Texas Grid Data Disproves Trump’s Attacks On Renewable Energy

India-West News Desk

DALLAS, TX –  President Donald Trump has reignited criticism of renewable energy, claiming that the rapid expansion of solar and wind power has made U.S. electricity more expensive and less reliable. But new data out of Texas — the state with the highest share of renewable power — tells a very different story.

According to Reuters, the Texas grid is performing more reliably than ever, and its electricity remains cheaper than the national average. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which manages the state’s main power grid, estimates only a 0.30% chance of rolling blackouts during peak demand this August. That’s a major improvement from the 12% risk it projected for August 2024.

At the same time, Reuters notes that some U.S. grids that rely primarily on fossil fuel sources have struggled with rising costs and decreased reliability — directly challenging the rationale behind Trump’s recently passed legislation that slashes subsidies for clean energy.

Texas residential and commercial customers currently pay about 10 cents per kilowatt-hour, roughly 24% less than the U.S. average, according to the latest figures from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, cited by Reuters.

One reason for Texas’ grid stability is its rapid buildout of battery storage. Since summer 2024, ERCOT reports it has added nearly 5 gigawatts of battery capacity, bringing the total above 8 gigawatts. These large-scale batteries store surplus energy from wind and solar and discharge it when demand spikes, reducing pressure on the grid. An additional 174 gigawatts of storage capacity is awaiting interconnection over the next five years.

ERCOT declined to directly address Trump’s claims about renewable energy’s impact on grid stability. However, its public filings and performance reports suggest that the state’s energy transition is yielding strong results.