Latest news with #WinterStormUri

Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ted Cruz was vacationing in Greece when the deadly Texas floods broke out. His office says he took the first flight home.
WASHINGTON — As Texans woke up July 4 to the news that flooding in the Hill Country had turned deadly, Sen. Ted Cruz was on a pre-planned vacation in Greece with his family. The senator arrived back in Texas late Sunday night — the soonest he was able to return, according to a spokesperson for his office. Cruz was spotted Saturday morning — evening, in Greece — visiting the Parthenon in Athens. 'The Senator was already in the middle of preplanned family vacation travel overseas when the flooding occurred on July 4,' the spokesperson said, noting Cruz spoke with federal and state officials within hours of the flood to coordinate federal resources for the search-and-rescue effort. Cruz and his team also 'worked closely with local officials and with families of missing girls throughout that time,' the spokesperson said. Cruz's office declined to say when he purchased his flight home. His spokesperson also declined to say when Cruz boarded his return flight or arrived in Texas, specifying only that he left Greece 'early Sunday' Central time and landed in San Antonio 'late Sunday.' His flight took off about a day and a half after local officials announced the death toll had reached 24 with many still missing. Cruz made his first on-site appearance Monday morning, hours before a critical media report detailed the senator's Athens visit and set off social media backlash, with some invoking Cruz's 2021 trip to Cancún in the midst of Winter Storm Uri. During that episode, the senator left Texas after the storm had hit and as many residents lacked power and water, which he admitted was 'obviously a mistake.' From Greece, Cruz helped coordinate the federal response, speaking Friday afternoon Central time with President Donald Trump, Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd, according to his office. Meanwhile in Texas, Sen. John Cornyn and Rep. Chip Roy, R-Austin, joined emergency officials in Kerrville on Saturday for an on-the-ground briefing and to provide updates alongside Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and state officials. While in Kerrville, Cruz surveyed the damage, attended a press conference and appeared on Fox News. He noted that his daughters had long attended a summer camp near Camp Mystic — and that he had been in the area last week to pick one of them up.


The Hill
08-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Cruz office says he returned from Greece ‘as fast as humanly possible' when floods hit Texas
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on Tuesday responded to backlash for vacationing in Greece while flooding killed dozens in his home state. 'The Senator was already in the middle of preplanned family vacation travel overseas when the flooding occurred on July 4. Within hours, he spoke by phone with Governor (Greg) Abbott, Lt. Governor (Dan) Patrick, Texas Emergency Management Director Nim Kidd, and President (Donald) Trump, working to ensure that the maximum federal assets were available for search and rescue,' Cruz's office said in a statement to The Hill. 'He and his team worked closely with local officials and with families of missing girls throughout that time. He promptly booked a flight back home. Given the time difference, he left Athens on Sunday morning and was back in Texas that night. And he was in Kerrville on the ground early Monday morning,' the statement continued. While he was gone, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) met with Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R), Rep. Chip Roy (R) and Sheriff Larry Leitha for a briefing on Saturday. Cruz said he spoke with leaders to help coordinate rescue efforts while abroad and help a separate press conference upon his return to Kerr County. 'The flooding we are seeing in Central Texas is absolutely devastating. Heidi and I send our heartfelt condolences to all those who have been directly impacted by this natural disaster. We thank President Trump for quickly approving Governor Abbott's disaster declaration, and Secretary Noem for being on the ground and sending additional personnel to support Texans,' Cruz said in a statement on Sunday as multiple missing young girls and counselors at Camp Mystic were pronounced dead. In a later interview with Fox News, he suggested something 'went wrong' with the state's flood warning systems as the Guadalupe River water swelled without much notice to residents in the area. 'We urge everyone to heed the warnings from local officials and stay out of harm's way. We are immensely grateful to the first responders—both in Texas and from across the country—who are risking their own safety to rescue those in need. As Texans, we must remain united in spirit and grit, and support our neighbors as we always do best.' In the past, Cruz face criticism for a 2021 trip to Cancún in the midst of Winter Storm Uri.


USA Today
08-07-2025
- General
- USA Today
As Texas flood waters recede, efforts to rescue pets intensify
As the search for signs of life in flood-stricken Texas Hill Country continue, the race to save pets impacted by the devastation is on. Non-profit pet shelter Austin Pets Alive! has taken in over 230 animals primarily from shelters impacted by the floods that began July 4. The shelter said in a July 6 blog update it is coordinating a volunteer search and rescue group to find animals in impacted areas. The shelter also said it is seeking donations to provide support to families that have lost pets, including body recovery and cremation services. "It's been devastating for all living beings," Dr. Ellen Jefferson said in a July 6 Facebook post. "So many people are searching for their pets that are the last connection they might have to a lost family member. Pets are so intertwined in this saga and it's so important." Suzie Chase, the shelter's community affairs officer, told USA TODAY in a July 7 interview that the Austin shelter has served as a sanctuary for pets who have lost their family in the destruction the storms wrought. "We've had some cases where extended family members have asked us to foster animals because the animal's family perished in the floods," Chase said. "The extended family members just need to be able to figure out what to do next with the dogs and cats that have been located." Chase said that it is not the first time the shelter has been a part of a large-scale animal rescue, pointing to efforts following Hurricane Harvey and Winter Storm Uri. Lindsay O'Gan, the shelter's Instructional Design Manager who is in Kerrville with the rescue and reunification efforts, said in an interview with USA TODAY that the devastation in Central Texas was "hard to describe." "It happened so fast. In the same way we are seeing so much human missing and casualty ... I think the numbers are going to be much higher than we realize," O'Gan said. "Maybe 80%, 90% of the animals that are reported to us are lost, their owners are also lost or deceased." Texas flooding death toll hits 104: Hard-hit areas face new flooding risks Pet reunifications bring respite One of the pets the shelter was able to reunify with surviving family was Superman. The medium-sized mixed breed was found in the debris and was wary of rescuers, snapping at them before they earned his trust. "His surviving family, now grieving and having lost everything, are doing everything they can to hold on to the last piece of their past that remains," the shelter wrote in the July 6 Facebook post. O'Gan noted that the staff at Kerrville Pets Alive!, where the recovery effort is based, continued their work despite connections to the unfolding tragedy. "They've lost their own family members, or they've lost their own friends, or they've just had tragedy rolling in on their phones as they are working and they would keep going," O'Gan said. "I can't imagine what it's like, that it's in their own community and they have their own losses to deal with but they just keep going." She described the moments when pets can be reunified with families as, "Christmas, New Years and birthdays all combined." "We all really absorb those moments, because they are so rare," O'Gan added. What does the pet shelter need? On its website, Austin Pets Alive! said its largest need is monetary donations. The shelter also said the following supplies are needed: Chase noted that the list on its website is updated as needs change. O'Gan added that the shelter will need support long after the waters recede. "There's always this outpouring of support right after a disaster that dries up and I understand that as folks move on," O'Gan said. "We're going to be working on this for the next months after the news moves on. Hopefully they'll keep us in their thoughts and keep sending those donations because they are going to be needed for the foreseeable future."
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ERCOT CEO on summer preps, artificial intelligence stressing grid
The Brief The head of ERCOT, Pablo Vegas, expressed confidence that the Texas power grid will have enough supply to meet demand this summer, despite a gloomy forecast in February. Vegas stated that over 3,000 power plant and transmission substation inspections have been conducted since issues during the 2021 winter storm, showing facilities are prepared for peak summer heat. While acknowledging a focus on natural gas by lawmakers, Vegas noted the significant growth of solar, wind, and battery storage, and highlighted new legislation (SB 6) requiring data centers to use on-site backup generation during grid emergencies as a "game-changer" for future reliability. AUSTIN - The head of ERCOT says the grid will have enough power supply to meet demand this summer. The outlook comes after a gloomy report in February that warned of a fast-approaching power shortage. What they're saying ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas spoke with FOX 7's Rudy Koski about the positive outlook and why his optimism goes beyond the summer months. Vegas: "We do have enough power. The grid is ready for that. We've been doing our inspections for the summer season. Some people may not know, but we actually inspect the power plants and the transmission substations in the winter and the summer both. So we want to make sure that they're ready to run in the peak heat and the peak cold and so we've done over 3,000 inspections since this program started. That was something that came out of Winter Storm Uri, a new formal program that ERCOT administers and the inspections are showing that the operators are taking this very seriously, that they're readying their power facilities in order to be able to operate during the peak summer heat." Koski: "We heard all about how the Texas power plants are really built for the hot Texas summer, but with that said, and with those inspections, any problems? Any issues that you saw that you say, I have to address this?" Vegas: "I can tell you there's been nothing significant or concerning that makes me think this is going to be a problem, [or that] we're not going to be able to deal with this summer." Koski: "We just wrapped up the legislative session and state lawmakers really put an emphasis on natural gas plants. But we do know that solar and wind have played a big role in getting us through some peak periods and times. Are you happy in how this new triplet-type situation is merging together and then throwing in batteries?" Vegas: "What we're finding is that each of the different supply resources, whether it's wind or solar, whether it's the traditional gas, nuclear, coal, or the brand new batteries that we're starting to see quite a lot of growth on in our system, all of them are bringing something unique to the game." Koski: "Are you worried that lawmakers are a little bit too focused on natural gas? Are you worried about that kind of rhetoric?" Vegas: "No, because I think what's really underlying it is a desire for balance. We've seen predominantly, almost limited to, wind and solar and batteries growing on the ERCOT grid over the last five years, and very little natural gas. I think legislators and policymakers are concerned about this imbalance for the long term." Koski: "You mentioned the growth of back in February, ERCOT caused a little bit of a stir by saying power demand could nearly double by 2030, supply could fall short by 6% by the summer of 2026 and then there would be an even wider gap in 2029. Does that report still hold?" Vegas: "The core growth story is still the same. So we still expect tremendous economic growth. A lot of it is driven by data centers. You've heard the discussions about artificial intelligence and the amount of energy demand that that uses. That continues to be at the center of the focus and the center of the story. However, the legislature made some really important changes during this last session. They passed a bill called Senate Bill 6. And what Senate Bill 6 did is it kind of defined the rules of the road for how data centers would perform and operate in the ERCOT grid. And one of the key requirements is that data centers, which happen to be built, they all are built with backup generation on site. Those backup generation facilities, if the grid were to get into an emergency condition and be very scarce, those data centers would come off of the grid and use their backup generation. That's now put into law. And that's something that is a game-changer when it comes to reliability. And so that provision, once implemented, is going to, I think, pave the pathway for safe growth on the data center side. And that going to really change the picture of that forecast. I think it's going to change the reliability and improve the numbers when we do our next update." Koski: "Are you confident that the [local power providers] are ready for the summer?" Vegas: "I think there were a lot of lessons learned, Rudy. A lot of lesson learned as to how to do better, how to communicate better, how to prepare better, how to manage vegetation better, how to stage people when there is an issue and respond more quickly. I saw a lot of lessons learned and come out of the experiences from last summer and I do believe that our utility partners are ready for the summer weather ahead of us." The Source Information in this article comes from FOX 7's Rudy Koski's interview with ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Texas is the surprising ground zero for an increasingly critical area — here's what you need to know
Texas has quickly become the largest clean energy market in the U.S. today. Yes, you read that right — the state synonymous with the oil and gas industry is now the leader in renewable energy. In 2025, 33% of all new renewable and storage projects will be built in the Lone Star State, according to data from Cleanview, the platform I founded that tracks clean energy growth. After hundreds of hours of building data pipelines, cleaning data, and reading through thousands of public documents tied to energy growth in Texas, we have a good sense of what is likely to be built. Here's the headline: Virtually all new power projects trying to connect to the state's grid are solar, wind, and battery storage. That'd be great in any market, but it's especially important in Texas. The state is ground zero for America's electricity demand growth story. Data centers, electrification, and population growth are all fueling huge growth in Texas. The country hasn't seen anything like it since the post-World War II era. Without all that new clean energy, Texas would be burning coal, natural gas, and oil to meet that new electricity demand. Instead, the state has been decarbonizing its grid through this period of huge growth. Clean energy has been good for everyone in Texas. Solar and wind have helped meet growing electricity demands. Batteries have helped prevent blackouts and brownouts. And everyone is paying cheaper electricity prices as a result. And new developments mean clean energy growth will be even faster in Texas, thanks to a new bill passed by the Texas legislature that will make it easier and faster to install solar and storage. Should the government be paying people to hunt invasive species? Definitely Depends on the animal No way Just let people do it for free Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Today, solar permitting is absurdly slow. That's one reason why it costs three times more to install solar on your roof in the U.S. than it does in a country like Australia. In many cities, homeowners have to wait weeks for local officials to review paperwork, schedule inspections, and issue approvals. These delays increase costs and slow adoption. This new law changes that. It lets homeowners use licensed third-party reviewers to handle inspections and paperwork. Once the review is submitted, construction can begin immediately — and cities have just two business days to finalize the permit. This is a big deal for energy independence and resilience. It cuts red tape, reduces costs, and empowers more Texans to take control of their energy — all the more important in a state where millions lost power during Winter Storm Uri. The bill passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. And it shows what's possible when lawmakers focus on practical solutions instead of political posturing. There's a lot that we shouldn't learn from Texas. But when it comes to building clean energy, the state is doing something right. And anyone who wants to build clean energy faster should take note. Editor's note: If you want to use your voice to make a difference, you can look up how to contact your own state senators here — whether or not (and perhaps especially if not) they appear on this list. Michael Thomas is the founder of Cleanview, a platform that helps clean energy leaders track the energy transition in real-time, and the author of a newsletter about climate change, Distilled, that has been read by more than 50 million people. Follow Michael on LinkedIn here, where this post appeared in its original form, or subscribe to his newsletter here. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.