermine-local-government-property-rights-and-limit-authority-over-public-rights-of-way/

Broadband Communities: CC is urged to prepare for AI’s future infrastructure demands
June 30 — To support the FCC’s Nineteenth Section 706 Report inquiry, the FBA provided updated metrics showing that fiber networks passed approximately 84.6 million U.S. homes (60% of the total market) by year-end 2025, with 39.3 million homes connected.
https://bbcmag.com/fcc-is-urged-to-prepare-for-ais-future-infrastructure-demands/

Roll Call: Billions in rural broadband funds still on hold
June 30 — National Telecommunications and Information Administration leader Arielle Roth gave lawmakers that timeline at a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing, where she was pressed about the agency’s commitment to make the funds available to states.
https://rollcall.com/2026/06/30/billions-in-rural-broadband-funds-still-on-hold/

Fierce Network: NTIA chief says 2 states have deployed BEAD dollars – but not for fiber
June 30 —Five years after the passage of the $42.5 billion BEAD program, the country has precious little to show for it. During a Congressional hearing, NTIA chief Arielle Roth said just two states thus far have connected citizens using BEAD money – and a number of other states, including California, are still awaiting for final approval of their program proposals.
https://www.fierce-network.com/broadband/ntia-chief-says-2-states-have-deployed-bead-dollars-not-fiber

San Antonio Express-News: No internet service? S.A. Public Library lending Wi-fi hot spots
June 29 — Using a $200,000 Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas grant, the city library system developed the hot spot lending program “to increase digital equity and provide better access to education, workforce development and healthcare services online,” city officials announced in a release Tuesday.
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/san-antonio-express-news/20260629/281543707651505

Radio Link: SCOTUS: President Can Fire FCC Commissioners Without Cause
June 29 — The Supreme Court of the United States overruled 90 years of precedent in a 6-3 ruling today that transforms the constitutional footing of every independent regulatory agency, including the FCC, by handing the President authority to remove Commissioners without cause.
https://radioink.com/2026/06/29/scotus-president-can-fire-fcc-commissioners-without-cause/

Light Reading: FCC tees up broadband permit battle between ‘competing interests’
June 26 — The FCC will hold a rulemaking proceeding to seek input on if and how it can limit state and local fees and timelines for broadband permitting. ISP groups cheered the measure, though the FCC’s legal authority here is unclear.
https://www.lightreading.com/broadband/fcc-tees-up-broadband-permit-battle-between-competing-interests-

Fierce Network: SpaceX plans bigger Starlink mobile push in US: report
June 26 — SpaceX told investors that it plans to launch a new Starlink mobile service for U.S. mobile consumers that would put it in direct competition with AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon, according to a report by the Financial Times (FT) on Friday.
https://www.fierce-network.com/wireless/spacex-plans-bigger-starlink-mobile-push-us-report

Tech Radar: FCC considers axing $2 billion school and library internet connectivity scheme — Chairman blames tablets for moving kids away from “turning pages in books, penciling out answers to math problems”
June 26 — The FCC is considering ending the long-running E-Rate program in the US, which currently provides around $2 billion annually to help public facilities like schools and libraries pay for internet connections and networking infrastructure.
https://www.techradar.com/pro/fcc-considers-axing-usd2-billion-school-and-library-internet-connectivity-scheme-chairman-blames-tablets-for-moving-kids-away-from-turning-pages-in-books-penciling-out-answers-to-math-problems

News From The States: FCC adopts new rules as states transition to Next Generation 911
June 26 — The rules require companies that operate critical parts of Next Generation 911 systems, known as NG911, to adopt reliability and redundancy measures intended to reduce service disruptions. The commission also will require providers to report on their progress toward ensuring that the new systems can seamlessly transfer emergency calls and data between networks.
https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/fcc-adopts-new-rules-states-transition-next-generation-911

Texas Tribune: What Texas can learn from Japanese cities that give technology to its senior citizens
June 26 — As Texas focuses on digital literacy for its elder residents, some Japanese cities are gifting low-cost devices to its older population so family can better monitor them.
https://www.texastribune.org/2026/06/26/texas-japan-seniors-technology-monitoring-devices/

Broadband Communities: FCC moves to cut local red tape around broadband deployments
June 25 — With today’s 3-0 vote, the FCC kickstarts a formal rulemaking process to gather public comment on new federal limits against local delays and fees before locking final regulations into place.
https://bbcmag.com/fcc-moves-to-cut-local-red-tape-around-broadband-deployments/

Daily Yonder: A Central Texas Library Closing the Digital Divide
June 23 — On the edges of a booming metro area, the Martindale Community Library brings mobile hotspots, new technology, and digital skills to an older community.
https://dailyyonder.com/a-central-texas-library-closing-the-digital-divide/2026/06/23/

ELECTRIC UTILITY AND ERCOT NEWS

E&E Leader: ERCOT’s Batch Zero Framework Changes Who Gets Grid Access
July 16 — Texas has more large-load interconnection requests sitting in its grid operator’s queue than the entire state has ever consumed at once, and the new framework meant to sort out who actually gets power already has deadlines that have started to pass. Any company with a project in that queue needs to understand what just changed.
https://environmentenergyleader.com/stories/ercots-batch-zero-framework-changes-who-gets-grid-access,133436

Columbus Dispatch: (Press Release) Elda River Expands Investment in Black Mountain Power to Over $200 Million
July 15 — “Black Mountain Power’s continued commercial momentum and disciplined execution have positioned the Company as a leader in Texas powered-land development,” said Michael Dean, Partner at Elda River. “We are pleased to expand our commitment to Black Mountain Power as the Company advances its project pipeline to capture surging demand for well positioned digital infrastructure sites across ERCOT.”
https://www.dispatch.com/press-release/story/212896/elda-river-expands-investment-in-black-mountain-power-to-over-200-million/

Texas Energy and Power Newsletter: Why some large loads insist on paying their way
July 15 — As large new loads line up in ERCOT, Texas must decide how to plan transmission and price grid access without shifting the cost onto residential customers, and Texas Energy Buyers Alliance has a plan.
https://www.texasenergyandpower.com/p/why-some-large-loads-insist-on-paying

Utility Dive: Utilities requested $9.2B in rate hikes in Q2
July 14 — Oncor in Texas requested the largest single increase in the second quarter, at $1.2 billion, driven largely by transmission and distribution investments to meet demand from the oil and gas industry and data centers in the Permian Basin.
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/utility-rate-hike-proposals-affordability-powerlines/825167/

Blockchain Council: AI Infrastructure and Bitcoin Mining: What MARA’s Texas Expansion Signals
July 14 — AI infrastructure and bitcoin mining are no longer separate stories. MARA Holdings’ planned expansion in Matagorda County, Texas shows where the sector is heading. Large miners are becoming power-and-compute infrastructure operators, not just companies chasing hashrate. The scarce asset is shifting from ASIC inventory to permitted grid access, powered land, cooling design, and the ability to serve both AI and high performance computing customers.
https://www.blockchain-council.org/news/ai-infrastructure-bitcoin-mining-mara-texas-expansion/

Spectrum News: Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller requests special session to address data centers
July 13 — After saying Texas is the “epicenter of AI development” in November of last year, Gov. Greg Abbott seems to be walking back on some of his earlier positions on data centers. The governor is now calling for more regulations on the industry and to prohibit them from being built in rural neighborhoods. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is calling on Abbott to convene a special session to address data centers.
https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/south-texas-el-paso/news/2026/07/13/sid-miller-requests-special-session-on-data-centers

Utility Dive: Texas PUC approves ‘ride-through’ rules for data centers
July 13 — “Voltage and frequency excursions on the transmission network create reliability concerns, which increase with the interconnection of each new large computational load,” wrote a PUC staffer.
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/texas-puc-approves-ride-through-rules-data-centers/825051/

CBS: In debate over AI data centers in Texas, it’s “rural Texas is dying” vs. “preserve this land”
July 12 — Gov. Greg Abbott has said he wants to prohibit AI data centers in rural Texas neighborhoods. State Representative Shelley Luther agrees with the Governor, while Texas Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian disagrees.
https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/debate-over-ai-data-centers-texas-rural-dying-preserve-land-abbott-prohibit/

Simply Wall Street: Constellation Energy Stock And Other Nuclear Picks For AI Data Center Power
July 12 — Nuclear energy stocks are back in focus as investors weigh uneven inflation trends, shifting central bank policies, and ongoing energy related headlines. While oil linked prices and mixed growth signals across regions keep volatility alive, a curated nuclear energy screener helps you focus on companies tied to reliable, low carbon power, from uranium producers to reactor operators.
https://simplywall.st/stocks/us/utilities/nasdaq-ceg/constellation-energy/news/constellation-energy-stock-and-other-nuclear-picks-for-ai-da/amp

The Boerne Star: Abbott says no to rural data centers
July 12 — Gov. Greg Abbott this week called for a ban on building new data centers in rural areas and additional regulations during a campaign stop in East Texas.
https://www.boernestar.com/article/13641,abbott-says-no-to-rural-data-centers

E&E News: Texas approves grid standards to keep data centers online
July 10 — The state Public Utility Commission voted unanimously Thursday to adopt rules aimed at avoiding cascading power outages.
https://www.eenews.net/articles/texas-approves-grid-standards-to-keep-data-centers-online-2/

Utility Dive: What can best ease transmission bottlenecks? More transfer capacity, DOE says.
July 10 — Transmission congestion added $12 billion in wholesale power costs in 2024, the U.S. Department of Energy said in a draft report on U.S. transmission needs.
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/transfer-capacity-transmission-needs-study-doe/824925/

NBC DFW: McKinney homeowners push back against Oncor tree-trimming project
July 9 — For homeowner Rob Wythe, preserving the historic character of downtown McKinney includes protecting the mature cedar and walnut trees that surround his home.
https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/mckinney-homeowners-push-back-oncor-tree-trimming/4047401/

Dallas Express: Atmos Energy Hit With Wrongful Death Suit Over AI Gas Line Mapping Failures
July 9 — A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against Atmos Energy over the gas explosion that destroyed an Oak Cliff apartment building and killed three people in May, alleging the utility company failed to properly mark its gas lines before the blast.
https://dallasexpress.com/city/oak-cliff-atmos-energy-hit-with-wrongful-death-suit-over-ai-gas-line-mapping-failures/

Texas Energy and Power Newsletter: The grid runs on magnets. Rare earths are Texas’ next frontier.
July 9 — Texas added more utility scale battery storage last year than most countries will install this decade. ERCOT entered 2026 with nearly 14 gigawatts of commercially operational battery capacity, almost double what it had at the start of 2025. Already the state leads the nation in wind and energy utility scale solar power, and data centers are coming online at a rate straining the interconnection queue.
https://www.texasenergyandpower.com/p/the-grid-runs-on-magnets-rare-earths?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share

Crypto Briefing: MARA acquires strategic Texas land from HIF to accelerate large scale digital infrastructure growth
July 9 — The site, located about 90 miles southwest of Houston, is expected to receive up to 1 GW of grid capacity by late 2027 and as much as 2 GW by April 2028, providing a foundation for a large-scale digital infrastructure campus.
https://cryptobriefing.com/marathon-digital-texas-data-center-land/

Upstream: Baker Hughes strikes gigawatt-sized gas turbine deal
July 8 — Kodiak Gas Services to pick up power equipment from contracting titan for data centre development
https://www.upstreamonline.com/energy-security/baker-hughes-strikes-gigawatt-sized-gas-turbine-deal/2-1-2014823

Texas Energy & Power Newsletter: Texas competes on everything except transmission
July 8 — As Texas prepares to build a $40 billion-plus high-voltage transmission backbone, Barry Smitherman argues the PUC can open those contracts to competitive bidding if a 2019 law is repealed.
https://www.texasenergyandpower.com/p/texas-competes-on-everything-except

NBC DFW: Fort Worth Zoning Commission hears public comment on data centers
July 8 — Fort Worth’s Zoning Commission will consider new regulations governing where data centers can operate and hear public feedback before the City Council is expected to vote in August.
https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/after-residents-raise-concerns-the-city-of-fort-worth-is-taking-action-on-data-centers/4046474/

Morning Ag Clips: Commissioner Sid Miller Calls on Governor Abbott to Convene Special Session Before Data Center Expansion Becomes Irreversible
July 8 — Recent reports indicate ERCOT could begin new projects as early as next spring
https://www.morningagclips.com/commissioner-sid-miller-calls-on-governor-abbott-to-convene-special-session-before-data-center-expansion-becomes-irreversible/

Forbes: Why Are “Retail Choice” Electricity Markets More Expensive?
July 8 — ERCOT consumers had been overcharged by $28 billion from its inception in 2003 through 2019; plus $4.2 billion in overcharges directly from 2021 grid failure due to the freeze across Texas; plus $12 billion in 2023; and billions of dollars more since.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/edhirs/2026/07/08/why-are-retail-choice-electricity-markets-more-expensive/

Reuters: US power use to beat record highs in 2026 and 2027 as AI use surges, EIA says
July 7 — U.S. power consumption, which hit its second straight annual record high in 2025, will rise further in 2026 and 2027, driven by AI-hungry data centers and electrification, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said in its Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) on Tuesday.
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-power-use-beat-record-highs-2026-2027-ai-use-surges-eia-says-2026-07-07/

Houston Public Media; CenterPoint hopes to improve coastal resilience after tropical storm left thousands without power in Galveston
July 6 — CenterPoint officials said they are using weather stations scattered throughout the island to help figure out how to make their equipment more resilient.
https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/local/galveston/2026/07/06/556349/centerpoint-looks-to-improve-after-tropical-storm-arthur-left-thousands-without-power-in-galveston/

Renewable Energy Magazine: Radian Generation Supports Successful Launch of 100 MWac BESS Project in Texas
July 7 — Located in Bexar County, Texas, the Bexar BESS is designed with a total capacity of 100 MWac, strengthening ERCOT grid reliability amid accelerating renewable energy integration. As a facility exceeding the 75 MVA threshold, Bexar BESS was required to register as a NERC Category 1 Generation Owner (GO). Radian Generation partnered closely with Goshe Energy Storage during the final stages of commissioning to validate engineering controls, confirm technical alignment, establish procedures and meet NERC CIP cybersecurity obligations, ensuring full regulatory compliance upon registration.
https://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/storage/radian-generation-supports-successful-launch-of-100-20260707

TXK Today: Abbott spent a decade courting data centers. Now he wants to rein them in.
July 6 — Gov. Greg Abbott says Texas should prohibit AI data centers from being built in rural neighborhoods, a sharp turn for a governor who spent the past decade recruiting the industry to the state. The shift lands as two large data center projects take shape in Bowie County, one of them already drawing organized opposition.
https://txktoday.com/news/abbott-data-center-reversal-bowie-county/

KVUE: ERCOT forecasts high electricity demand this week
July 6 — ERCOT officials expect demand to climb into the low to mid-80,000-megawatt range as Texans crank up the air conditioning.
https://www.kvue.com/video/weather/ercot-high-electricity-demand-this-week/269-23d86774-b8b2-42c0-af5e-63e840ecb8e7

Crossroads Today: ERCOT says grid is prepared for hot temperatures
July 6 — The last recorded supply and demand totals on July 6 show that demand for energy is well over 22,000 megawatts below the amount of electricity made available for the state or ‘committed capacity.’
https://www.crossroadstoday.com/news/local-news/ercot-says-grid-is-prepared-for-hot-temperatures/article_7b8b7bf1-1232-42e4-9ddc-f362fe7dd210.html

Texas Farm Bureau: Abbott recommends data center regulations
July 6 — Texas is experiencing a surge in data center development, and Gov. Greg Abbott is directing state regulators to ensure the rapid expansion doesn’t come at the expense of homeowners, businesses and rural communities.
https://texasfarmbureau.org/abbott-recommends-data-center-regulations/

E&E News: Push to regulate Texas data centers crimped by calendar
July 6 — because the Texas Legislature isn’t expected to meet again until early next year, the state likely can’t do much to set limits on a new surge of data centers that’s expected to come online by late 2032.
https://www.eenews.net/articles/push-to-regulate-texas-data-centers-crimped-by-calendar/

Data Center Knowlege: Texas’ 765 kV Decision: Build the Wires, the AI Will Follow
July 6 — The state’s first extra-high-voltage network marks a fundamental shift in grid planning – building massive capacity for data centers and other large loads before they even break ground.
https://www.datacenterknowledge.com/energy-power-supply/how-ercot-s-post-crez-bet-is-reshaping-ai-infrastructure

Texas Public Radio: Judge rules against CPS Energy in $400 million 2021 winter storm gas contract dispute
July 5 — In a final judgment signed July 2, Salinas awarded Houston Pipe Line Company and Oasis Pipeline nearly $264 million in unpaid contract amounts, about $119 million in prejudgment interest and more than $9.3 million in attorneys’ fees. The ruling also requires CPS Energy to pay court costs and post-judgment interest.
https://www.tpr.org/economy-and-labor/2026-07-04/judge-rules-against-cps-energy-in-400-million-2021-winter-storm-gas-contract-dispute?

Utility Dive: Southwestern Public Service wins $113M reliability grant from Texas
July 6 — The Texas Energy Fund has allocated more than $4 billion as part of the state’s effort to boost grid reliability. The award to SPS covers a drone-based pole inspection program and live monitoring.
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/southwestern-public-service-reliability-grant-texas-puc/824464/

E&E News: Push to regulate Texas data centers crimped by calendar
July 6 — Still, it’s a lot of power. And these projects were set in motion at a time when there were few rules governing their construction and operation. That means that unless Texas legislators convene soon for a special session — or pass laws that apply retroactively, which carries its own risk — there’s little they can do to impose building requirements on these new data centers.
https://www.eenews.net/articles/push-to-regulate-texas-data-centers-crimped-by-calendar/

Texas Insider: Governor Abbott Announces Nearly $30 Million In Grants for Electric Reliability in the Panhandle
July 3 — Governor Greg Abbott announced a nearly $30 million Texas Energy Fund (TxEF) grant to strengthen electric reliability for Rita Blanca Electric Cooperative, Inc. (RBEC) members in the northwestern corner of the Texas Panhandle. The grant will help fund construction of a new substation, automation of an existing substation, transformer improvements, and upgrading wood poles to steel structures.
https://texasinsider.org/articles/governor-abbott-announces-nearly-30-million-in-grants-for-electric-reliability-in-the-panhandle

KCBD: Judge dismisses some claims in Lubbock tenant utility shutoff lawsuit, refers others to state regulators
July 3 — A district judge has dismissed the claims against Lubbock Power and Light and referred the remaining portions of a Lubbock tenant’s utility shutoff lawsuit to the Texas Public Utility Commission.
https://www.kcbd.com/2026/07/03/judge-dismisses-some-claims-lubbock-tenant-utility-shutoff-lawsuit-refers-others-state-regulators/

KSST Radio: The ‘Batch Zero’ Crackdown: How Texas is Forcing Data Centers to Safeguard Its Power Grid
July 3 — In a major regulatory overhaul designed to safeguard the Texas power grid from a historic wave of energy demand, state regulators have approved an expedited framework to manage and review large-load electricity requests—chiefly driven by artificial intelligence and data centers.
https://www.ksstradio.com/2026/07/the-batch-zero-crackdown-how-texas-is-forcing-data-centers-to-safeguard-its-power-grid/

KHOU: Cypress residents say they’re concerned about exposed electrical lines in their yard
July 3 — Homeowners in a Cypress neighborhood say they finally got action after reaching out to KHOU 11 about exposed electrical lines running through their backyards.
https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/cypress-exposed-electrical-line-centerpoint/285-3e8925c5-826c-4386-9276-49db0ad1ac42

Community Impact:: Texas is heating up. Here are the systems involved in keeping the lights on.
July 2 — Frequently compared to an air traffic controller, ERCOT is tasked with ensuring the grid remains reliable by monitoring grid activities, ensuring supply and demand are balanced, guiding the system through grid emergencies, and facilitating a competitive retail electric market.
https://communityimpact.com/central-austin/government/texas-is-heating-up-here-are-the-systems-involved-in-keeping-the-lights-on/

Data Center Knowledge: Texas Tests New Rules for AI Campuses Behind Existing Power Plants
July 2 — PUCT staff backs ERCOT’s proposed operating conditions in an early test of Texas’ new framework for colocated data centers.
https://www.datacenterknowledge.com/energy-power-supply/texas-tests-new-rules-for-ai-campuses-behind-existing-power-plants

Texas Energy and Power Newsletter: Data centers say they pay their way; Texas will hold them to it
July 2 — The conventional wisdom is that residential users will suffer as rates go up and reliability goes down due to a surge in data-center load. Large-loaders, however, are not freeloaders. Electricity rates are likely to rise in the coming years as utilities make long-delayed grid updates, but new Texas law and regulations are designed to ensure data centers pay their own costs. The extent of the rise in costs will depend on two factors: whether generation demand and capacity are matched and how transmission costs are divided.
https://www.texasenergyandpower.com/p/data-centers-say-they-pay-their-way

Texas Scorecard: (Commentary) Why the PUCT Must Stop Outsourcing Our Grid Security
July 2 — The Texas Hill Country is defined by its pristine landscapes, its resilience, and a deep-rooted sense of community. But right now, a quiet threat is knocking on our door, driven by short-sighted state rulemaking and market-altering federal subsidies tied to a false climate crisis narrative.
https://texasscorecard.com/opinion/paces-why-the-puct-must-stop-outsourcing-our-grid-security/

Texas Scorecard: Texas Regulators Approve Plan To Manage Large-Load Requests, Including Data Centers
July 2 — With nearly 89 percent of massive load requests coming from data centers, Texas adopts a fast‑track study process that demands onsite power and flexible curtailment from the biggest users.
https://texasscorecard.com/state/texas-regulators-approve-plan-to-manage-large-load-requests-including-data-centers/

The Texan: Abbott Calls for End to Data Center Builds in Rural Neighborhoods
July 2 — Abbott began in his speech to the crowd, “Before I talk about property taxes, let me talk about something else that I’m fighting for that dovetails right into fighting for East Texas values, and that is pushing back against these AI data centers that are trying to build in our neighborhoods.”
https://thetexan.news/state/texas-state-news/abbott-calls-for-end-to-data-center-builds-in-rural-areas/article_53a6dc4a-b717-4715-bd1a-e467b3ec51c4.html

NBC DFW: Gov. Greg Abbott calls for ban on data center development in rural Texas neighborhoods
July 1 — Abbott’s push for a prohibition in rural neighborhoods appears to go further than a sweeping regulatory framework he unveiled earlier this month, which called for data centers to add new power generation to the grid, pay for their own infrastructure costs, reuse their own water and implement measures such as setbacks, among other proposals aimed at limiting their impact on residential communities.
https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/texas-gov-greg-abbott-data-center-ban-rural/4043742/

Community Impact: Texas is heating up. Here are the systems involved in keeping the lights on.
July 2 — Frequently compared to an air traffic controller, ERCOT is tasked with ensuring the grid remains reliable by monitoring grid activities, ensuring supply and demand are balanced, guiding the system through grid emergencies, and facilitating a competitive retail electric market.
https://communityimpact.com/central-austin/government/texas-is-heating-up-here-are-the-systems-involved-in-keeping-the-lights-on/

Newsroom: (Press Release): Southwestern Public Service Co. awarded $113 million grant to improve electric reliability, reduce costs for Texas customers
July 1 — The grant, administered by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), funds three projects designed to strengthen the electric grid, improve reliability and minimize costs for more than 167,000 customers across the region.
https://newsroom.xcelenergy.com/news/southwestern-public-service-co-awarded-113-million-grant-to-improve-electric-reliability-reduce-costs-for-texas-customers

Spectrum News: Gov. Greg Abbott calls for ban on data center development in rural Texas neighborhoods
July 1 — Abbott’s push for a prohibition in rural neighborhoods appears to go further than a sweeping regulatory framework he unveiled early last month, which called for data centers to add new power generation to the grid, pay for their own infrastructure costs, reuse their own water and implement measures such as setbacks, among other proposals aimed at limiting their impact on residential communities.
https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/austin/news/2026/07/01/gov–greg-abbott-calls-for-ban-on-data-center-development-in-rural-texas-neighborhoods

San Saba News: (Commentary) Friends of the San Saba Update on Senate 765kV July 29th Hearing
July 1 — The Texas Senate will hold a Hearing on July 29th about 765kV transmission lines. In addition, the Bell County East to Big Hill 765kV Transmission Line (Bell County East) Closing Briefs have been submitted to the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) Administrative Law Judges (ALJs).
https://www.sansabanews.com/news/friends-san-saba-foss-update-senate-765kv-july-29th-hearing

The Cool Down: Texas utilities push a summer challenge: Use less power than your neighbors, and get rewarded
July 1 — With air conditioners running harder in extreme heat, some companies are asking Texans to ease up during the hottest hours of the day and, in some cases, are comparing a household’s electricity use with that of its neighbors.
https://www.thecooldown.com/green-home/texas-utilities-power-conservation-offer/

The Texas Energy and Power Newsletter: What batch zero settles and what it leaves open
July 1, 2026 — Batch zero stops being theoretical on July 11. That is the day ERCOT’s rule for connecting large new customers takes effect.
https://www.texasenergyandpower.com/p/what-batch-zero-settles-and-what

ABC 7 News: Gov. Abbott announces $113 million grant to strengthen Xcel Energy grid in Texas Panhandle
June 30 — A key component of the project is a drone-based inspection program that will assess more than 273,000 utility poles throughout the SPS service territory to identify and address potential issues before they lead to outages.
https://abc7amarillo.com/news/local/gov-greg-abbott-announces-113-million-grant-to-strengthen-xcel-energy-grid-in-texas-panhandle-public-utility-commission-outside-ercot-grant-program-thomas-gleeson-brad-baldridge-south-plains

Texas Insider: Governor Abbott Announces $8.8 Million In Grants For Electric Reliability In The South Plains
June 30 — Governor Greg Abbott announced a package of four Texas Energy Fund (TxEF) grants totaling more than $8.8 million to strengthen electric reliability for Lamb County Electric Cooperative, Inc. members in the South Plains. The grants will support several reliability projects including transmission line replacement, increasing transformer capacity, and modernizing aging infrastructure.
https://texasinsider.org/articles/governor-abbott-announces-8-8-million-in-grants-for-electric-reliability-in-the-south-plains

Texas Scorecard: Over-reliance on Wind and Solar Drives Permian Basin Energy Issues
June 30 — In response to lawmakers’ request for a pause on extra-high-voltage transmission lines, transmission service providers admitted reliance on wind and solar power, along with government intervention, is driving Permian Basin energy issues. This aligns with a third-party report that the lines are primarily built to support wind and solar, while local reliable generation alternatives were never fully examined.
https://texasscorecard.com/state/overabundance-of-wind-and-solar-drive-permian-basin-energy-issues/

Texas Energy and Power Newsletter: Gov. Abbott calls for data centers to lower costs
June 30 — Gov. Greg Abbott directed Texas electricity regulatory leaders earlier this month to ensure data centers not only pay their fair share of transmission upgrades, but also reduce costs for residential ratepayers. This prompted the Public Utility Commission to revisit a recommendation on cost allocation for large loads. The PUC and ERCOT have until July 17 to respond.
https://www.texasenergyandpower.com/p/gov-abbott-calls-for-data-centers

Office of the Governor: (Press Release) Governor Abbott Announces Nearly $30 Million In Grants For Electric Reliability In The Panhandle
June 29 — Governor Greg Abbott today announced a nearly $30 million Texas Energy Fund (TxEF) grant to strengthen electric reliability for Rita Blanca Electric Cooperative, Inc. (RBEC) members in the northwestern corner of the Texas Panhandle. The grant will help fund construction of a new substation, automation of an existing substation, transformer improvements, and upgrading wood poles to steel structures.
https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-announces-nearly-30-million-in-grants-for-electric-reliability-in-the-panhandle

The National Law Review: Environ Energy Expands ERCOT Presence and Multifamily Portfolio with Infinity Power Partners Acquisition
June 29 — The acquisition also establishes a new “anchor segment” for Environ in the multifamily residential markets, adding a portfolio representing more than 1,400,000 units under contract across the United States.
https://natlawreview.com/press-releases/environ-energy-expands-ercot-presence-and-multifamily-portfolio-infinity

The Cool Down: 1,300 Texas landowners say they were shut out as power line route moved onto their property
June 29 — For some Central Texas landowners, the fight over a major transmission proposal began only after the process was already underway and their property had become part of the discussion.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/1-300-texas-landowners-were-050100952.html

San Antonio Express News: Texas ranch dispute highlights tensions over aging oil wells and who pays for cleanup
June 28 — There are thousands of oil and gas wells like these around Texas: low-producing wells leased by companies operating on a shoestring. About two-thirds of the active oil wells in Texas, or 99,000 wells, produce fewer than 10 barrels of oil a day, according to the state regulator. To remain active, they must produce at least five barrels for three consecutive months or at least one barrel for 12 consecutive months.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/texas-ranch-dispute-highlights-tensions-150000449.html

Sierra Club Pennsylvania: Data Centers: Even Worse Than You Think
June 27 — Data centers must deal with the huge quantities of heat generated by chips and servers running around the clock. Cooling systems may be based on air, water or chemicals. Some water-based systems use fresh water while others pass it through a continuous loop. Regardless of the design, very large amounts of water are involved, and data centers are being built in many places that are already stressed for water. Some cooling systems discharge large amounts of water containing chemical residues.
https://www.sierraclub.org/pennsylvania/blog/2026/06/data-centers-even-worse-you-think

KUT: Texas asked data centers to report their water use. Most of them didn’t respond
June 26 — Texas lawmakers are calling for the data center industry to be more transparent after it was revealed during a legislative hearing in Austin that the majority of the state’s data centers are not reporting their water usage.
https://www.kut.org/energy-environment/2026-06-26/texas-data-center-water-use-survey-legislature

Gadget Review: Hundreds of Data Centers Are Coming to Texas, and the State’s Plumbing May Not Be Ready
June 26 — Texas faces 439 gigawatts in grid requests and up to 161 billion gallons in annual water demand before planners wrote either into state policy.
https://www.gadgetreview.com/hundreds-of-data-centers-are-coming-to-texas-and-the-states-plumbing-may-not-be-ready

The Texas Lawbook: Dallas County Jury Clears Oncor in $270M Electric Shock Case
June 26 — A jury in Dallas County, after hearing nearly a week of testimony, determined a man who suffered severe and life-altering injuries after coming into contact with an Oncor utility line was a trespasser and was not entitled to any damages for his injuries.
https://texaslawbook.net/dallas-county-jury-clears-oncor-in-270m-electric-shock-case/

KETX: An unprecedented data center boom means new challenges for Texas. Find out what’s planned near you
June 26 — Developers and speculators had been buying up land across the state, looking to cash in on a chance to construct massive warehouses filled with computers to power artificial intelligence for companies such as Meta, Amazon and Google. Older, smaller data centers ran the Internet. Artificial intelligence and cloud computing demanded much more.
https://www.ketk.com/news/local-news/an-unprecedented-data-center-boom-means-new-challenges-for-texas-find-out-whats-planned-near-you/

CAA: Houston investment in grid resilience gets first test
June 26 — A Houston investment that has been a decade in the making quietly reached the grid this month: NRG Energy brought new units at its TH Wharton peaker plant into commercial operations on May 26, becoming the first major new-build power plant assets NRG has opened in more than 10 years.
https://capitalanalyticsassociates.com/houston-investment-in-grid-resilience-gets-first-test/

Houston Chronicle: NRG starts up Houston peaker plant
June 26 — The power plant, located off the Sam Houston Parkway in the Willowbrook area, is a peaker plant — a power plant that operates one to two hours each day, acting as a shock absorber to the power grid — said Matt Pistner, the president of NRG Wholesale. As energy demand in Texas continues to surge, largely driven by new AI data centers, developers have looked toward Houston, the energy capital of the world, as a location for new sites.
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/houston-chronicle/20260626/281887305029570

Fox 34: Governor Abbott announces $8.8 million in grants for electric reliability in the South Plains
June 26 — Governor Greg Abbott announced a package of four Texas Energy Fund grants totaling more than $8.8 million to strengthen electric reliability for Lamb County Electric Cooperative, Inc. members in the South Plains. The grants will support several reliability projects including transmission line replacement, increasing transformer capacity, and modernizing aging infrastructure.
https://www.fox34.com/2026/06/26/governor-abbott-announces-88-million-grants-electric-reliability-south-plains/

Utility Dive: Texas landowners seek pause in $2B, 765-kV transmission line case over notice concerns
June 25 — The Permian Basin power line request says property owners were not properly notified after route changes. The build-out is tied to growing ERCOT grid needs.
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/texas-landowners-transmission-line-puc-oncor-lcra/823657/

Crypto Briefing? Bitcoin miners seen as beneficial for electric grid amid AI demand
June 25 — A study from the Duke University Nicholas Institute, released in early 2025, found that controllable loads like Bitcoin mining could support up to 76 GW of new electricity demand. That’s roughly 10% of peak load capacity across the US. The kicker: it would require minimal curtailment of just 0.25% annually.
https://cryptobriefing.com/bitcoin-miners-electric-grid-ai-demand/

Industry Insider: Texas Approves New ERCOT Process to Speed Data Center Grid Connections
June 25 — The Public Utility Commission has approved a new ERCOT process to sort through more than 438,000 megawatts of large-load interconnection requests.
https://insider.govtech.com/texas/news/texas-approves-new-ercot-process-to-speed-data-center-grid-connections

Dallas Express: Abbott Announces Texas Energy Fund Loan For New 860-Megawatt Power Project In West Texas
June 25 — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Wednesday that a new Texas Energy Fund loan has been finalized to support the construction of an 860-megawatt natural gas power project in West Texas, a development expected to supply electricity to approximately 215,000 homes.
https://dallasexpress.com/state/abbott-announces-texas-energy-fund-loan-for-new-860-megawatt-power-project-in-west-texas/

Dallas Express; Abbott Awards $22M Texas Energy Fund Grants For Panhandle Electric Reliability
June 25 — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Wednesday that more than $22 million in grants have been awarded through the Texas Energy Fund to strengthen electric reliability in northeast Texas and the Panhandle.
https://dallasexpress.com/state/abbott-awards-22m-texas-energy-fund-grants-for-panhandle-electric-reliability/

GAS UTILITY and RAILROAD COMMISSION NEWS

Reuters: US company seeks to produce uranium for nuclear energy from seawater
July 14 — SuperCritical expects to deploy first in Texas and to work with 13 regulatory agencies to get permissions, including the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the Texas Railroad Commission and the U.S. Coast Guard.
https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/us-company-seeks-produce-uranium-nuclear-energy-seawater-2026-07-14/

Dallas Morning News: Lawsuit filed against Atmos
July 11 — Pérez, who was out of town at the time of the May 28 explosion, is seeking more than $1 million in damages for continued mental anguish, medical and funeral costs, and the loss of his wife, Marisol Pérez, and their 18-month-old son Erik Pérez Jr.
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/the-dallas-morning-news/20260711/281771340944269

KERA: Father files lawsuit against Atmos after son and wife’s death in Oak Cliff apartment explosion
July 10 — The lawsuit, filed by Erik Perez Sr., alleges Atmos frequently failed to properly mark its gas pipes in the area leading up to the explosion. It claims Atmos has thousands of leaking pipes and frequently fails to locate its own pipes.
https://www.keranews.org/news/2026-07-10/father-files-wrongful-death-lawsuit-against-atmos-after-oak-cliff-apartment-explosion?_amp=true

Texas AFT: Ballot spotlight: Texas Railroad Commissioner
July 10 — With just about 4 months until the midterm general election, it’s important as supporters of public education to focus on the different statewide offices and thoughtfully consider their role in public education. The Railroad Commission (RRC) doesn’t get a lot of mainstream press, but it plays a hidden and essential role for public education.
https://www.texasaft.org/post/ballot-spotlight-texas-railroad-commissioner

KVUE: Wrongful death lawsuit filed against Atmos Energy for May Oak Cliff apartment explosion
July 9 — The filing states that Atmos Energy failed to properly address previously reported gas leaks at the complex and improperly marked the lines on the day of the explosion. The filing further states that because of these inaccurate markings, hired contractors began drilling and eventually hit the line, causing the explosion.
https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/texas/wrongful-death-lawsuit-filed-against-atmos-energy-for-may-oak-cliff-apartment-explosion/287-5527e896-067f-4e1f-8f9a-0d8672442f3c

Natural Gas Intelligence: ERCOT, PJM Seen Driving Natural Gas-Fired Power Growth as CAISO Plummets
July 9 — The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) expects nationwide natural gas-fired power generation to reach 1,788.6 billion kWh in 2027, up 5.0% from 2025.
https://naturalgasintel.com/news/ercot-pjm-seen-driving-natural-gas-fired-power-growth-as-caiso-plummets/

KMID: Texas energy infrastructure could get a boost under new federal proposal
July 8 — According to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) would modernize FERC’s blanket certificate program by significantly expanding the types of natural gas infrastructure projects eligible for streamlined federal approval.
https://www.yourbasin.com/news/texas-energy-infrastructure-could-get-a-boost-under-new-federal-proposal/

NBC DFW: Second lawsuit filed against Atmos Energy after deadly Oak Cliff explosion
July 8 — A second lawsuit has been filed against Atmos Energy following the deadly apartment explosion in Oak Cliff that claimed three lives.
https://www.nbcdfw.com/video/news/local/second-lawsuit-filed-against-atmos-energy-after-deadly-oak-cliff-explosion/4046736/

NBC DFW: Nonprofit and victims of Oak Cliff apartment explosion face obstacles a month later
July 9 — More than a month after the explosion at The Bonnie Apartments in Oak Cliff, residents are still living without natural gas service. A local nonprofit says it has encountered obstacles while trying to help those affected.
https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/nonprofit-and-victims-of-oak-cliff-apartment-explosion-face-obstacles-a-month-later/4046979/

Tech44: SpaceX is laying an eight-mile gas pipeline called Starpipe to its Texas launch site, and the reason is pure Musk
July 4 — Why does a rocket company need a gas line? Because Starship, SpaceX’s massive next-generation rocket, uses about 630,000 gallons of liquid methane per launch, and Reuters reports that fuel is now brought in by hundreds of tanker trucks during an hours-long process.
https://okdiario.com/techy/en/spacex-is-laying-an-eight-mile-gas-pipeline-called-starpipe-to-its-texas-launch-site-and-the-reason-is-pure-musk/5939/

Pipeline & Gas Journal: Gas Line Was Not Marked Before Fatal Dallas Explosion, NTSB Says
July 2 — A natural gas line involved in the May 28 explosion that destroyed a Dallas apartment building had not been identified and marked before drilling began, according to a preliminary report released by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The explosion and subsequent fire killed three people, injured at least six others and remain under investigation.
https://pgjonline.com/news/2026/july/gas-line-was-not-marked-before-fatal-dallas-explosion-ntsb-says

Louisville Courier Journal: 4 things to know on proposed Texas Gas pipeline that could snake around Louisville
July 3 — A proposed natural gas pipeline in the greater Louisville area has sparked backlash from landowners, prompting discussions around transparency and safety.
https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/science/environment/2026/07/03/what-to-know-about-the-texas-gas-borealis-project-in-louisville/90709215007/

KERA News: Gas pipeline was not marked by locators before Oak Cliff apartment explosion, report says
July 1 — The NTSB’s report does not offer a cause of the gas explosion, instead largely providing a timeline of events. The detail about the gas line being unmarked was only mentioned in the footnotes of the report.
https://www.keranews.org/energy-environment/2026-07-01/ntsb-report-oak-cliff-apartment-explosion-dallas

NBC DFW: Dallas gas line was not marked before deadly fire, explosion, NTSB says
July 1 — The first federal report on a punctured natural gas line that exploded and destroyed a Dallas apartment building says the gas line had not been identified and marked before the May 28 blast.
https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/ntsb-report-dallas-fire-apartment-building-explosion/4043728/

Texas Tribune: Bo French says Texas shouldn’t recognize babies born to undocumented parents as American citizens
June 30 — The Railroad Commission, a century-old agency governing the state’s enormous oil and gas industry, has no bearing on immigration issues, nor can the three-panel commissioners make decisions that affect a person’s immigration status — an issue French regularly weighs in on.
https://www.texastribune.org/2026/06/30/bo-french-decries-birthright-citizenship-ruling/

Dallas Morning News: Former GOP candidate for Texas Railroad Commission will vote for Democratic nominee
June 30 — Hawk Dunlap, a fourth-generation oil worker who finished last among five candidates in the GOP primary in March, has endorsed state Rep. Jon Rosenthal of Houston for the agency that regulates the state’s oil and gas industry.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/former-gop-candidate-texas-railroad-202947947.html

Gizmodo: SpaceX Wants Its Own Gas Pipeline to Feed All the Starships
June 26 — Elon Musk’s rocket company wants to build its own gas pipeline as it pushes to control every step of Starship’s fuel supply.
https://gizmodo.com/spacex-wants-its-own-gas-pipeline-to-feed-all-the-starships-2000778302

Manufacturing: SpaceX plans to build ‘Starpipe’ natural gas pipeline to fuel Starship rockets
June 26 — The 40-story rocket is central to SpaceX’s push to expand its Starlink broadband network, deploy orbital AI data center satellites, and eventually carry astronauts to the moon and Mars.
https://manufacturing.economictimes.indiatimes.com/amp/news/aerospace-defence/spacex-plans-to-build-starpipe-natural-gas-pipeline-to-fuel-starship-rockets/132009835

Austin Current: Paxton says Austin’s ‘electric-ready’ building code violates Texas law
June 26 — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued an opinion finding Austin code requiring new buildings to be “electric-ready” discriminates against natural gas.
https://austincurrent.org/2026/06/26/texas-austin-paxton-energy-code-unlawful-utility-gas-electric/

Reuters: SpaceX plans to build ‘Starpipe’ natural gas pipeline to fuel Starship rockets
June 25 — Starpipe, which will end at SpaceX’s Texas company town of Starbase, is ‌expected to be in service by January 26, according to a document filed last month with the Texas Railroad Commission by SpaceX affiliate Lone Star Mineral Development and reviewed by Reuters.
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/spacex-plans-build-starpipe-natural-gas-pipeline-fuel-starship-rockets-2026-06-25/

Texas Tribune: Tensions with landowners rise as a raft of gas pipelines push through Texas properties
June 25 — Matterhorn Express, a pipeline entity majority-owned by the Austin-based infrastructure company WhiteWater Midstream, would transport Permian Basin gas 580 miles to the Houston area using the powers of eminent domain to sail through thousands of acres of private property.
https://www.texastribune.org/2026/06/25/texas-natural-gas-pipelines-eminent-domain-land-fights/

News Round-Up: July 2026

ELECTRIC UTILITY AND ERCOT NEWS

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