Texas lawmakers are teeing up legislation for 2025 that could hamper wind and solar power, even as the state continues to shatter records for renewable energy installations.
Among the bills set to be considered are ones that would set up new permitting requirements and fees for wind and solar projects or allow cities to ban new battery storage units. One high-profile bill would even require that 50 percent of the state’s power generation come from natural gas plants.
Luke Metzger, executive director of Environment Texas, said in an interview that he’s concerned about bills that would “create a chilling effect for any new wind and solar projects,” especially with state forecasts showing that electricity demand could nearly double by 2030.
“Efforts to stop badly needed generation just don’t make sense,” Metzger said. “We continue to have a lot of public concern about whether there will be sufficient power to keep the lights on at peak times, so it’s counterintuitive that some members of the Legislature would throw a wrench in the works to stop new generation.”
