A Direct Line to Legislators and Regulators
Chapter 5 concludes the Texas story. Over time, fossil fuel companies and industrial energy consumers came to oppose Texas’s renewable energy policies. Given their political influence over both politicians and regulators, these opponents were able to block reforms from passing in the legislature or being implemented by regulatory bodies. These opponents were successful because they had a direct link to the legislature, with a fossil fuel industry lobbyist reportedly working from a desk in a key senator’s office. This chapter shows how opponents can also use the fog of enactment strategically to resist policy during implementation and how opponent interest groups with sufficient influence can directly undermine policy, even if advocates have previously succeeded in winning policy conflict and initiating positive feedback.