David Blackmon writes in Forbes about Texas’ proposed grid restructuring.
- Texas regulators have recommended a plan to restructure the state’s power grid to favor thermal generation like natural gas and coal-fired power plants.
- While regulators claim that the plan will improve reliability and avoid future blackouts, it will have little impact on reliability and be extremely expensive for consumers.
- It will also discourage renewable energy development, which would be especially harmful to the economies of rural communities.
- Policymakers should maintain Texas’ tradition of limited government and adopt policies that allow markets, not the government, to pick energy winners and losers.
“The truth is that Texas is going to need more of everything if it is to be able to sustain its growing population and economy in the coming decades. While that means the need for additional thermal capacity must be satisfied, it also means renewables – wind and solar – need to keep growing, too, and the traditional political warfare between legislators who favor one source over another should be avoided.”
Read the full article here.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of C3.
