The Issue
Texas’s grid remains vulnerable four years post-Uri, with Uri’s 246 deaths and blackouts haunting families. In HD 106, Denton’s explosive growth—90 daily residents—strains ERCOT, risking summer peaks that spike bills 20% and halt Prosper factories. Renewables’ intermittency caused 40% of 2021 failures; now, federal EV mandates and corporate data center demands threaten reliability without winterization mandates.
Residents in The Colony endure $500 average outage costs yearly, fearing repeats as climate volatility rises.
Supporting Argument
SB 6’s 2025 weatherization and $20 billion investments helped, but loopholes allow non-compliance; renewables got $27 billion bailouts while gas plants fined for unpreparedness. ERCOT warns 15% demand surge by 2030 from AI/data centers, yet no subsidy ends or nuclear fast-tracks. Uri exposed underbuilt dispatchables—natural gas/coal/nuclear at 60% capacity during freezes.
Federal EPA rules cripple generation; Austin’s green worship ignores 2024 near-misses. HD 106’s blackouts cost $1 billion economy-wide; without hardening, growth amplifies deadly risks.
What I Support
Reliable power is lifeblood—affordable, dispatchable, free from mandates. I’ll harden the grid post-SB 6, prioritizing Texas energy independence.
- Protect from federal EV timelines, EPA attacks, and corporate manipulations weakening reliability.
- Mandate 100% weatherization of all dispatchable plants by 2027, no exemptions.
- Expand 20,000 MW new dispatchable power: natural gas, advanced coal, next-gen nuclear.
- End renewable subsidies; force merit-based competition and fast-track nuclear/gas builds.
- Harden infrastructure against threats; strengthen ERCOT for Denton growth coordination.
Why This Matters
Blackouts kill—grandmas froze in Uri; HD 106 families can’t afford $300 spikes or factory shutdowns. Businesses in Frisco bolt for stable grids, gutting jobs; veterans with medical needs suffer most. Unaddressed, it invites federal takeovers, betraying Texas sovereignty.
Rick Abraham’s Approach
Drawing on my cybersecurity and infrastructure background, I will advance legislation to harden and protect the Texas power grid. I support a full review of ERCOT failures, stronger grid security standards, and practical reforms developed in coordination with energy professionals. Through transparency, local input, and responsible oversight, Texas can prevent another Winter Storm Uri.
