The Big Story 

A new study has found that integrating Texas’s self-contained electrical grid with the broader national grid could prevent mass power outages like those suffered in 2021. 

© AP Photo/Julio Cortez

The research, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, modeled  the effects of a bill introduced by Reps. Greg Casar (D-Texas) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) that would connect the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to the rest of the country.  

They found that if such a law had been enacted ahead of the 2021 event, Winter Storm Uri, up to 80 percent of the blackouts caused by the storm could have been averted.

Casar touted the results of the study in a press release.

“This research proves what many Texans know: we didn’t need to lose electricity, money, and so many lives during Winter Storm Uri,” he said.

Read more in a full report at TheHill.com.

Welcome to The Hill’s Energy & Environment newsletter, we’re Rachel Frazin and Zack Budryk — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains.

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Essential Reads 

How policy will affect the energy and environment sectors now and in the future:

New map shows vast potential for geothermal energy beneath entire US

Michigan, Wisconsin governors tout Biden’s green investments in climate group’s $1.4M ad buy

Many Americans are still skeptical of switching to electric vehicles: Survey

In Other News 

Branch out with a different read on The Hill:

Southwest US to bake in first heat wave of season, and records may fall with highs topping 110

PHOENIX (AP) — The first heat wave of the season is bringing triple-digit temperatures earlier than usual to much of the U.S. Southwest, where forecasters warned residents Tuesday to brace for dangerously hot conditions.

On Our Radar 

Upcoming news themes and events we’re watching:

• The Senate Budget Committee will hold a hearing on the effects of climate change on insurance markets tomorrow

What We’re Reading 

News we’ve flagged from other outlets touching on energy issues, the environment and other topics:

• Climate caucus chair faces primary challenge this week (E&E News)
  
  

• Atlanta scrambles to prevent water crisis from spreading (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

   

• Massachusetts kicks off first pilot to shift gas utilities to clean heat (Canary Media)

What Others are Reading 

Two key stories on The Hill right now:

GOP senators warn judge against sentencing Trump to prison

Senate Republicans are warning New York Judge Juan Merchan not to sentence former President Trump to prison or house arrest or take any other action that could disrupt the likely GOP nominee’s ability to campaign ahead of the November election. Read more

5 takeaways from Fauci’s heated House hearing

During his first congressional hearing in nearly two years, former chief White House medical adviser Anthony Fauci picked up where he left off: trading barbs with Republicans over the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Read more