Opinion
Natural gas was a big reason for the blackout, so why do lawmakers want to rely even more on the fuel?
Blocking communities from going all-electric doesn’t solve the natural gas system problems.
By Luke Metzger
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After a blackout caused in large part by shortages of natural gas, some Texas legislators want to make the state even more dependent on gas.
This week, House Speaker Dade Phelan announced a package of bills aimed at preventing future blackouts after the recent devastating power outages. Some are good ideas, including bills to add a consumer advocate to the board of Electric Reliability Council of Texas, to require weatherization of power plants and natural gas infrastructure, and to create a statewide emergency alert system for natural disasters.