Can Texas produce enough electricity to power the artificial intelligence revolution, or are the state's massive data center projections creating an infrastructure bubble? Host is @bradswail talks with @joshdr83 , a research scientist at the University of Texas at Austin, nonresident fellow at Columbia University, founding partner of IdeaSmiths LLC, and host of the Energy Capital podcast, joins Brad Swail on Texas Talks to examine the future of Texas' electricity grid, the explosive growth of AI data centers, and the challenges facing ERCOT. Rhodes discusses the current state of the Texas power grid, including improvements made since Winter Storm Uri and remaining concerns about natural gas supply during extreme weather. He explains how new solar generation and battery storage helped Texas manage record electricity demand without the dramatic price spikes that have accompanied previous summer peaks. The conversation then turns to projections suggesting Texas could need approximately 400 gigawatts of electricity capacity to accommodate future demand. Rhodes argues that reaching those levels within the proposed timeframe would require an unprecedented expansion of power generation, transmission infrastructure, manufacturing capacity, and construction resources. Brad and Joshua explore whether the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure and data centers resembles an economic bubble, what happens if proposed projects never materialize, and whether excess power generation could ultimately benefit ordinary Texans through lower electricity prices. They also discuss the potential of small modular nuclear reactors and geothermal energy, the rising cost of natural gas turbines and transformers, and the question of who should pay for the infrastructure required by large technology companies. Beyond electricity demand, the discussion examines community concerns surrounding data center water consumption, cooling systems, noise pollution, local tax incentives, and the economic benefits these facilities can provide. Finally, Rhodes explains ERCOT's Batch Zero process, recent efforts to bring greater accountability to large-load connection requests, and what he hopes the 90th Texas Legislature will prioritize when developing future energy policies. From nuclear power and grid reliability to artificial intelligence, data centers, and electricity costs, this episode explores how Texas can balance economic growth, technological innovation, and affordable, reliable energy without placing unnecessary burdens on everyday Texans. @TXTalksPodcast

Texas veterinary complaints nearly doubled to 1,662 last year. Board staff closed 68 over the summer without a board vote, and four pet owners asked the board this week to reopen their cases. @tdlrlicense @TX_Sunset @SOAH_TX buff.ly/3ATlP3L

The Edwards Aquifer Authority has eased pumping cuts for large permit holders to Stage 2. But SAWS says Stage 3 watering rules are still in effect for San Antonio customers. @EdwardsAquifer @MySAWS @USGS buff.ly/L9ioTjL

USDA has confirmed screwworm in an elk harvested on a Pecos County game ranch. It’s the first wildlife case in the U.S. during this outbreak. @USDA @USDA_APHIS @TAHC @TPWDnews buff.ly/s1ypEZV

New here from this one? We cover the 99% of Texas policy that never makes the headlines. Get the latest in your inbox. buff.ly/S3GV8Ei Watch or listen to the episode on your preferred platform. Spotify: buff.ly/Ux7rwrh Apple Podcast: buff.ly/5LyxUoJ Youtube: buff.ly/bvC3V4c

Comanche County Medical Center is slated for $6.83 million in Rural Texas Strong grants, but none of its three awards has a signed contract. HHSC says a grant isn’t awarded until the contract is fully executed. @GregAbbott buff.ly/KXEdY9L

Nov. 3 ballots: $62.9B in local bonds, of which about $53.7B is for new developer districts. At least 35 school districts want operating rates above the cap. Early voting is open. @TexasObserver @tasb_news @accdistrict @mesquiteisdtx @GeorgetownISD @SpringISD @delvalleisd @teainfo @txcomptroller @DallasFed @dallascountytx @CyFairISD @austinisd @SocorroISD @Texas2036 @TexasTribune buff.ly/iYV5EMT

Hays County draft rules: data centers must meet water and power limits to get county incentives. Public hearing Oct. 27 at 11 a.m. No vote scheduled yet. @ercot_iso buff.ly/H390xvq

When Do You Shut a Government Program Down? | Rep. @CarlTepper @bradswail Austin spends about $35 million a year on homelessness and, Tepper says, it is worse. He contrasts that with a fight over $5 million for emergency services, then asks the question the hearing was actually about: at what point do you end a contract that is not delivering? Rep. Carl Tepper (R–Lubbock) on local governments, NGO contracts, people rolling off boards into the vendors they oversaw, and why he would rather not have had the program in the first place.

Texas diesel is at $5.77 a gallon, up $2.66 in a year. Grocery prices haven’t caught up yet, but economists say they’re likely to as freight contracts reprice. @michiganstateu @Truck_Research @NACSonline @USDOTFHWA @BLS_gov @USDA @TexasTribune @GregAbbott buff.ly/oeqUiX0

Comanche County Medical Center is slated for $6.8M in state rural health grants, but none of its three contracts is signed yet. Statewide, only 97 of 312 grant lines are finalized. @GregAbbott buff.ly/KXEdY9L

Caldwell County commissioners will hear a developer’s plan Thursday for Mirada, a 3,130-acre project off SH 80. The agreement isn’t public yet, and it’s still unknown how many homes are planned or who pays for roads and water. buff.ly/qfpb6hj

Texas is building a free academy for rural hospital leaders. The committee writing its curriculum first met in July and is abolished Sept. 1, 2027, done or not. No curriculum has been adopted yet. @TTUSystem @utsystem @txst @tamusystem buff.ly/XwhXEBK

PUC approves 180 MW Silver Basin data center behind a Pecos County solar farm, overriding TNMP’s objections. Amazon’s 1,200 MW Comanche Peak plan is next, decision by about Dec. 12. @TNMP @AEPTexas @amazonnews @ercot_iso @oncor buff.ly/GXbvbI7

The Counties That Fund New Mexico Want Out | Rep. @CarlTepper @bradswail Four oil-producing counties on the Texas line generate about a third of New Mexico’s income. Their legislators asked to join Texas. Santa Fe has not agreed. Rep. Carl Tepper (R–Lubbock) explains who started it, why those counties already live off Lubbock, what the process requires in both capitals and in Congress, and why he puts the land at about $11 billion. He also gets into frontier counties, six-man football, and what those few people produce.

A Texas Dispatch estimate finds McLennan and Nueces counties landfill or litter about 390 million bottles and cans a year, worth roughly $7.9 million in scrap. That’s more than the estimated cost of picking up litter in the Waco and Corpus Christi areas. @BushSchool @tamu @alpekofficial @NAPCOR_PET @KRIS6News @uscensusbureau buff.ly/g1fX0Cd

TSAHC board meets Tuesday, Oct. 20, on a reimbursement resolution for new mortgage bonds. No bond size or timing set yet. @TDHCA @GregAbbott buff.ly/kAlnkqC

A dose limit caps how much radiation a person absorbs from a jail body scanner. Does it answer whether they can refuse one? Texas is drafting its first rules for the scanners, and the draft goes out for comment Oct. 23. @TexasDSHS @TxCommJailStand @officialfbop @GovCanHealth buff.ly/H3wp7eN

Burnet and Webb petitions “appear to have enough signatures,” says Mayor Watson. Austin ISD says it can’t confirm until after the Oct. 30 enrollment snapshot. Results are due to TEA Dec. 1. @fox7austin @austinisd @teainfo @KUT buff.ly/OFUdhM4

Why are some policies tough on police but easier on violent offenders? Host @BradSwail sits down with @CarlTepper to discuss criminal justice policy, policing, violent offenders and how different approaches can affect public safety.