Oil Oligarchs' Grip on Texas: How Their Influence Blocked Energy Reform

[Shell_Seas]

Understanding the impact of campaign funding on energy policy and environmental outcomes.

https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/oil-oligarchs-grip-on-texas-how-their



During the 88th Texas Legislature, several bills were introduced that would have lowered energy costs, bolstered our electric grid, and made Texas more energy efficient. As we would expect, under a Republican majority, the good bills were blocked, and the awful bills were pushed through.

It’s July, and it’s hot as hell in Texas. Much of the excessive heat is due to climate change, and many people are seeing skyrocketing electric bills as a result. It’s time to discuss why these issues weren’t fixed in the last legislative session.

SB 258.
This was a bill introduced by Senator Sarah Eckhardt (D). SB 258 would not only have reduced the growing demand on the electrical grid but would also have provided for the weatherization of homes and businesses.

First, the bill went through and out of the Senate Committee on Business and Commerce. It’s important to note that while the Senate passed it with nine votes, two Senators voted against it. Those nay votes were Brandon Creighton and Mayes Middleton.

[Lonestarblue]

1. I think Texas is lost for the next decade until Democrats finally outnumber Republicans

and vote for change. That may happen sooner if climate warming keeps hammering the state and making parts of it unlivable from heat or unaffordable from energy bills, but the oil industry has a strong grip on everything that happens in the state, including the attacks on women and LGBTQ+ financed by two extremist religious oil billionaires who are using their money to elect people who will get rid of all public schools and replace them with taxpayer-funded Christian schools.

[kimbutgar]

2. Sadly you are true !

Things will have to get really really bad before the people wake up to the fact the repukes don’t give a shit about them.

[Shell_Seas]

3. We outnumber them now, but we just don't vote.