In Battle Against Renewable Energy, Texas AG Is All Hat No Cattle

The article critiques Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s efforts to support coal power and oppose renewable energy investments amid his 2024 U.S. Senate campaign. Paxton led a lawsuit against major asset managers BlackRock, State Street, and Vanguard, accusing them of illegally pushing decarbonization agendas that allegedly raised energy costs for ratepayers. However, the lawsuit’s impact has been minimal, with Vanguard settling quietly while continuing business as usual. Meanwhile, former President Trump’s policies to extend coal plant operations and geopolitical events have bolstered fossil fuel markets, undermining Paxton’s claims of asset manager collusion against coal. Despite Paxton’s rhetoric, renewable energy investment in Texas is thriving. Florida-based Origis Energy secured $545 million to expand a large solar complex in West Texas, expected to exceed 700 MW upon completion. Additionally, Eagle Point Credit Management provided $28.5 million in financing to Heritage Energy Storage DevCo, which focuses on smaller-scale battery storage projects designed to bypass lengthy