Here’s what’s in Trump’s GOP megabill and how it will affect Texans
The wide-ranging bill is the vehicle for much of Trump’s domestic policy agenda, containing key changes that will affect daily life for millions of Texans. Full Story
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![House Speaker Mike Johnson with Republican leaders signs the Trump's One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on July 3, 2025.]()
Credit: Gripas Yuri/ABACA via REUTERS -
Texas coastal town in “David and Goliath” fight against planned ammonia plant
Ingleside residents are resisting a “charm offensive” as Europe’s largest gas user plans a new facility in their small community across the bay from Corpus Christi. Full Story
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![The Enbridge Ingleside Energy Center, the largest crude oil storage and export terminal by volume in the United States, in Ingleside, Texas.]()
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Inside Elon Musk’s stellar year at the Texas Capitol
While Elon Musk took Washington, D.C., by storm, his company representatives and lobbyists were also notching up big political wins in Texas. Full Story
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![An illustration of Elon Musk standing in front of machines related to his businesses and the Texas Capitol in Austin.]()
Credit: Glenn Harvey for The Texas Tribune and ProPublica -
Oil companies want to sell their wastewater. The Texas Supreme Court decided who gets the profits.
The ruling comes as more companies are seeking to turn a profit on what has long been considered a vexing waste stream. Full Story
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![Fracking's water demand requires the construction of ponds like these, which store millions of gallons of fresh water. Aug. 21, 2013.]()
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Senate passes GOP’s tax and spending bill with Cornyn, Cruz priorities included
The package includes $13.5 billion to reimburse states for border spending. It is expected to meet resistance in the House from some Texas Republicans. Full Story
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![The U.S. Capitol in Washington in January 2022.]()
Credit: Shuran Huang for The Texas Tribune -
At a novel Austin-area neighborhood, geothermal energy keeps utility bills low
The development in Manor taps into the natural heat deep underground to run heating and cooling systems for the planned 7,500 homes and commercial buildings. Full Story
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![Homes in the Whisper Valley development seen in Manor, Texas on Tuesday June 17, 2025.]()
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Texas creating task forces to target Permian Basin oil field thefts
Texas lawmakers passed a suite of bills that officials said are crucial to combat losses in the state’s largest oil field. Full Story
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![A semi-truck waits to turn onto Texas State Highway 158 after disposing of its load at a salt-water disposal site Tuesday, June 25, 2024, south of Midland.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
Supreme Court clears the way for temporary nuclear waste storage in Texas and New Mexico
The court’s decision is not a final ruling in favor of the licenses, but it removes a major roadblock. Full Story
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![The entrance to the Waste Control Specialists site, where radioactive and hazardous waste is being stored on Jan. 17, 2021.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman for The Texas Tribune -
Developers propose more than 100 new gas power plants in Texas
New research reveals the planned expansion of gas-fired electrical generation to power artificial intelligence and other heavy industries. Full Story
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![The Hays Energy Project, a 990 MW gas-fired power plant near San Marcos, pictured on May 27, 2025.]()
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Lawmakers passed bills this session to boost the state power grid but failed to limit renewables
With demand expected to soar, the Legislature passed bills aimed at boosting supply and making the grid more reliable. Bills to impose more regulations on renewables died. Full Story
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![A pump jack operates near a gas turbine power plant in the Permian Basin oil field outside of Odessa, Texas, U.S. February 18, 2025.]()
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Data centers are building their own gas power plants in Texas
Not long ago, developers of the massive server farms talked about powering them with wind and solar energy. Now they’re bypassing the grid and building their own gas-fired power plants on site. Full Story
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Credit: Dylan Baddour/Inside Climate News -
Texas allows state agency investment in BlackRock after firm steps away from climate initiatives
The firm’s removal from a state list of companies “boycotting” the fossil fuel industry was lauded by Comptroller Glenn Hegar as a “meaningful victory” for Texas’ energy economy. Full Story
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![BlackRock offices in New York City.]()
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TribCast: Did lawmakers improve Texas’ infrastructure?
Will Texas be able to keep the lights on and water flowing til the next legislative session? Full Story
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![A crew worker attempts to extinguish a leakage as they work to upgrade pipes and valves at a North Alamo Water Supply Corporation water plant in Donna on July 18, 2024.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Watch: Texas policy experts discuss how lawmakers addressed education, infrastructure needs this year
Policy experts discussed a new school funding bill, a $20 billion package to keep up with water demand and the state’s energy fund. Full Story
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Oil companies win protections from Texas Legislature ahead of selling fracking water
At least four companies say they are prepared to treat the water well enough to be released into rivers in West Texas. Environmental groups say the state is moving too fast. Full Story
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![Produced water ponds, constructed by Martin Water, in Lenorah, on Feb. 24, 2024. The Railroad Commission approved the construction of the ponds, used to treat and recycle produced water from fracking, next to the Circle 6 Baptist Camp in the Permian Basin.]()
Credit: Julian Mancha for The Texas Tribune/Inside Climate News -
Texas oil companies face new deadlines to plug inactive wells
Senate Bill 1150, which is on its way to Gov. Greg Abbott, is a rare example of the Texas Legislature regulating the state’s oil and gas industry. Full Story
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![A plugged well on the Scouras’ property in Lee County on July 12, 2021. The Scourases are two of many Lee County residents whose water sources have dried up as a result of Vista Ridge Pipeline Project.]()
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Lawmakers near deal to spend $20 billion over two decades on water crisis
The deal allocates $1 billion a year to water projects for 20 years, which some groups estimate is a fraction of what Texas needs to save its water supply. Full Story
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![The SAWS’ Steven M. Clouse Water Recycling Center in San Antonio on Aug. 23, 2024.]()
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Bill that gives Texas increased oversight of largest energy users wins Legislature’s approval
Senate Bill 6, which now heads to the governor’s desk, gives the state’s electricity managers the ability to shut power to large consumers during emergencies. Full Story
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![Flint Hills Resources, a manufacturer of fuels and chemicals, site in Corpus on Nov. 11, 2021.]()
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It’s “Texas Time”: Legislature OKs permanent daylight saving time, but Congress must also act
Federal action would be needed to make the change legal. Lawmakers at both the state and federal levels have debated the question for decades. Full Story
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![Sunrise over the historic Alamo in San Antonio.]()
Credit: Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribune -
Major energy consumers will face new limits if Texas House approves proposal
The legislation would give ERCOT the ability to turn off power to major consumers in an emergency. Full Story
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![Construction workers build a portable building that will be used to house computers cooled by immersion technology on Oct. 22, 2021.]()
Credit: Michael Gonzalez/The Texas Tribune