"Texas Power Players Sit Out Political Opposition To Clean Power Plan"

"Twenty-four states are suing to block the Obama administration from implementing its new clean power regulations — the cornerstone of a promise that the United States will reduce greenhouse gas emissions to limit global warming. Those rules come out of the Paris Climate Accord, which Secretary of State John Kerry plans to sign on Friday.

Texas is one of the states leading the fight against the Clean Power Plan. If you ask almost any statewide office holder they'll tell you the plan is bad for the economy. Before Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton spoke publicly in October for example, his wife Angela introduced him with a song: "I'm a Pistol-Packin' Mama And My Husband Sues Obama."

These days, Paxton is facing his own legal troubles on SEC fraud charges. But when it's him suing the federal government, it's often over EPA regulation.

It may come as a surprise then, that energy companies here are not as unanimous in their opposition. That's because Texas' energy sector is transforming rapidly."

Mose Buchele reports for NPR April 16, 2016.

SEE ALSO:

"Depressed Texas Power Prices Mean Cheap Electricity, Plant Closures" (Houston Chronicle)

"ERCOT: Texas PUC Mulling Artificial Inflation Of Power Prices To Boost Grid Reliability" (Utility Dive)

"Barack Obama Says Wind Power Cheaper In Texas Than Power From 'Dirty Fossil Fuels'" (Politifact Texas)

"Less Than Zero: Why Texas Power Generators Sell at a Loss" (KUT Austin)

"Texas vs. the Feds: A Look at the Lawsuits" (Texas Tribune: 7/31/2015)

Source: NPR, 04/19/2016