Texas
Abbott appointee resigns as chair of power grid regulator
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Peter Lake, chair of the Public Utility Commission — which regulates the state’s power grid — resigned Friday, according to a statement from Gov. Greg Abbott’s office.
Lake was appointed by Abbott in April 2021 following the devastating near-statewide power outages that killed hundreds of people during Winter Storm Uri that February. In that time, he spearheaded a plan to help the state’s grid withstand weather disasters.
But state lawmakers soured on the agency-led proposal, which was approved by the commission in January, at the start of this year’s legislative session. Several lawmakers argued that it didn’t go far enough to ensure new fossil fuel-fired power plants would be built.
Lake had advocated for more of a technology-neutral approach than some lawmakers.
The agency’s plan, which Lake had a heavy hand in crafting, would create a new economic tool called performance credits. The credits would direct funds to companies that operate on-demand power sources, such as natural gas plants and batteries, paid for with an estimated 2% increase in customers’ electricity bills. The idea: A financial incentive would cause companies to build more power plants or keep existing ones in service longer.
But ultimately, state lawmakers crafted and passed legislation with their own idea — which they said would ensure more gas plants are built. The legislation, which awaits the governor’s approval, would create a fund designed to encourage the construction of gas-fueled power plants by providing low-cost loans and paying bonuses for connecting new gas-fueled plants to the state’s primary grid. Another bill, also awaiting approval by Abbott, would change how companies that produce electricity can make money in Texas’ electricity market.
After decades of support for renewable energy, Republican lawmakers have turned against renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. During the 2021 and 2023 legislative sessions, Republican lawmakers pushed legislation to prop up fossil fuel-burning power plants.
Texas produces the most oil and gas of any state in the nation, but renewable energy has threatened the industry’s domination in the electricity sector. Wind turbines and solar panels, which can produce electricity at a very low cost, provided more than a quarter of the state’s electricity last year, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Both of the bills passed this year, which were supported by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, would require dramatic changes to the commission’s plan to harden the grid. PUC spokesperson Ellie Breed said it would be “premature” for the agency to comment on how the legislation could affect the plan before it takes effect.
In a statement provided through a PUC spokesperson, Lake expressed confidence in the state’s electric grid — just a month after he’d warned the grid is at risk for outages this summer.
“When I arrived at the PUC in April 2021, our electric grid was in crisis,” Lake said in a statement. “Thanks to the hard work of the teams here and at ERCOT [the Electric Reliability Council of Texas], and my fellow commissioners, today, our grid is more reliable than ever.”
Lake, in the statement, said the agency had “delivered” on its promise to Texans to keep the lights on.
“While there are challenges ahead, I know the PUC is well positioned to continue the incredible progress we’ve made.”
Lake took over the PUC chair position for DeAnn Walker, who resigned in March 2021 in the aftermath of the power crisis, following several calls for her resignation, including from Patrick.
Michael Webber, an energy resources professor at the University of Texas at Austin, said that Lake was an “excellent public servant” whom he found to be smart and open to new ideas.
“After two years of grueling work at the PUC to tackle some thorny grid issues, I’m not surprised he’s ready for his next challenge,” Webber said.
The governor will announce a new PUC chair in the coming days, and Lake will serve as a commissioner for the agency until July 1.
Disclosure: The University of Texas at Austin has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune’s journalism. Find a complete list of them here.
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Texas
Quinn Ewers injury update: Texas QB’s status for Mississippi State
Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers is not expected to play in the Longhorns’ SEC debut game against Mississippi State on Saturday as he recovers from an abdominal injury, ESPN’s Pete Thamel revealed.
Arch Manning will make his second career start for No. 1 Texas against the Bulldogs today.
Ewers was listed as questionable on the Texas football availability report, indicating that he had a 50 percent chance to play in the game, according to the SEC’s terminology.
But the expectation is that Texas will allow Ewers this week and the team’s open weekend coming up before the Oklahoma game on Oct. 12 to fully recover from the ailment.
Ewers sustained the injury in the second quarter of the Longhorns’ victory against UTSA on Sept. 14, retiring to the sideline and then the locker room for evaluation before returning to the sideline wearing street clothes.
Ewers was able to practice with the team on Tuesday, but was limited by coaches on Wednesday and then again on Thursday, as the team placed more emphasis on giving him rest.
Manning played in relief of Ewers in the UTSA game, and made his first career start the following week with Ewers sidelined, leading Texas to a win over UL Monroe.
Ewers has dealt with some nagging injuries during his collegiate career, missing time briefly in the 2022 and 2023 seasons before the abdominal issue this year.
In three games this season, Ewers has completed 73.4 percent of his passes for 691 yards and eight touchdowns.
More … Texas vs. Mississippi State score prediction by expert football model
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Texas
Top Dallas-area performers in Texas high school football, Week 5
Below you’ll find the top performances in rushing, receiving and passing from Dallas-area Texas high school football players in Week 5.
Rushing
Player, School, Yards
Allijah Harrison, Carrollton Newman Smith, 296
Greg Ard, McKinney North, 291
Christian Rhodes, Lake Highlands, 216
Jermirion Robertson, Lincoln, 214
Deondrae Riden Jr, DeSoto, 206
Ryder Grajo, Frisco Independence, 203
JT Harris, Euless Trinity, 201
Damarion Boozer, Carter, 194
Adarion Nettles, Mansfield Summit, 186
Keyzaylan Ware, Samuell, 176
Legend Bey, North Forney, 176
Tenel Hill, Lewisville, 166
Receiving
Player, School, Yards
Brock Boyd, Southlake Carroll, 213
Xavier Johnson, Richland, 208
Carlton Mims, Little Elm, 196
Dilon Tallie, Arlington Bowie, 177
Jordan Mosley, Princeton, 174
Blake Bates, Richardson Pearce, 164
Jett Hamby, Richardson Pearce, 163
Will Krzysiak, Argyle, 155
Ayson Theus, Duncanville, 153
Ja’Quavius Pipkin, Lancaster, 150
Jayden Beasley, Prosper, 143
Julius Spencer, Garland Lakeview Centennial, 141
Passing
Player, School, Yards
Keelon Russell, Duncanville, 474
Presley Harper, Richardson Pearce, 422
Drew Kates, Richland, 398
Marcus Flowers, Princeton, 389
Maguire Gasperson, Argyle, 387
Christian Hampton, North Garland, 364
Chris Jimerson Jr., North Crowley, 342
Grant Bizjack, Trophy Club Byron Nelson, 335
Brent Rickert, Rockwall, 321
Howard Fisher IV, Wylie East, 319
Edward Griffin, Coppell, 305
Jerry Meyer III, Waxahachie, 298
Find more high school sports coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
Sign up for our FREE HS newsletter
Texas
2024 Texas Election Guide: How to register to vote and make your voice heard
At ABC13 Houston, we believe our democracy works best when everyone participates.
This year, Texas voters will cast ballots for our next president and vice president, U.S. Senator, congressional and state representatives, and decide on multiple judicial races.
Your last day to register to vote is Monday, Oct. 7, 2024.
Check your Texas voter registration | Register to vote (print, sign and mail)
Find your polling place
Texas does not offer online voter registration, but you can visit VoteTexas.gov to fill out, print, sign and mail your application. To be eligible to vote in the November general election, your registration form must be received or postmarked by the Oct. 7 deadline.
You can also register to vote in person at your local Voter Registrar’s office.
Even if you’ve voted before, you should still double-check your registration.
More than a million Texans have been removed from voter rolls since 2021, and the League of Women Voters told ABC13 that some voters have been removed if they didn’t register in the last two federal elections.
Early voting will begin Monday, Oct. 21 and run through Friday, Nov. 1.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Voting by mail in Texas is limited to voters who are:
- Ages 65 and older
- Sick or disabled
- Expected to give birth within three weeks of Election Day
- Out of the county on Election Day and during the early voting period
- Confined in jail, but otherwise eligible
- Civilly committed under Chapter 841 of the Texas Health and Safety Code
The last day to register to vote by mail in Texas is Friday, Oct. 25.
Click here to download an application to vote by mail.
What you can (and can’t) bring to the polls
All voters must present one of the following forms of photo ID:
- Texas driver license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
- Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS
- Texas personal identification card issued by DPS
- Texas handgun license issued by DPS
- United States military identification card containing the person’s photograph
- United States citizenship certificate containing the person’s photograph
- United States passport (book or card)
You can still vote if you do not possess or cannot reasonably obtain one of these photo IDs. You will need to fill out a Reasonable Impediment Declaration at the polls and show a copy or original of one of the following approved IDs:
- Certified Domestic Birth Certificate or Court Admissible Birth Document
- Current utility bill
- Bank statement
- Government check
- Paycheck
- Government document with your name and an address, including your voter registration certificate
If you need assistance, voters may request help by any person other than the voter’s employer, an agent of their employer, or an officer or agent of a labor union to which the voter belongs.
You are not permitted to use a wireless communications device or any device which records audio, images or video within 100 feet of a voting station. This includes smartphones, digital cameras or sound recorders. Election judges are authorized to require anyone to turn off or deactivate any device.
While you may be excited to vote for a particular candidate, you should not wear any campaign t-shirts, buttons, hats or other accessories to the polls. This is considered electioneering, which is not permitted within 100 feet of the voting stations.
What’s on my ballot?
For a glance at what you’ll see at the top of your ballot, click here (PDF).
For down ballot races, see your county election authority’s website for details:
Harris Co.
Fort Bend Co.
Montgomery Co.
Galveston Co.
Chambers Co.
Liberty Co.
Waller Co.
Austin Co.
Brazoria Co.
Calhoun Co.
Colorado Co.
Grimes Co.
Jackson Co.
Matagorda Co.
Polk Co.
San Jacinto Co.
Trinity Co.
Walker Co.
Washington Co.
Wharton Co.
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