AT THE CAPITOL
News from the 88th legislative session
QUOTE OF NOTE
ERCOT projects record demand for electricity this summer
Sign up for our newsletter at communityimpact.com for daily updates throughout the session. SUBSCRIBE TODAY require the Texas Commission on Jail Standards to evaluate the living conditions and safety of people in the Harris County Jail. UPDATES FROM LOCAL LEGISLATORS HOUSE BILL 12 Rep. Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City, filed HB 12 May 30 as part of the special session called by Gov. Greg Abbott. The bill would NUMBER TO KNOW That’s how many Texans died from fentanyl overdoses in 2022, according to Gov. Greg Abbott. 2,012 SENATE BILL 14, WHICH WOULD BAN TRANSITION-RELATED TREATMENTS FOR TRANSGENDER MINORS. THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE PASSED THE BILL, AND GOV. GREG ABBOTT HAS UNTIL JUNE 18 TO SIGN IT. “WE WILL NEVER STOP FIGHTING ALONGSIDE OUR PARTNERS TO CREATE A FUTURE WHERE TRANSGENDER YOUTH, ADULTS AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE SAFE AND FREE TO EXIST IN THEIR OWN HOME STATE.” MARTI BIER, VICE PRESIDENT OF PROGRAMS AT THE TEXAS FREEDOM NETWORK, ON THE TEXAS HOUSE’S PASSAGE OF
BY HANNAH NORTON
hot outside, but the sun has set and winds begin to die down. “We will continue to use every tool available to keep the lights on and the AC running this summer,” said Peter Lake, chair of the Public Utility Commission of Texas, which regulates ERCOT. As a result, Texans could be asked to conserve energy or even face brownouts this summer. Brownouts typically occur when utility companies reduce the flow of electricity to certain areas to prevent a large-scale blackout. Lights may dim or flicker, but homes will still receive power. The report states, emergency con- ditions are possible when three things happen simultaneously: extreme heat; low renewable energy output; and widespread outages at dispatch- able power plants. Vegas said there is a less than 1% chance of this happening, but officials will communicate with Texans if voluntary conservation is recommended or the grid reaches emergency conditions.
SUPPLY AND DEMAND
Texans could experience brownouts due to record demand for power this summer, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas predicted. In a report released May 3, Texas’ power grid operator anticipated peak demand could reach 82,739 megawatts on the hottest days. Due to over two years of reforms following Winter Storm Uri, ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas said the power grid is “more reliable than ever.” But as Texas’ population continues to grow, officials said demand for electricity will begin to outpace the amount of available dispatchable power, which comes from sources such as natural gas and coal. This means Texas will need to rely on renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, to keep the lights on. Unlike dispatchable sources, energy regulators cannot always count on the sun and wind to be there. Vegas said the highest-risk periods for the grid will be after 9 p.m., when it remains
During the hottest days this summer, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas expects demand for electricity could surpass 82,000 megawatts. Peak demand in 2022 was 80,038 MW.
Expected peak demand 82,739 MW
Expected total supply 97,138 MW*
*TOTAL PROJECTED SUPPLY OF DISPATCHABLE AND RENEWABLE ENERGY THIS SUMMER SOURCE: ELECTRIC RELIABILITY COUNCIL OF TEXAS/COMMUNITY IMPACT TERMS TO KNOW Megawatts: a unit of power equal to 1 million watts. A MW can power 200 homes during peak demand. Dispatchable energy: power sources such as coal, natural gas and nuclear that come from energy plants.
House fails to advance 'raise the age' gun bill
OUT OF TIME
House Bill 2744, which raises the age to buy certain guns in Texas, will not advance in the House. May 8 House Select Committee on Community Safety passed HB 2744 HB 2744 was not added to the May 11 House calendar House bills had to be debated by midnight on May 12. May 9, 10 p.m. May 11, 11:59 p.m.
The bill has been pushed for months by the families of the 19 students and two teachers who were killed during a mass shooting in Uvalde last year. Despite the committee’s vote, the bill was not placed on the House calendar and was not be debated by the full chamber. Texas House Democrats attempted to add the legislation to other bills through amendments May 11, but the amend- ments were voted down.
BY HANNAH NORTON
In an unexpected vote May 8, a Texas House committee advanced a bill that would raise the minimum age to purchase semi-automatic weapons. However, lawmakers did not send the bill to the House for consideration by the May 11 deadline. House Bill 2744, by Rep. Tracy King, D-Batesville, proposed to raise the minimum age required to purchase semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21.
SOURCES: TEXAS LEGISLATURE ONLINE, TEXAS LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE LIBRARY/ COMMUNITY IMPACT
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