The Truth About Texas Energy and the Lies You've Been Told
Our state government and energy companies know fossil fuels have an expiration date, so they’ve been quietly investing in renewable energy for years.
Two things before going into the details of this essay:
Republicans have held power in Texas for the past 30 years. While you may already participate in elections, it's important to recognize that 60–70% of your friends and family do not—and that's the core of the problem.
Contacting your state representative works, especially when multiple people reach out about the same issue on the same day. Rally your family, friends, and community—it truly makes a difference. Do not hesitate. Representatives will take notice, but only if you remain persistent and unwavering in holding them accountable.
The Pressure to Support Oil
Living in an oil-dependent town in South Texas, the pressure to support the industry feels unavoidable. Your job at the oil field provides for your family—it pays the mortgage, the truck you drive, and maybe even the boat you take out on weekends. It’s a good life, and you don’t need a college degree to achieve it.
So when your employer, the local radio station, and FOX News tell you to vote for politicians who "protect" oil and gas jobs from liberal attacks, it’s no surprise most people listen.
But here’s the truth they don’t want you to know: the attack on oil jobs is a lie.
Texas—yes, Texas—is leading the nation in renewable energy. Wind and solar power are booming here, not because of some "Green New Deal" (which, by the way, isn’t even a law—just a proposal to address climate change) but because energy demand in Texas is skyrocketing. Our state government and energy companies know fossil fuels have an expiration date, so they’ve been quietly investing in renewable energy for years.
Texas Leads in Renewable Energy
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), Texas produced 141 terawatt-hours of wind power in 2022—more than the next three states combined. Solar energy production is also soaring, with Texas second only to California in installed solar capacity (EIA, 2023).
The reason is simple: Texas’s population is growing, and the energy grid must grow with it. Renewable energy is the most cost-effective way to meet that demand.
And it’s not just about building solar farms and wind turbines. These projects require maintenance and upgrades, creating thousands of good-paying jobs. Yet, this success story remains buried by the same oil and gas companies that claim to fight for workers. Why? Because they’re terrified of losing their dominance.
The Oil Industry’s Propaganda Machine
Decades ago, as the science behind climate change became undeniable, oil and gas companies didn’t adapt—they doubled down on denial. Internal documents from ExxonMobil reveal that the company’s own scientists warned about climate change as early as the 1970s (Supran & Oreskes, 2017).
Rather than address the issue, the industry launched a misinformation campaign, funding think tanks, political groups, and even school curriculum changes to cast doubt on climate science. Watch this video.
Today, Fox News and right-wing radio continue that tradition, painting environmentalists as job-killers and renewable energy as unreliable and just plain bad.
But here’s the kicker: those same oil companies—ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell—are now quietly investing billions into alternative forms or energy. They know the transition is inevitable. The propaganda isn't about saving jobs; it's about maintaining power.
The Billionaires Behind the Lies
In Texas, two names stand out in the fight to keep oil and gas on top: Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks. Both are oil billionaires and Christian fundamentalists who believe Texas—and eventually the entire United States—should be governed by their interpretation of Christianity.
They fund far-right candidates and attack anyone who doesn't vote their way. When Republican lawmakers refused to support school vouchers during the 88th legislative session (2022), Dunn and Wilks poured millions into primary challengers, successfully unseating several incumbents (Texas Tribune, 2024).
These two oligarchs jumped on the climate change denial bandwagon, using their pulpit to spread their message. Oh, yes—they also happen to be Christian evangelical pastors with their own church and private planes to go with it.
And they’re not just influencing children and Republicans —they’re reaching across the aisle, too.
Ryan Guillen and the Quiet Push for Nonrenewable Energy
This brings us to Rep. Ryan Guillen, who switched from Democrat to Republican in 2021, claiming the Democratic Party had moved too far left. Guillen represents Texas House District 31, covering rural counties like Brooks, Duval, Jim Hogg, Kenedy, Starr, and Zapata—a region rich in oil and gas jobs and historically Democratic voters.
According to Transparency USA, Guillen's campaign received nearly $1.7 million in contributions by 2022.
Recently, Guillen proposed two controversial bills: one to allow mineral extraction and another to establish a nuclear power plant in The Rosita Central Processing Plant in Duval County. As of this writing, it’s unclear whether residents are aware of the potential risks a nuclear plant would bring. It's important to note that energy infrastructure projects should undergo extensive planning, regulatory approvals, and community consultations before development.
Guillen’s HB 279 bill is a way to ease the process for uranium mining operations, potentially bypassing some environmental oversight. Specifically, it allows applications for mining and restoration activities to be approved without a contested hearing if the applicant meets certain conditions, such as ensuring groundwater quality restoration values fall within a specific range.
The absence of a public hearing or contested case process could limit community input and scrutiny, raising concerns about the adequacy of environmental safeguards. By making it easier for companies to obtain permits without public or legal challenges, the bill reduces the level of accountability regarding environmental impacts, such as water contamination.
So, while the bill aims to streamline the approval process, it potentially weakens the checks and balances designed to protect the environment and public health.
About the Texas Nuclear Alliance
TNA is the only industry association in Texas dedicated to the advancement of nuclear technology in the state. TNA was formed with a singular mission: to make Texas the Nuclear Capital of the World. Formed in 2022 in the aftermath of Winter Storm Uri, TNA is based on the fundamental premise that if Texas and the world want low-carbon, reliable energy, it can no longer turn its back on nuclear energy. Nuclear is clean, safe, reliable, and secure.
While nuclear energy is often touted as a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels, it is not renewable. Unlike wind or solar power, nuclear energy depends on finite resources such as uranium, which is mined from the earth. While it produces minimal greenhouse gas emissions during operation, the extraction and processing of uranium, along with the challenges of waste disposal, make it less sustainable in the long term. And this type of industrial expansion carries environmental risks, such as potential contamination of the land and the river. Yet, local communities remain largely unaware because it remains virtually unheard of. In any case, it highlights how Republicans vilify green energy while simultaneously working to replace fossil fuels in the future and benefit from it.
What’s Next for the Rio Grande Valley?
South Texans deserve the truth. Renewable energy is not the enemy—it’s the future. Oil jobs aren’t disappearing because of liberal Democrats—they’re disappearing because the industry itself sees the writing on the wall.
While billionaires and politicians protect their interests, working families will be left to fend for themselves when the wells run dry.
It’s time to break the cycle. Demand transparency from your representatives. Ask why renewable energy investments aren’t celebrated locally. Find out who funds your elected officials. Ask your representatives to hold town halls.
The future of South Texas doesn’t have to be tied to fossil fuels. It can be brighter, cleaner, and just as prosperous—but only if we start fighting for it.
A Side Note on School Vouchers
Representative Ryan Guillen serves Texas House District 31. The district covers a vast rural area of 32 school districts of mostly Hispanic population. If you have concerns about school vouchers potentially defunding public schools you can contact Rep. Guillen's Austin office at (512) 463-0416. Alternatively, you can reach out to his district office in Rio Grande City at (956) 716-4838.
Rep. Guillen has a background rooted in public education; he is a former high school agriculture teacher and comes from a family of public school teachers.
Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that uranium mining operations were taking place in La Rosita, Texas. That reference has been removed. The Rosita Central Processing Plant is located in Duval County. The article has been updated to reflect accurate geographic information.
Copyright © 2025 Fabiola Escalon for fescalon.substack.com
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Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that uranium mining operations were taking place in La Rosita, Texas. That reference has been removed. The Rosita Central Processing Plant is located in Duval County. The article has been updated to reflect accurate geographic information.