Biden's $100 Million Centerpoint Energy Funding Denial Could be Politically Motivated

WASHINGTON—President Biden has been at odds with Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas legislature over their rebuking of his failed immigration agenda, or “border crisis,” and now it appears as if he has targeted Centerpoint Energy, denying their $100 million request from the Department of Energy’s Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) to fix Houston’s ailing power grid.

It appears as if the Biden administration’s war on Big Energy and Texas continues, even as President Biden announced that he will not seek reelection

No sooner that the funds were denied, Hurricane Beryl barreled into Texas and compromised power in Houston.

Everything is big in Texas, including congressional tempers.

After power was knocked out in Houston, a handful of members of Texas’ congressional delegation— Reps. Morgan Luttrell, Michael McCaul, Brian Babin, Dan Crenshaw, Randy Weber, John Carter, and Lance Gooden— penned a letter to DOE Secretary Jennifer Granholm expressing their concerns about it denying Centerpoint Energy funding to help fix Houston’s energy grid.

“According to reports, CenterPoint specifically requested the assistance “to fund high wind and flood mitigation projects.” It should be noted that it was flooding and high winds from Hurricane Beryl that caused one of the largest – and ongoing – power outages in CenterPoint’s history. Further, it seems this denial was issued despite our region being particularly susceptible to weather events that impact grid infrastructure.

The DOE’s decision appears to have significant implications for Texas’s recovery efforts and raises questions about the criteria and reasoning behind such determinations. It seems apparent to us that our region should have been a high priority applicant based on the consistent severe weather that impacts grid infrastructure,” read the letter 

Several of these members hinted that they believe the Biden administration’s shunning of Centerpoint Energy was politicially motivated.

Rep. Michael McCloud couldn't say if the administration intentionally denied the funds, but said that President Biden has been at odds with the “homegrown energy industry.”

“They are doing everything they can to fight against the US homegrown energy industry,” said Rep. McCloud.

Rep Pete Sessions, who was not part of the letter to Secetary Granholm, told Texas Politics that the Democratic Party has “not been very helpful to Texas” for quite some time, adding,” There is an envy that Democrats have over what we have in Texas.”

Rep. Session noted that former President Barack Obama once denied water tankers to Texas to help it fight wildfires east of Austin, noting that “Texas recognizes  that we have to be responsible for ourselves.”

Because subtly is not one of Rep. Randy Weber’s greatest attributes, the  veteran lawmaker was very direct in accusing  the administration of  purposefully  playing politics against Centerpoint, Big Energy, and the city of Houston.

“No doubt about it.,” said Rep. Weber when asked whether he thought the denial was politically motivated.

“Texas is the #1 energy state.  And so Biden they don’t like that, I have to guess it was politically motivated,” he added.

Texas Politics reached out to Secretary Granholm for comment but was not able to reach her office