Hurricanes Are Coming, and Texas Is Exposed
Hurricane season is bearing down on Texas, and the state's power grid is far from ready. Governor Greg Abbott met with energy executives to discuss preparedness, touting new poles, pre-staged crews, and a stronger grid. Yet these steps feel like patchwork when storms are growing fiercer due to a warming planet. Millions of Texans face the risk of blackouts, and the system's weaknesses are glaring.
Abbott called Texas the 'energy capital of the world,' but that title means little when Hurricane Beryl left 2.2 million customers without power for days in 2024. Families endured heat, businesses closed, and emergency services stretched thin. The governor's promises of readiness don't hold up against a grid designed for milder weather, a design proving inadequate for the intense storms we face now.
This problem isn't new. Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and Superstorm Sandy in 2012 showed how floods and winds can paralyze power systems. The 2021 Texas freeze exposed similar vulnerabilities. Climate change makes these events more frequent and severe, yet Texas keeps applying short-term fixes instead of tackling the root issue.
Resilience requires more than emergency plans. It demands a grid built to withstand tomorrow's challenges, with clean energy and robust regulations at its core. Vulnerable communities, from Houston's working-class neighborhoods to small coastal towns, can't afford another season of empty assurances.
Why does Texas keep falling behind? The focus remains on quick wins over transformative change. Energy executives talk up their investments, but without a bold shift to address climate risks, the state's grid will continue to falter when it's needed most.
Clean Energy as the Key to Resilience
Renewables like solar and wind, backed by battery storage, are Texas' best bet for a reliable grid. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory shows that a grid with 60 percent clean energy reduces blackout risks by nearly half, thanks to diverse resources and flexible systems. Texas has the land and sunlight to lead this charge, so what's holding it back?
Other states offer proof of what's possible. Vermont's Green Mountain Power used solar microgrids to keep 20,000 customers powered during a 2024 ice storm, cutting outage times by 75 percent. California now requires utilities to ensure critical facilities can operate independently for three days. Texas could adopt these models to keep hospitals, schools, and shelters running during hurricanes.
Some energy providers argue that gas plants are more dependable, but this claim doesn't hold up. Gas supply chains often fail during storms, with pipelines clogging and deliveries stalling. Modern solar and wind systems, with advanced inverters, stabilize grids faster than gas turbines, according to World Economic Forum research. Texas' 4.2 gigawatts of new battery storage in 2025 proves renewables can deliver when it counts.
Federal funds are fueling progress. The Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provide $10.5 billion for projects like undergrounding lines and building microgrids. Texas is using some of this for coastal sensors and mobile power units. But without a full commitment to clean energy, these upgrades won't address the deeper flaws in the system.
CenterPoint's $200 million investment in 3,000 storm-resistant poles is commendable, but it's a drop in the bucket. Deloitte estimates a $1.4 trillion need for grid upgrades by 2030 to handle climate risks and rising demand. Texas needs to prioritize renewables over fossil fuels to build a grid that endures.
The real barrier is political inertia. Leaders who favor short-term gains over long-term stability resist the regulations needed to push utilities toward clean energy. Texas' 2025 legislature rejected barriers to wind and solar, showing that market forces can align with climate goals. It's time to build on that momentum.
Stronger Oversight to Protect Communities
A resilient grid needs tough regulations, a framework that extends far beyond executive meetings. States like New York and California show how it's done, linking utility profits to shorter outages and better climate planning through laws like SB 852. Texas could implement similar rules, holding energy providers accountable for blackouts and rewarding investments in clean energy and microgrids.
FEMA's 2025 framework for public-private partnerships proves that coordinated planning cuts restoration times by up to 24 hours. Florida's emergency response got 70 percent of grocery stores back online within three days after Hurricane Debby. Texas' Senate Bill 6, which prioritizes residential power during crises, offers a starting point; however, it lacks the teeth to enforce climate-focused upgrades.
Some defend Texas' current approach, citing ERCOT's 27 percent reserve margin for 2025 as evidence of strength. But extra capacity provides no help when lines fall or substations flood. NERC warns that ERCOT risks shortages during extreme heat without mandatory climate risk planning. Relying on voluntary utility efforts leaves Texans vulnerable.
Equity is critical. Low-income and rural communities suffer most during outages, often waiting longest for power. States like California direct 40 percent of resilience funds to disadvantaged areas. Texas could fund solar microgrids for community centers and clinics in at-risk regions, ensuring no one is left in the dark.
Act Now to Secure Texas' Future
The 2025 hurricane season will test Texas' grid, and the time for half-steps is over. Governor Abbott's meeting with energy providers highlighted some progress, but it's not enough when storms threaten lives and livelihoods. A resilient grid demands bold action—embracing clean energy, enforcing strict oversight, and protecting vulnerable communities.
Other states prove this approach works. Vermont's microgrids and California's regulations show how to blend resilience with climate action. Texas has the resources and ingenuity to lead, but it needs leaders who prioritize the future over outdated systems. The $90 billion in U.S. climate damages in 2023 underscores the cost of inaction.
Will Texas step up? Every resident deserves a grid that holds strong against the storms ahead. Demand action now—before the next hurricane plunges us into darkness.