Submitting a Petition for a More Reliable, Affordable Energy Future
On January 31, 2025, the Sierra Club Lone Star Chapter formally submitted a petition signed by over 1,000 Texans to the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) and the Governor’s office.
Rather than using Texans’ hard-earned money to subsidize wealthy corporations to build more polluting fossil fuel power plants, the petition demands that our leaders:
- Invest in a modern electric grid by developing regional microgrids, expanding the use of local clean energy and battery storage resources, burying power lines where it makes sense, and making high voltage transmission systems stronger.
- Pay Texans the same way wealthy corporations are paid to use less electricity when energy conservation calls are made.
- Increase investments in energy savings programs that lower electric bills, make homes more livable, and reduce stress on the grid.
- Remove anti-renewable policies that have made it harder to develop solar energy and energy storage.
Texans Demand Change
These signatures tell an honest story of Texans being frustrated by the status quo. Hundreds of you signed in response to our high utility bills from the record hot summer of 2024 and recent cold snaps and winter weather. Dozens of signatures came from participants in Rio Grande Valley workshops and educational meetings hosted by our partners at ARISE Adelante. Mothers, young women, and everyday working people in some of the lowest income parts of Texas and the country have responded with heart, frustration, anger, and hope. They want lower electricity prices, more reliable electricity, and to be safer in their homes during extreme Texas summer heat waves.
In Houston, where Hurricane Beryl wrecked havoc and left communities stuck in the dark and oppressive humidity and heat last summer, dozens of residents organized through the Coalition for Environment Equity and Resilience (CEER), and eagerly signed the petition and called for more accountability for Centerpoint Energy and Governor Abbott. Transmission and distribution utilities like Centerpoint, AEP, and Oncor have repeatedly objected to and stalled any efforts to increase energy efficiency goals in Texas, which results in fewer dollars being allocated to low-income Texans struggling to keep up with high utility bills.
In Central Texas and communities across the state, hundreds more demonstrators at the recent women’s and people’s marches spoke up against these and other injustices. Many signed the petition to call on Governor Abbott to pay regular Texans to conserve energy the same way ERCOT pays big corporations to use less electricity during periods of high electricity demand.
Texans. Deserve. Better.
Why Texas Needs Bold Action on the Grid
Texas’ grid has faced increasing reliability challenges. Extreme weather fueled by the climate crisis is here. As the number of disastrous and dangerous weather events increase every year, so does our anger and anxiety as we watch the ERCOT electric grid struggle or fail us over and over. Governor Abbott, his appointees at state agencies, and wealthy energy corporations will beg us to be patient and to use less energy, but they should be the ones taking responsibility - not us.
What’s Next? Join the Movement for Energy Justice
The fight doesn’t stop here! Join our upcoming community meetups to stay informed and take action.
Upcoming Meetings:
The petition is still live. If you haven’t added your name yet, please take a minute to do so now. Pro-tip: Leaving a personalized message goes a long way!
Stay Informed: Texas Energy Policy in 2025
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