46: Adapting the Texas Power Grid to Meet Evolving Energy Needs

Since Winter Storm Uri knocked out power throughout Texas in February 2021, causing billions of dollars in damage and hundreds of deaths, preparing the Texas grid for extreme weather has been a top priority for the state. But the power grid — serviced by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) — faces other pressures, too. Population growth, economic expansion, increased adoption of electric vehicles, and cryptocurrency mining have all placed increased demands on the state’s energy infrastructure. In this episode, experts in energy and economics explore how Texas can adapt the grid to meet the its evolving energy needs. A transcript of the episode is available here. This text was AI-generated and has not been through editorial review. Discussants Peter R. Hartley, Ph.D. Baker Institute Rice Faculty Scholar and George A. Peterkin Professor of Economics, Rice University Kenneth B. Medlock III, Ph.D. James A. Baker, III, and Susan G. Baker Fellow in Energy and Resource Economics and Senior Director, Center for Energy Studies Ed Emmett Fellow in Energy and Transportation Policy This conversation was recorded on April 1, 2024. Read our latest research on the Texas grid.