Texas Grid Stays Strong, Despite Pushback on Renewables

As Texas faces its first major heat wave of the year, the state’s power grid is holding steady—thanks in large part to renewable energy sources that some lawmakers are actively seeking to restrict.

According to the Houston Chronicle, with temperatures expected to soar past 100 degrees in parts of central Texas and into the high 90s in the Houston area, demand for electricity is climbing sharply. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) forecasted that demand could reach 81 gigawatts on Wednesday, potentially setting a new record for the month of May.

Despite the intense heat and high demand, ERCOT said it anticipates no power shortages. In an email statement, spokesperson Trudi Webster confirmed that the grid is “operating under normal conditions” with “sufficient capacity to meet demand.”

That reliability is due in large part to a growing mix of energy sources—including solar and battery storage—now supporting the grid. That mix is crucial during seasonal transitions, like May, when many fossil fuel plants are offline for scheduled maintenance.

Ironically, several of the very energy sources helping Texas avoid blackouts this week have been targeted in recent legislative efforts. State lawmakers have introduced bills that would impose stricter regulations on renewable energy projects, despite their growing role in grid stability.

“It’s in part because of these [renewable] resources that right now get considered to be not important or not having very much value,” Aaron Zubaty, CEO of Eolian, a company developing battery storage in Texas, told the Houston Chronicle. 

Energy experts note how significantly the grid’s resilience has improved in recent years. Doug Lewin, president of Stoic Energy Consulting, noted that just a few years ago a heat wave like this one might have triggered a grid emergency. Now, improved solar generation and battery systems are providing a buffer.

ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas also pointed to renewables as a key reason the grid has stayed steady during heat waves. “We’re really continuing to see the benefit of increased resources from the solar and battery perspective,” he told the Houston Chronicle.