A nuclear reactor isn’t the first image conjured by the words “Texas energy.” But that’s quickly changing — and must — as the state’s energy demands balloon.

Texas has never needed more reliable and affordable energy than now. Within five years, electricity demand could more than double, straining our grid by truly Texan proportions, according to a higher-end estimate by ERCOT.

That demand is driven in large part by the rapid growth of new data centers, which are critical to advancing our strategic interests in artificial intelligence. But it’s also about personal choice. With a welcoming business environment, people from across the country have been choosing Texas as the new home for their families and businesses, pushing the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex to become the fastest-growing metropolitan area in the country.

This is a perfect example of the Texas miracle. Yet, the scale and speed of this growth is unprecedented, and we cannot rely solely on existing tools and market incentives. To meet rising Texas demand, we need to embrace a bigger vision for our energy mix. We need to go nuclear.

The recent executive orders issued by the Trump administration are a clear signal that America — and Texas — are ready to win on nuclear power. They are also an important step toward the bold action needed to ensure American technologies can compete against state-owned entities from Russia and China. We are at a pivotal moment and must act on the opportunity to embrace nuclear energy to protect our country’s energy, technological and economic strength.

Today, reliability matters more than ever. With hot summer days and icy winter nights, the grid is constantly whipsawed between the peaks and valleys of demand. Data centers, with large energy demands of their own, need a stable baseload of power to run smoothly. Curtailing operations even for a short time will incur massive costs.

Nuclear energy is better than any other energy source at consistently producing at expected levels year round. Wind and solar generate only when the weather allows. Natural gas can be ramped up and down, but it can (and often does) face infrastructure constraints, along with other supply chain challenges.

The good news is Texas and its leaders are positioning the state to be the national leader in advanced nuclear energy. Through university-led initiatives, state investment and strong bipartisan support, the momentum for more investment in Texas advanced nuclear has never been greater.

As Jimmy Glotfelty, a former member of the Public Utility Commission of Texas, noted: “Everybody in the nuclear space would like to build plants here in Texas. We are the low regulatory, low cost state. We have the supply chain. We have the labor.” Simply put, we know how to build big things.

My company, X-energy, is proposing to install next-generation nuclear facilities in Texas at commercial scale. We will provide Dow’s UCC Seadrift manufacturing site in Calhoun County with reliable and clean power and industrial steam with our Xe-100 small modular reactors.

Three years ago, China beat the U.S. and connected its first commercial advanced nuclear reactor to the grid. China’s nuclear program is growing faster than any other nation’s. If this trend persists, China will overtake the U.S. as the world’s top nuclear energy producer by 2030. We cannot let China win the advanced nuclear race, and we’re already well behind.

The Texas energy sector has underpinned America’s global dominance in many decades over the last century, supporting communities with good-paying jobs and bolstering national security by reducing our reliance on foreign energy sources. Nuclear is now a critical piece of this energy puzzle, and Texas can — indeed must — lead the next generation of this technology.

The time to expand nuclear energy in Texas is now.

J. Clay Sell is CEO of X-energy. He was deputy secretary of energy in the George W. Bush administration.

Thousands of teachers across North Texas could soon see a significant boost in their paychecks, thanks to a record-breaking school funding bill that’s now headed to Governor Greg Abbott’s desk.

House Bill 2, an $8.5 billion funding plan, cleared its final legislative hurdle on Thursday. Governor Abbott has promised to quickly sign the bill, which aims to address teacher shortages and improve retention across Texas. If signed, teachers could start seeing the raises take effect in 2026.

Nearly half of the funding – $4.2 billion – is earmarked for teacher pay. In larger school districts such as Dallas, Fort Worth, Frisco, and Plano, teachers with at least three years of experience will receive a $2,500 raise. Those with five or more years in the classroom will receive $5,000.

Raises are nearly double for teachers in smaller districts with fewer than 5,000 students.

The bill also includes $500 million in raises for other school staff like librarians, cafeteria workers, and custodians.

The funding package has drawn wide support from education advocates and business leaders alike, who see it as a step toward addressing long-standing concerns over school resources and student outcomes.

“It’s not just how much money are we going to give our schools that is a critical question to ask, but it is just as much how are we going to invest those funds and how are we going to measure that return on that investment,” said Kate Greer, a consultant with Commit Partnership, during a summit in April.

“Under-education of our young adults represents significant limitations on our business community,” added Jarrad Toussant with the Dallas Regional Chamber.

However, House Bill 2 didn’t pass without fierce negotiations. It was approved alongside the controversial school choice measure that allows taxpayer money to fund private school education through education savings accounts. Governor Abbott has already signed that legislation into law.

• In addition to teacher raises, House Bill 2 also provides:
• $430 million for school security improvements
• $850 million for special education services
• $677 million for early learning programs
• A new $1.3 billion allotment for fixed district costs like insurance, utilities, and transportation

Governor Abbott has until June 22 to sign House Bill 2 and other legislation passed during this session.