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Connecting today’s news with the research & opinion you need.

That’s No Deal

What to Know: Texas cities like Georgetown, San Antonio and Austin, which committed to 100 percent renewable energy, are seeing similar results—higher electricity bills, and an undeniable reliance on non-renewable sources to make up for the unreliability of wind and solar power.

The TPPF Take: It wasn’t supposed to be this way; renewable energy has failed to live up to its promises.

“Georgetown’s electric bills went up as more wind and solar power displaced cheaper natural gas in the power portfolio of the Georgetown’s municipal utility,” says TPPF’s Chuck DeVore. “Politicians scrambled for cover. And the bloom came off Georgetown’s renewable rose. Now they’re trying to figure out how to unwind the renewable mess they and their predecessors voted themselves into.”

Honest Labor

What to Know: Ahead of this Labor Day, Mike Rowe of “Dirty Jobs” fame is offering a new kind of scholarship; it’s for young people who want to pursue a career in a skilled trade, rather than traditional college.

The TPPF Take: This could serve as a model for public/private partnerships that allow businesses and private entities to play a role in training for Texans who want to work, but simply lack the skills for some of the high-paying trades that need workers.

“When we don’t involve the business community in job skills training, the result can be a mismatch between the skills that are needed and those that are taught,” says TPPF’s Ron Simmons. “TPPF’s new Right on Work initiative is an effort to bridge the industry and public policy sides of the discussion, which will let more Texas families prosper through more high-paying jobs.”
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Give Us a Sign

What to Know: Children’s Health System of Texas, the state’s largest health care provider to children, will pay $2.5 million to put its name on the Prosper ISD football stadium.

The TPPF Take: Is this a solid investment? Or the right focus?

"There’s a new trend among school districts with multi-million dollar stadiums: turning these palatial facilities into money-making machines," said TPPF’s  James Quintero. "Some school boards are making millions by selling ad space, charging new fees to play sports and spectate, and even offering up naming rights. So the question is: Where is this new money going? Are school districts using it to pay down debt and lower taxes or is it fueling further growth in government?”