The Texas Dispatch

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[The Texas Dispatch @Texas_Dispatch]

Can Texas produce enough electricity to power the artificial intelligence revolution, or are the state's massive data center projections creating an infrastructure bubble?

Host is @bradswail talks with @joshdr83 , a research scientist at the University of Texas at Austin, nonresident fellow at Columbia University, founding partner of IdeaSmiths LLC, and host of the Energy Capital podcast, joins Brad Swail on Texas Talks to examine the future of Texas' electricity grid, the explosive growth of AI data centers, and the challenges facing ERCOT.

Rhodes discusses the current state of the Texas power grid, including improvements made since Winter Storm Uri and remaining concerns about natural gas supply during extreme weather. He explains how new solar generation and battery storage helped Texas manage record electricity demand without the dramatic price spikes that have accompanied previous summer peaks.

The conversation then turns to projections suggesting Texas could need approximately 400 gigawatts of electricity capacity to accommodate future demand. Rhodes argues that reaching those levels within the proposed timeframe would require an unprecedented expansion of power generation, transmission infrastructure, manufacturing capacity, and construction resources.

Brad and Joshua explore whether the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure and data centers resembles an economic bubble, what happens if proposed projects never materialize, and whether excess power generation could ultimately benefit ordinary Texans through lower electricity prices.

They also discuss the potential of small modular nuclear reactors and geothermal energy, the rising cost of natural gas turbines and transformers, and the question of who should pay for the infrastructure required by large technology companies.

Beyond electricity demand, the discussion examines community concerns surrounding data center water consumption, cooling systems, noise pollution, local tax incentives, and the economic benefits these facilities can provide.

Finally, Rhodes explains ERCOT's Batch Zero process, recent efforts to bring greater accountability to large-load connection requests, and what he hopes the 90th Texas Legislature will prioritize when developing future energy policies.

From nuclear power and grid reliability to artificial intelligence, data centers, and electricity costs, this episode explores how Texas can balance economic growth, technological innovation, and affordable, reliable energy without placing unnecessary burdens on everyday Texans.

@TXTalksPodcast

[The Texas Dispatch @Texas_Dispatch]

Texas contract drafters lean toward dropping U.S. mail as a way to send home-sale termination notices. Postmarks no longer reliably show when mail was sent.
@TXRealtors
https://t.co/1fBizG20ow

[The Texas Dispatch @Texas_Dispatch]

HHSC: about 69% of Medicaid-approved in-home nursing hours for medically fragile kids were billed in 2023-24. Cause of the gap not yet established.

@TexasDFPS
https://t.co/zuorINnFAi

[The Texas Dispatch @Texas_Dispatch]

Texas schools now have 24 hours, not 48, to report suspected student abuse or neglect. The new Texas Education Agency rule takes effect Oct. 25, and it also lets TEA investigate how schools handled reports even without a complaint.

@teainfo @TXAG @TXsecofstate
https://t.co/4rdA5QnHpY

[The Texas Dispatch @Texas_Dispatch]

ERCOT’s large-load queue, mostly data centers, has passed 400 gigawatts. UT Austin researcher Joshua Rhodes says that number is unrealistic, but the data center boom is still real.

@GregAbbott @ercot_iso @utaustin @ColumbiaUEnergy @ideasmithsLLC @austinenergy @generac @joshdr83
https://t.co/3Y2807Ubkl

[The Texas Dispatch @Texas_Dispatch]

Texas veterinary complaints nearly doubled to 1,662 last year. Board staff closed 68 over the summer without a board vote, and four pet owners asked the board this week to reopen their cases.

@tdlrlicense @TX_Sunset @SOAH_TX
https://t.co/Ty6kQ1GpEJ

[The Texas Dispatch @Texas_Dispatch]

The Edwards Aquifer Authority has eased pumping cuts for large permit holders to Stage 2. But SAWS says Stage 3 watering rules are still in effect for San Antonio customers.

@EdwardsAquifer @MySAWS @USGS
https://t.co/LdhiGb7oH8

[The Texas Dispatch @Texas_Dispatch]

USDA has confirmed screwworm in an elk harvested on a Pecos County game ranch. It’s the first wildlife case in the U.S. during this outbreak.

@USDA @USDA_APHIS @TAHC @TPWDnews
https://t.co/MsmdDj2Yp9

[The Texas Dispatch @Texas_Dispatch]

New here from this one? We cover the 99% of Texas policy that never makes the headlines. Get the latest in your inbox.
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Watch or listen to the episode on your preferred platform.

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Apple Podcast: https://t.co/DQcqibaAoa
Youtube: https://t.co/VMqYu6UQR7

[The Texas Dispatch @Texas_Dispatch]

Can Texas produce enough electricity to power the artificial intelligence revolution, or are the state's massive data center projections creating an infrastructure bubble?

Host is @bradswail talks with @joshdr83 , a research scientist at the University of Texas at Austin, nonresident fellow at Columbia University, founding partner of IdeaSmiths LLC, and host of the Energy Capital podcast, joins Brad Swail on Texas Talks to examine the future of Texas' electricity grid, the explosive growth of AI data centers, and the challenges facing ERCOT.

Rhodes discusses the current state of the Texas power grid, including improvements made since Winter Storm Uri and remaining concerns about natural gas supply during extreme weather. He explains how new solar generation and battery storage helped Texas manage record electricity demand without the dramatic price spikes that have accompanied previous summer peaks.

The conversation then turns to projections suggesting Texas could need approximately 400 gigawatts of electricity capacity to accommodate future demand. Rhodes argues that reaching those levels within the proposed timeframe would require an unprecedented expansion of power generation, transmission infrastructure, manufacturing capacity, and construction resources.

Brad and Joshua explore whether the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure and data centers resembles an economic bubble, what happens if proposed projects never materialize, and whether excess power generation could ultimately benefit ordinary Texans through lower electricity prices.

They also discuss the potential of small modular nuclear reactors and geothermal energy, the rising cost of natural gas turbines and transformers, and the question of who should pay for the infrastructure required by large technology companies.

Beyond electricity demand, the discussion examines community concerns surrounding data center water consumption, cooling systems, noise pollution, local tax incentives, and the economic benefits these facilities can provide.

Finally, Rhodes explains ERCOT's Batch Zero process, recent efforts to bring greater accountability to large-load connection requests, and what he hopes the 90th Texas Legislature will prioritize when developing future energy policies.

From nuclear power and grid reliability to artificial intelligence, data centers, and electricity costs, this episode explores how Texas can balance economic growth, technological innovation, and affordable, reliable energy without placing unnecessary burdens on everyday Texans.

@TXTalksPodcast

[The Texas Dispatch @Texas_Dispatch]

Comanche County Medical Center is slated for $6.83 million in Rural Texas Strong grants, but none of its three awards has a signed contract. HHSC says a grant isn’t awarded until the contract is fully executed.

@GregAbbott
https://t.co/APhLOFY5mU

[The Texas Dispatch @Texas_Dispatch]

Nov. 3 ballots: $62.9B in local bonds, of which about $53.7B is for new developer districts. At least 35 school districts want operating rates above the cap. Early voting is open.

@TexasObserver @tasb_news @accdistrict @mesquiteisdtx @GeorgetownISD @SpringISD @delvalleisd @teainfo @txcomptroller @DallasFed @dallascountytx @CyFairISD @austinisd @SocorroISD @Texas2036 @TexasTribune
https://t.co/ULZqZRsd3p

[The Texas Dispatch @Texas_Dispatch]

Hays County draft rules: data centers must meet water and power limits to get county incentives. Public hearing Oct. 27 at 11 a.m. No vote scheduled yet.

@ercot_iso
https://t.co/8gk7TLQDEd

[The Texas Dispatch @Texas_Dispatch]

When Do You Shut a Government Program Down? | Rep. @CarlTepper @bradswail

Austin spends about $35 million a year on homelessness and, Tepper says, it is worse. He contrasts that with a fight over $5 million for emergency services, then asks the question the hearing was actually about: at what point do you end a contract that is not delivering?

Rep. Carl Tepper (R–Lubbock) on local governments, NGO contracts, people rolling off boards into the vendors they oversaw, and why he would rather not have had the program in the first place.

[The Texas Dispatch @Texas_Dispatch]

Texas diesel is at $5.77 a gallon, up $2.66 in a year. Grocery prices haven’t caught up yet, but economists say they’re likely to as freight contracts reprice.

@michiganstateu @Truck_Research @NACSonline @USDOTFHWA @BLS_gov @USDA @TexasTribune @GregAbbott
https://t.co/BqJJaDjAFM

[The Texas Dispatch @Texas_Dispatch]

Comanche County Medical Center is slated for $6.8M in state rural health grants, but none of its three contracts is signed yet. Statewide, only 97 of 312 grant lines are finalized.

@GregAbbott
https://t.co/APhLOFY5mU

[The Texas Dispatch @Texas_Dispatch]

Caldwell County commissioners will hear a developer’s plan Thursday for Mirada, a 3,130-acre project off SH 80. The agreement isn’t public yet, and it’s still unknown how many homes are planned or who pays for roads and water.

https://t.co/H8YehJT2Z8

[The Texas Dispatch @Texas_Dispatch]

Texas is building a free academy for rural hospital leaders. The committee writing its curriculum first met in July and is abolished Sept. 1, 2027, done or not. No curriculum has been adopted yet.

@TTUSystem @utsystem @txst @tamusystem
https://t.co/HLW3l72LAq

[The Texas Dispatch @Texas_Dispatch]

PUC approves 180 MW Silver Basin data center behind a Pecos County solar farm, overriding TNMP’s objections. Amazon’s 1,200 MW Comanche Peak plan is next, decision by about Dec. 12.

@TNMP @AEPTexas @amazonnews @ercot_iso @oncor
https://t.co/F2ZAcLmDtB

[The Texas Dispatch @Texas_Dispatch]

The Counties That Fund New Mexico Want Out | Rep. @CarlTepper @bradswail

Four oil-producing counties on the Texas line generate about a third of New Mexico’s income. Their legislators asked to join Texas. Santa Fe has not agreed.

Rep. Carl Tepper (R–Lubbock) explains who started it, why those counties already live off Lubbock, what the process requires in both capitals and in Congress, and why he puts the land at about $11 billion. He also gets into frontier counties, six-man football, and what those few people produce.

[The Texas Dispatch @Texas_Dispatch]

A Texas Dispatch estimate finds McLennan and Nueces counties landfill or litter about 390 million bottles and cans a year, worth roughly $7.9 million in scrap. That’s more than the estimated cost of picking up litter in the Waco and Corpus Christi areas.

@BushSchool @tamu @alpekofficial @NAPCOR_PET @KRIS6News @uscensusbureau
https://t.co/LyrAw5qilv