Texas lawmakers create committee to coordinate energy conservation, as grid faces growing demand

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As Texas braces for another summer of extreme heat, state lawmakers have established the Texas Energy Waste Advisory Committee to enhance coordination of energy conservation programs. This initiative comes in response to forecasts from the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) indicating that power demand could exceed supply as early as 2026, driven by population growth and increased energy consumption from industries such as cryptocurrency mining and data centers. House Bill 5323 aims to streamline the management of over $3 billion allocated for demand reduction across various state agencies.

The committee will consist of representatives from eight state agencies, including ERCOT and the Public Utility Commission, to ensure effective collaboration in reducing energy waste and improving grid reliability. Current programs have the potential to cut peak demand by up to 4.5 gigawatts, which could significantly impact grid stability during extreme weather. With ERCOT predicting a potential shortfall in energy supply, the committee's efforts are crucial for balancing economic growth with the reliability of Texas's energy grid.