The Supreme Court unanimously restricted federal environmental reviews under NEPA to direct project impacts, easing infrastructure approvals...
Texas Sees Surge in Microgrid Use as Extreme Weather Challenges Grid
Summary
Texas is experiencing a rapid increase in microgrid adoption as extreme weather events, such as Winter Storm Uri in 2021 and Hurricane Beryl in 2024, expose vulnerabilities in the state’s power grid. Microgrids, which combine energy sources like natural gas, solar, and batteries, can operate independently and bolster critical infrastructure, including hospitals and water facilities, during outages. Most microgrids in Texas rely on natural gas and can also supply additional power to ERCOT during peak demand. The state legislature recently approved the Texas Energy Fund, allocating $1.8 billion for a Backup Power Program to expand access to microgrids, though the program has yet to be implemented. Proponents highlight microgrids as a solution to Texas' increasing energy demands, offering both reliability and grid support. Developers like Enchanted Rock have seen rising interest in Austin, collaborating with utilities to extend microgrid availability.
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