ELECTRIC UTILITY AND ERCOT NEWS
Texas Energy and Power Newsletter: Texas Bets on Speed
April 29 — But as Gin Kinney, chief administrative officer at NRG Energy, told Energy Capital Podcast hosts Matt Boms and Josh Rhodes at CERAweek in Houston this year, the company’s planning horizon has collapsed to 12-18 months.
https://www.texasenergyandpower.com/p/ceraweek
Business Wire: Resilient Structures Expands Houston Facility, Plans Additional Production Lines to Meet Growing Demand
April 29 — The facility, located in Humble, Texas, will support utilities as they strengthen infrastructure to improve reliability in the face of more frequent severe weather. The site will play a key role in ongoing efforts to enhance service reliability for communities across the Gulf Coast region.
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260429237355/en/Resilient-Structures-Expands-Houston-Facility-Plans-Additional-Production-Lines-to-Meet-Growing-Demand
Guardian: CEOs of US’s top energy firms averaged nearly 16% pay raise to $12.3m, review finds
April 29 — The US’s top utilities’ CEOs enjoyed a 16% pay raise last year – to an average of $12.3m – even as consumers shoulder the pain from high bills spurred by continuing inflation, the Iran war and datacenter growth, a new review of industry financial documents shows.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/29/energy-ceo-pay-raises-2025
Reuters: Graphic Packaging, NextEra to build 250 MW solar plant in Texas
April 29 — Graphic Packaging Holding said on Wednesday it has signed an agreement with NextEra Energy Resources to build a 250-megawatt solar power plant in Texas, aiming to source renewable electricity and cut greenhouse gas emissions.
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/graphic-packaging-nextera-build-250-mw-solar-plant-texas-2026-04-29/
Real Clear Energy: It’s Time for Texas to Get Competitive on Transmission Development
April 29 — Texas operates the most competitive wholesale electricity generation market in the United States. Every day, hundreds of power generators compete in ERCOT-run auctions to deliver the cheapest power to homes and businesses. The retail electric market is equally robust, with retail electric providers (REPs) vigorously competing for customers based on price, service, and preferences.
https://www.realclearenergy.org/articles/2026/04/29/its_time_for_texas_to_get_competitive_on_transmission_development_1179778.html
Utility Dive: What load growth demands of resource planning
April 27 — Utilities and grid operators are facing load growth projections that would have seemed implausible just five years ago. For example, as of last November, the Electric Reliability Corporation of Texas (ERCOT) reported that large loads seeking interconnection by 2030 would increase the peak demand served in ERCOT by 142 gigawatts, or nearly tripling its present-day demand.
https://www.utilitydive.com/spons/what-load-growth-demands-of-resource-planning/818035/
Utility Dive: What load growth demands of resource planning
April 27 — Utilities and grid operators are facing load growth projections that would have seemed implausible just five years ago. For example, as of last November, the Electric Reliability Corporation of Texas (ERCOT) reported that large loads seeking interconnection by 2030 would increase the peak demand served in ERCOT by 142 gigawatts, or nearly tripling its present-day demand.
https://www.utilitydive.com/spons/what-load-growth-demands-of-resource-planning/818035/
Rigzone: CenterPoint Targets 8 GW of Data Center Load in 3 Years
April 26 — CenterPoint Energy Inc on Thursday announced plans to energize 8 gigawatts (GW) of generation projects catered to data centers by 2029. The Houston, Texas-based power and gas utility said in its quarterly report it has 12.2 GW of firmly committed industrial load in Greater Houston.
https://www.rigzone.com/news/centerpoint_targets_8_gw_of_data_center_load_in_3_years-26-apr-2026-183533-article/
Fox26: Can Texas’ power grid handle the meteoric rise of AI data centers?
April 24 — Last week, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) presented a six-year forecast of how much power demand they expect in the near future. When the numbers showed a quadrupled peak demand by 2032, the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) sent them back to the drawing board.
https://www.fox26houston.com/news/ai-data-centers-texas-power-grid
Business Insider: Big Tech’s AI data centers are pushing the power grid to its limits — and one state is feeling it the most
April 24 — Just last week, Electric Reliability Council of Texas, the Lone Star State’s grid operator, told state regulators that power demand is on track to quadruple by 2032, driven by an unprecedented surge in large data center projects seeking to connect to the grid.
https://www.businessinsider.com/texas-power-grid-demand-data-centers-2026-4
Utility Dive: CenterPoint to energize 8 GW of data center load by 2029
April 23 — Houston is now “firmly established as a location of choice for some of the world’s largest hyperscalers,” CenterPoint CEO Jason Wells said in the company’s first quarter earnings call.
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/centerpoint-energy-data-center-load-earnings/818293/
Denton Record-Chronicle: ERCOT says state’s energy demand is growing, but long-term forecast is likely overstated
April 23 — Officials with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas said last week that the state’s energy demand could reach nearly 368 gigawatts by 2032 — enough energy to power more than 73 million homes on a hot summer day or cold winter morning.
https://dentonrc.com/news/state/ercot-says-states-energy-demand-is-growing-but-long-term-forecast-is-likely-overstated/article_ec60419a-a352-4d84-9a72-a645830da07d.html
HillsboroReporter: Texas Data Center Boom Topic Of County Summit
April 23 — Moderated by Carlton Schwab, president of the Texas Economic Development Council, the question-and-answer session featured John Littlefield, president of Southwest Engineers; Larry McManus, from the Office of the Governor, Economic Development and Tourism Division; and Eric Meier, supervisor of Planning Model Administration at ERCOT.
https://hillsbororeporter.com/texas-data-center-boom-topic-of-county-summit-p31596-54.htm
ABC 13 News: Two data centers proposed for Matagorda County, residents pushing back
April 23 — Data centers are large facilities filled with servers that store information people use every day on the internet, fueling AI and the digital data boom.
https://abc13.com/post/data-centers-proposed-matagorda-county-residents-pushing-back/18944946/
KHOU 11: NE Harris County community worried they’ll be left in the dark
April 23 —Residents in a northeast Harris County trailer home community said they’re worried about safety after receiving notice that their neighborhood’s street lights could soon go dark over an unpaid power bill.
https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/harris-county-community-no-lights/285-b8121f98-7985-4193-bc2d-3b1dc2120b01
Texas Standard: ERCOT forecast raises new questions about Texas power demand
April 22 — ERCOT says Texas electric demand could reach nearly 370,000 megawatts by 2032, quadrupling our current capacity. Much of the projected growth is tied to data centers, raising fresh questions about grid planning — including how many of those centers will actually be built.
https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/today-on-texas-standard-april-22-2026/
KCENTV: Salado residents pack meeting, urged to take action against proposed $2 billion transmission line project
April 22 — Dozens of Central Texans gathered to learn how to file as intervenors with the Public Utility Commission of Texas, a step that would give them a formal voice in the decision-making process for the project.
https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/salado-residents-meeting-urged-take-action-proposed-2-billion-transmission-line/500-a7341e98-64c1-41e5-ac9a-a3dc5a7ae242
Texarkana Gazette: Forecast for Texas electricity demand is being multiplied by data centers and crypto
April 21 — Recently, the existing tension between grid preparedness and aggressive projections has been laid bare by official estimates, with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas filing its newest long-term load forecast last week. The state’s grid operator predicted peak electricity demand surpassing 367 gigawatts by 2032 — more than four times the current all-time peak of 85,508 megawatts recorded in August 2023.
https://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/2026/apr/21/forecast-for-texas-electricity-demand-is-being/
GAS UTILITY and RAILROAD COMMISSION NEWS
KSAT: Texas Railroad Commission GOP runoff: Who is running and what to know
April 28 — In the GOP runoff, incumbent Railroad Commissioner Jim Wright is pitching himself as a “proven advocate for Texas energy” who also values “high environmental and safety standards.” Meanwhile, challenger Bo French has cast himself as a “MAGA conservative” who wants “to give Trump the backing he needs” in the energy industry.
https://www.ksat.com/news/texas/2026/04/28/texas-railroad-commission-gop-runoff-who-is-running-and-what-to-know/
The Cool Down: Home explosion linked to decades-old plastic gas pipes that utility company was supposed to replace
April 25 — A doorbell camera captured a head-turning video of a gas explosion in North Texas, and the early investigation shows the blast may be linked to aging and faulty underground pipes.
https://www.thecooldown.com/green-business/video-gas-explosion-north-texas/
Crossroads Today: Pipeline explosion in Edna kills one, injures two in Wednesday afternoon incident
April 23 — Jackson County Sheriff Rick Boone said the Railroad Commission of Texas and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the cause of the explosion.
https://www.crossroadstoday.com/news/local-news/pipeline-explosion-in-edna-kills-one-injures-two-in-wednesday-afternoon-incident/article_8ad00a23-1a9e-4117-9e2e-aa3b14f8b8db.html
NBC DFW: Lake Dallas home explosion investigation continues one month later
April 23— A newly released video shows the moment a home exploded in Lake Dallas, trapping a woman inside before neighbors rescued her.
https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/lake-dallas-home-explosion-video/4014725/
KDFW: East Texas gas well fire near Etoile expected to burn for days After explosion
April 23 — A natural gas well fire sparked by an explosion in East Texas earlier this week could continue burning for several days as specialized crews work to bring it under control, local officials said.
https://www.fox4news.com/news/east-texas-gas-well-fire-etoile-expected-burn-days-after-explosion
TELECOM AND BROADBAND NEWS
Permian Proud: Reeves County awarded $15.4M state grant for fiber infrastructure
April 29 —Reeves County received a $15,442,296 grant from the Texas Middle Mile Program to build new broadband infrastructure, according to county officials.
https://permianproud.com/community/reeves-county-awarded-15-4m-state-grant-for-fiber-infrastructure/
Foundation for Defense of Democracies: Data Centers, Telecommunications Networks, and Space-Based Systems
April 29 —The subject of this hearing is timely. Our nation is under attack in cyberspace. Our adversaries increasingly see this as a U.S. vulnerability, and China specifically is conducting “operational preparation of the battlefield” activities as well as espionage and intellectual property theft against our companies and critical infrastructure. At the same time, we appear to be reducing our investments in cyber defense.
https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2026/04/29/data-centers-telecommunications-networks-and-space-based-systems/
KMID: Reeves County secures $15M for broadband infrastructure
April 28 — The Reeves County project represents a total investment of approximately $19.8 million and will support the development of 84.5 miles of open-access, high-capacity fiber infrastructure to address longstanding connectivity gaps in one of the most underserved regions of West Texas.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/reeves-county-secures-15m-broadband-025139248.html
League of Minnesota Cities: House Pulls Broadband Permitting Bill After Local Government Opposition
April 27 — In addition to the League, the coordinated efforts included the National League of Cities, National Association of Counties, U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors.
https://www.lmc.org/news-publications/news/all/federal-update-house-pulls-broadband-permitting-bill-after-local-government-opposition/
Fierce Network: SpaceX doesn’t always get what it wants at the FCC
April 24 — The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Thursday denied requests by multiple satellite companies – including SpaceX – for access to spectrum, saying it’s all about enabling the direct-to-device (D2D) market to flourish.
https://www.fierce-network.com/wireless/spacex-doesnt-always-get-what-it-wants-fcc
Broadband Breakfast: Local Orgs Happy to See Broadband Permitting Bill Stalled
April 24 — Local organizations were pleased to see a broadband permitting bill pulled from consideration on the House floor earlier this week.
https://broadbandbreakfast.com/local-orgs-happy-to-see-broadband-permitting-bill-stalled/
San Angelo Live: PASSED: Pfluger’s Federal Broadband Deployment Act Passed Unanimously in the House
April 23 — Congressman August Pfluger’s (TX-11) Federal Broadband Deployment Tracking Act was unanimously passed through the U.S. House of Representatives, marking his 11th bill to pass the House this term and a major step forward for improving transparency and efficiency in the broadband deployment process, and helping close the digital divide for rural Americans.
https://sanangelolive.com/news/politics/2026-04-23/passed-pflugers-federal-broadband-deployment-act-passed-unanimously-house#google_vignette
Odessa American: Pfluger’s Federal Broadband Deployment Tracking Act passed unanimously in the House
April 23 — Pfluger’s bipartisan Federal Broadband Deployment Tracking Act requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to submit a comprehensive plan to Congress within 180 days detailing how the agency will track permit applications for deploying broadband on federal lands. This will streamline projects to expand broadband access and help close the digital divide for communities in rural America.
https://www.oaoa.com/local-news/government/pflugers-federal-broadband-deployment-tracking-act-passed-unanimously-in-the-house/#google_vignette
Rio Grande Guardian: Brownsville is creating the framework for greater regional connectivity
April 23 — The City of Brownsville developed a public-private partnership with Omni Fiber. The private company provides what is termed the Last Mile of service. The funding from the Texas Broadband Development Office will help with the city’s Middle Mile program.
https://riograndeguardian.com/stories/guard-brownsville-is-creating-the-framework-for-greater-regional-connectivity,66705
NBC 23: Pharr approves fiber optic ordinance for new buildings, internet providers speak out
April 23 — On April 20, the city commissioners unanimously approved the existing fiber-optic ordinance. According to the city agenda, the commissioners believe modern fiber optics are a needed public utility, which will support economic development, emergency response and education.
https://www.valleycentral.com/news/local-news/pharr-approves-fiber-optic-ordinance-for-new-buildings-internet-providers-speak-out/
Pots & Pans: The Push for Permitting Reform
April 17 — The bill first started with the goal of making it easier to get permits for BEAD and other federally grant-funded projects, but the bill has grown to encompass all local and state permitting for telecommunications infrastructure.
https://potsandpansbyccg.com/2026/04/27/the-push-for-permitting-reform/