House Democrats introduce bill requiring Texas to connect to surrounding grids

[LetMyPeopleVote]

It is crazy that most of Texas is NOT connected to the national grid. After the February 2021freeze, I broke down and bought a house generator. My oldest just built a house that has a house generator. This would not be necessary if Texas was in the national grid.

ERCOT has been a great source of political donations to Greg Abbott and GOP assholes.

Link to tweet

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/energy/article/ercot-power-grid-texas-congress-18667184.php

Reps. Greg Casar, D-Austin, and Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, D-NY, introduced legislation Wednesday that would require the Texas power grid to connect to grids in surrounding states to reduce the possibility of blackouts such as the one that occurred during Winter Storm Uri in February 2021, leaving millions without power.

Politicians in Texas have long resisted connecting to other grids out of concern it would bring them under greater regulation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, leaving the power grid run by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas with little ability to import electricity from other states in times of distress.

"By connecting the ERCOT grid, all Texans and Americans would have more reliable electricity, saving lives in future natural disasters. The U.S. would also be better able to reach its climate goals with Texas’s clean energy production," read a press release from Casar's office.

ERCOT and the Texas Public Utility Commission did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

FERC began work last year on new rules requiring power grids to connect with one another to reduce the chance of a large-scale blackout. And while ERCOT does not fall under FERC’s regulatory authority for power pricing, the commission could require ERCOT to expand interconnections were it to determine doing so was necessary to ensure reliability.

[RainCaster]

1. Texas likes not having to maintain the grid

If they hook up to the rest of the country, they will have to do some substantial upgrades in many places. That will cost money, which will require raising rates. That will be sold as an Evil Democrat Plan to invade the Great South.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

2. We're officially introducing the #ConnectTheGrid Act, which would connect Texas to the nation's major electric grids

Link to tweet

[From The Ashes]

3. I'd imagine that

the idea wouldn't go over too well with ERCOT. Can't have the Feds controlling Texas now can we?