Houston-area lawmakers seek explanation for denied funding affecting CenterPoint Energy

U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul, alongside Congressman Morgan Luttrell (Texas-8) and four other Houston-area members of the Texas delegation, has sent a letter to Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jennifer Granholm. The lawmakers expressed concern over a reported DOE decision to deny CenterPoint Energy’s application for $100 million from the DOE’s Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program in 2023. This decision could have significantly impeded Texas' power restoration and recovery efforts following Hurricane Beryl.

The letter was also signed by Representatives Brian Babin (Texas-36), Dan Crenshaw (Texas-2), Randy Weber (Texas-14), and Lance Gooden (Texas-5).

“The well-being of our constituents and the resilience of our communities are of utmost importance, especially in times of crisis,” the lawmakers wrote. “Unfortunately, power restoration has been painstakingly slow, putting Texans at risk as temperatures continue to rise. We remain concerned that mitigation efforts may have been hastily or wrongly denied for our region. Therefore, it is crucial that we understand the rationale behind decisions that affect their recovery and future preparedness.”

Read the full text of the letter here.

###