Texas Could Become Leader in Another Clean Technology
Texas is a national leader in all types of energy, including not only oil and gas, but solar, wind, and nuclear; the state produces more of these types of energy than any other — but now there’s geothermal energy.
What’s geothermal? It’s the extraction of heat from underground that can produce electricity in a way that’s much cheaper than most energy generation and is easy to harness if done correctly.
The idea, oversimplified, is to dig a hole in the ground and you’ll eventually get to enough heat that will produce steam and hot water, which can be used to generate power.
University of Texas at Austin researchers say areas of West Texas could see a boom in geothermal energy in the not-too-distant future.
There’s a possibility that enormous hot rock exists underground, which would mean that exploration of the area could be made simpler by not having to search for underground steam and water to pump electricity generation.
All energy explorers would have to do is find underground areas where the rock is hot, then inject water into it, the way water is very forcefully injected into the ground to stir up oil and force it out of the ground in the fracing industry.
We already know Texas is number one in America for producing oil and gas and is number one in electricity production sourced from wind towers and solar panels, but UT scientists say if research can be done quick enough, the state could become a leader in geothermal energy pretty quickly if ideas are implemented soon.
Geothermal could become among the safest forms of energy:
Environmentalists like…
RRC Reports on Winter Weather Readiness
December 22, 2025 — The Railroad Commission of Texas is taking important steps to help ensure adequate natural gas supply to keep Texans safe this winter season. These include important weatherization inspections of critical natural gas facilities currently being conducted throughout the state by the Critical Infrastructure Division.
As part of the agency’s commitment to protecting Texans during extreme weather events, CID conducted more than 7,400 inspections of natural gas facilities for weatherization preparedness in FY25 and has already begun work on the FY26 Extreme Cold Inspection Schedule. For the new fiscal year, CID has inspected 100% of Tier One facilities, which are critical components of gas supply. Tier One facilities are oil and gas leases that produce more than 5 million cubic feet of gas daily, gas processing plants, underground gas storage facilities and natural gas pipelines that directly connect to electricity generation plants.
To further strengthen preparedness, CID recently hosted a tabletop exercise with operators. The session provided guidance on inspection readiness, emergency management practices and weather‑related resources to ensure operators have the tools and knowledge needed as Texas …
ERCOT Announces Strategic Organizational Changes to Support Grid Reliability, Rapid Demand Growth, and Innovation: ERCOT
From ERCOT:
December 12, 2025 — The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, Inc. (ERCOT) today announced a series of strategic organizational changes designed to accelerate innovation, strengthen grid reliability, and support the unprecedented growth in electric demand across Texas. Two new ERCOT organizations— Interconnection and Grid Analysis and Enterprise Data and Artificial Intelligence (AI)—will formally launch in January 2026.
“Texans expect a grid that is reliable, resilient, and ready for the future,” said Pablo Vegas, ERCOT President and CEO. “By strengthening our data foundation, modernizing our interconnection processes, and aligning our teams around emerging technologies, ERCOT is building an organization that is faster, innovation oriented, and better positioned to serve Texans for years to come.”
Interconnection and Grid Analysis
ERCOT continues to be at the forefront of a worldwide transformation in how electric grids produce and deliver electricity. The new Interconnection and Grid Analysis organization will better support the rapid increases in large loads and generation resources seeking grid interconnection and enable further advancements in grid analytics.
To lead this effort, Jeff Billo has been promoted to Vice President of Interconnection and Grid Analysis. Jeff will oversee generation interconnection, large load interconnection, stability analysis, and stability model validation efforts. Jeff will report to Woody Rickerson, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
Enterprise Data and Artificial Intelligence
High-quality, well-governed data is the foundation…
U.S. associated natural gas production increased 6% in 2024
Note: For consistency, the various state pressure bases used to measure natural gas volumes have been converted to the federal pressure base of 14.73 pounds per square inch absolute (psia) and 60°F.
U.S. production of associated dissolved natural gas, also known as associated natural gas, increased by 6% last year, mirroring the growth in crude oil production from the Permian region. Associated natural gas production averaged 18.5 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in 2024, according to data from Enverus DrillingInfo.
Associated natural gas, which is natural gas produced by wells that predominantly produce oil, comes mainly from five major oil producing regions in the…
Texas Tech to Enhance Grid Flexibility Through $1.25 Million Google Investment
From Texas Tech University:
Texas Tech University’s Global Laboratory for Energy Asset Management & Manufacturing (GLEAMM) has received $1.25 million in funding from Google’s philanthropy Google.org to advance research on artificial intelligence (AI) data center load management and electric grid flexibility. Google’s support is part of a $40 billion investment in Texas announced last week by Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Governor Greg Abbott.
The project addresses a critical challenge: AI workloads consume 10-100 megawatts per facility, creating significant stress on electric grids during peak demand periods. The research will explore how computational loads can be scheduled, modulated or geographically shifted to support grid flexibility while integrating renewable energy and energy storage.
Texas Tech is uniquely positioned to address these emerging challenges, combining proximity to several very large data center projects on the South Plains with access to diverse power sources, including substantial wind and solar generation, as well as world-class expertise and infrastructure at GLEAMM.
“Powering the next era of AI requires both world-class infrastructure and a resilient electric grid,” said Robert Barron-Pryce, Google.org Giving Manager at Google. “As part of our broader investment in Texas, we’re proud to support the work Texas Tech is doing to directly…
RRC Says Texas Granted Primacy Over Class VI Wells
From The Railroad Commission of Texas:
Click here for frequently asked questions on the importance and processes of primacy
“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that it has approved the State of Texas’ application and will be granting Class VI Underground Injection Control (UIC) primacy to the state.
“This approval will give the Railroad Commission of Texas primary enforcement authority for Class VI wells, which are used for the injection of carbon dioxide into deep underground rock formations for permanent storage.
“This approval by the EPA recognizes RRC’s expertise to add Class VI wells to our UIC program, to continue our work of protecting Texans and our natural resources,” said Wei Wang, RRC Executive Director. “Additionally, primacy will streamline the application process and provide the regulatory certainty that is critical to Texas, which is one of the most productive energy regions in the world.”
The RRC has a long history of regulating various classes of injection wells, providing strong oversight and protecting underground sources of drinking water, and its UIC program has been commended by the EPA Region 6 during annual evaluations.
“Approving Texas’ request to be in charge of this critical program is a big step forward for cooperative federalism—as big as the state of Texas,” said Regional Administrator Scott Mason. “The Texas Railroad Commission has demonstrated that the state is ready..
Texas A&M Researchers Develop Metallic Gel That Could Transform Batteries
November 7, 2025 — Researchers at Texas A&M University have developed the first known metallic gel. Unlike everyday gels, like those used in hand sanitizers, hair products or soft contact lenses, this new material is made entirely of metals and can withstand extreme heat. The discovery could be a game changer for energy storage.
The gel is created by mixing two metal powders. When heated, one metal melts into a liquid, while the other stays solid and forms a microscopic scaffold. The liquid metal remains trapped inside this structure, creating a gel-like material that looks solid but contains liquid within.
Everyday gels are semi-solid materials containing an organic backbone holding liquids in place at room temperature. Unlike them, metallic gels require very high temperatures, which, depending on the metals used, can be around 1,000 degrees Celsius or 1,832 degrees Fahrenheit.
“Metallic gels have never been reported before, probably because no one thought liquid metals could be supported by an internal ultrafine skeleton,” said Dr. Michael J. Demkowicz, a professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, who led the research. “What’s surprising in this case is that when the majority component — copper — was melted into liquid, it didn’t just collapse into a puddle. That’s what pure copper would have done,” he said.
Metallic gels made from highly reactive metals with strong electrical attraction, known as electronegativity, can be used as electrodes in liquid metal batteries (LMBs). In simple terms, these metals are very reactive and easily bond with other materials, which helps the battery work efficiently.
LMBs are special types of batteries that store and release large amounts of electrical energy. Instead of using solid materials like most batteries, they use layers of liquid metal. Because the parts are liquid, they do not wear out as quickly as regular batteries.
So far, LMBs have mainly been used in large stationary systems, such as backup power for building applications that need to keep running during a power outage. They have not been used in moving systems because the liquid inside shifts when the battery moves. This can cause a short circuit, which…
ERCOT Partners with Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station to Research Large Loads
November 5, 2025 — The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, Inc. (ERCOT) today announced that it is partnering with the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) to develop detailed generic dynamic models of large loads—such as data centers, crypto, and electrolyzers—and how these loads change their power output during and after a period of grid disturbances (e.g., faults and other power quality events). The partnership is part of ERCOT’s recently announced Grid Research, Innovation, and Transformation (GRIT) program.
“Most of the large loads range from tens to hundreds of megawatts and are based on power electronics technology,” said Prashant Kansal, ERCOT Director of Grid Transformation. “This represents a similar shift to what has been seen in the change from conventional generation to inverter-based generation—only at a much larger scale for loads and will introduce complexities and new ways in which large load interacts with the grid.”
With the significant growth of large loads on the grid, ERCOT is collaborating with TEES to accelerate the development of generic models for various conceptual studies, gain a better understanding of plant-level characteristics, and benchmark models in the lab.
“It is critical to accurately model large load behavior during and immediately after grid disturbances to understand grid stability, which drives how…
Texans Struggle with Rising Energy Costs Amid Grid Strain, New UH-TSU Survey Finds
Key Takeaways from this artlcle:
- Nearly one-third of Texans face high energy burdens, with low-income, minority, and rural communities disproportionately affected due to aging homes and inefficient infrastructure.
- Rising utility costs, grid upgrades, and new industrial demands like data centers threaten to worsen affordability and reliability across the state.
- While conservation and clean energy is a potential solution, public understanding is low and opinions are deeply divided along partisan lines, highlighting a need for broader education and policy focus on both supply and demand.
October 28, 2025 — Texans face growing energy inequality as vulnerable communities, including those along the Gulf Coast, endure high energy burdens, rising utility costs and aging homes, according to a new survey by the University of Houston and Texas Southern University.
The statewide survey, conducted by UH’s Hobby School of Public Affairs and TSU’s Executive Master of Public Administration program in the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs, builds on earlier findings showing widespread anxiety over energy affordability and grid reliability. This has intensified as extreme weather, population growth and new energy demands strain the state’s energy system.
“One of the main things that we’ve been finding in our surveys is that people are concerned about cost of living, and energy costs have become an important component of that because they are expenses that households cannot easily reduce,” said Pablo Pinto, director of UH’s Center for Public Policy and Hobby School professor. “It’s no surprise these issues are front of mind for so many families.”
Nearly 45% of households pay over $200 a month on average for summer electricity. About one-third of Texans spend 7% or more of their income on energy — surpassing the high energy burden threshold of 6%.
Michael O. Adams, director of the Executive Master of Public Administration graduate program at TSU, noted that “the report highlights the growing concern among many Texans about their rising electricity bills, which are consuming a larger and larger share of their household income, especially during the peak-use summer months.”
Low-income, minority and rural communities are most affected, largely due to older housing, inefficient infrastructure and limited financial flexibility. Urban households, by comparison, benefit from more efficient housing and higher average incomes.
Energy burdens are highest in southern…
