As TEBA’s Bryn Baker says in this Texas Tribune story, “These resources materially contribute to having enough power on the system and also being able to do it most affordably. (Maintaining) the ability for all resources to play in the market is critical for Texas to maintain its energy leadership, as well as economic leadership.
Texas is in the middle of a years-long conversation about how to generate energy to meet the need for speed: how will the state’s power grid serve fast-growing new loads and the economic benefits they bring?
The question of how we move electricity around our great state is just as important.
The Austin American Statesman on Sunday published an op-ed by Bryn Baker, the Texas Energy Buyers Alliance’s (TEBA’s) senior director of policy, that highlights the state’s profound opportunity to plan and invest in a transmission system that will meet the state’s 21 st century needs. She also notes the very real economic danger Texas will face if leaders don’t rise to this challenge…
In total, we estimate that not allowing renewables past 2025 would result in about $115 billion higher wholesale market costs in ERCOT between 2025 and 2040.
Across all regions, we estimate that renewables would reduce energy costs by about 12% for commercial customers.
Austin, Texas (February 10, 2025) — A Texas Energy Buyers Alliance (TEBA) report released today shows that if the Texas Legislature passes laws that slow or stop renewable energy and storage development, electricity costs will go up significantly and it would leave the grid less reliable.
The study finds that blocking future renewable energy and storage projects will cost Texans about $115 billion in higher wholesale prices over the next 15 years for both residential and commercial consumers in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) market
The study, conducted by IdeaSmiths LLC, found that renewable energy resources reduce electricity costs by 12% for the average Texas business. In some regions, especially across West Texas, savings are even higher — up to 18%.
A new Texas Energy Buyers Alliance study shows that Texans will pay about $115 billion more in wholesale ERCOT market costs over the next 15 years if the Texas Legislature passes laws that slow or stop renewable energy and storage development. Such laws would also leave the grid less reliable.
The Texas Energy Buyers Alliance (TEBA) congratulates Governor Greg Abbott and the Public Utility Commission (PUC) of Texas on the Texas Advanced Nuclear Reactor Working Group’s final report and policy recommendations, which were released this week. Bryn Baker, TEBA’s senior director of policy innovation, released the following statement:
The Texas Energy Buyers Alliance (TEBA) works with small and large employers across Texas to reduce energy costs, protect the state’s competitive energy market, and ensure our infrastructure meets the state’s future needs.
A new TEBA study shows that renewables saved Texans about $21.6 billion between 2010 and 2022.
A relatively modest investment in grid-enhancing technologies can almost double the capacity on existing lines.
“Texas’ economic miracle is due in part to low-cost clean energy. If we want the miracle to continue, we need to improve reliability, add dispatchable generation, and control costs by continuing on Texas’ transformational, nation-leading clean energy path. These goals are not mutually exclusive.”