Chairman Schwertner and members of the Committee,
Thank you for the opportunity to testify in support of SB 715. The economic future of Texas depends on electricity being both affordable and reliable, and the unchecked variability of wind and solar is a major threat to our grid that must be addressed now. We estimate that wind and solar variability are already causing nearly $2 billion in excess energy costs every year,1 and those costs will rise as more wind and solar are added. By requiring a reliability standard for all generators—not just new generators as current law dictates—SB 715 will give the Public Utility Commission the tools they need to solve this problem.
HB 1500 (2023) only established a reliability standard for new generators beginning in 2027. While that is a good first step, a reliability standard for new generators will not do anything to address the billions of dollars of costs being imposed by the 90 GW or more of wind and solar that will be in place at the end of 2026. With roughly 15 GW of solar and wind being added each year, it will be well into the next decade before ratepayers see any meaningful benefit from the policy as it is.
Read Dr. Bennett’s full testimony here.