• UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    Democratic lawmakers introduced the Connect the Grid Act last week, aimed at ensuring the state’s power grid does not fail again like it did during 2021’s Winter Storm Uri, which left millions without power for days and claimed hundreds of lives. Rep. Greg Casar of Texas said by requiring the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to connect to neighboring grids, Texas would be able to avoid similar tragedies in the future. ERCOT serves most of the state’s 30 million residents.

    It’s a bill by a House Democratic that will never see a floor vote much less a trip to the Senate or the Governor’s desk.

    Texas residential housing getting energy bills that jump from $15/MW to $3000/MW isn’t a bug, its a feature. If connecting to the grid dilutes the leverage that local gas power plants have in gouging electricity prices, there’s no way this is going to pass.