Austin, TX
Nuclear energy plan aims to improve Texas grid
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) on Monday released a nuclear energy plan aimed at strengthening the state’s power grid.
The plan is laid out in the Texas Advanced Nuclear Reactor Working Group Report, which Abbott directed PUCT to create last year. The report outlines the use and benefits of advanced nuclear reactors (ANRs) in Texas.
The report lists five main benefits of nuclear power in the state:
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Enhancing energy security by providing power for urban centers, ports, oil and gas regions, industrial facilities, data centers and military bases
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Improving grid reliability through nuclear power, as opposed to coal, wind and solar power
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Economic development and industry opportunities by adding jobs in the state
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First-in-nation advantages by being “the first state with an efficient ANR strategy”
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Global market potential by establishing the state as the preferred supplier for U.S.-based ANR technology
Abbott said that the nuclear energy plan would also provide more affordable power to Texans.
“Texas is the energy capital of the world, and we are ready to be No. 1 in advanced nuclear power,” Abbott said. “…I thank Public Utility Commissioner Jimmy Glotfelty and the members of the Texas Advanced Nuclear Reactor Working Group for working tirelessly to put Texas on the path to be the global leader in advanced nuclear power. As we build an advanced nuclear industry in our great state, we will ensure Texas remains a leader in energy and strengthen the Texas grid to meet the demands of our growing state.”
According to the report, these Texas regions would be likely candidates for ANR development:
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Coastal: Galveston, Port of Corpus Christi Authority, Beaumont, Houston Ship Channel
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Rio Grande Valley: Port of Brownsville
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Inland: Victoria, government/university lands, industrial complexes, the Houston area, the Permian Basin, non-ERCOT areas, Central Texas, the Metroplex
It also recommends creating a Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Authority at an existing state agency to “to identify and study obstacles and opportunities and provide recommendations to future Legislatures to ensure Texas is the global leader in advance nuclear energy and technologies.”
Population growth in Texas continues to put immense strain on the state power grid, which has lead to historic blackouts during severe weather. Most notably, the major power crisis in February 2021 caused by the grid’s failure left over 4.5 million homes and businesses without power. Approximately 246 people died, most of them from hypothermia.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas’ highway system dropped two spots since 2025, and now ranks at No. 27 in the country for its cost-effectiveness and overall conditions, according to the Reason Foundation’s 2026 Highway Report.
The report assessed pavement conditions, fatalities, deficient bridges, infrastructure costs and congestion levels across the United States. Texas earned the following rankings:
- 33rd in urban interstate pavement conditions
- 21st in rural interstate pavement conditions
- 39th in urban arterial pavement conditions
- 12th in rural arterial pavement conditions
- 3rd in structurally deficient bridges
- 26th in urban fatality rate
- 42nd in rural fatality rate
- 41st in traffic congestion
“More than 42,000 of the nation’s 618,923 highway bridges, nearly 7%, are still structurally deficient. Arizona, Nevada, and Texas reported the lowest percentages of deficient bridges,” the report said.
The full report can be found online.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Small hail peppered the Austin area as strong thunderstorms moved through Saturday.
A few of the storms dropped rain and up to pea-sized hail in San Marcos, Dripping Springs and the Austin metro area.
A Severe Thunderstorm Warning was issued for Williamson County around 8:15 p.m., and then canceled shortly after. However, it was enough for the Two Step Inn music festival in Georgetown to cancel shows for the rest of the evening. Event organizers say the festival will run as planned Sunday.
KXAN’s First Warning Weather team is monitoring the storms. We will update this post as the evening continues.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Society Sons of the American Revolution unveiled a new monument at the Texas State Cemetery on Saturday, dedicated to Texas Revolutionary War soldiers.
“We must educate every generation about why it is that America grew from a tenuous 13 colonies into the most powerful country in the history of the world,” said Governor Abbott. “This monument here is an enduring testament to the heroes who fought for the freedom that is unique to America.”
The monument was dedicated to 69 soldiers who fought in the American Revolutionary War and later settled in Texas, according to a press release.
Among those that were honored, Abbott recognized:
- José Santiago Seguín, grandfather of Texas Revolutionary hero Juan Seguín.
- Peter Sides, who fought in the 2nd Battalion of the North Carolina Regiment of the Colonial Army, and was later killed in the 1813 Battle of Medina, fighting for Mexican independence against Spain.
- Antonio Gil Y’Barbo, the founder of Nacogdoches.
- William Sparks, who fought as a mounted rifleman in the American Revolution and later settled in Texas. He had two sons and two grandsons who fought in the Texas Revolution.
“This year marks the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, which not only gave freedom to the British colonies of North America, but inspired movements for freedom and liberty all over the world,” said TSSAR President Mel Oller. “Texans played a role in the war too, and it’s important to recognize them, and the sacrifices they made for our freedom.”
At the monument unveiling, Abbott was also inducted into the Sons of the American Revolution and received its Silver Good Citizenship Medal.
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