Stories By Chris Tomlinson

  • Tomlinson: New tax breaks for corporations bad news for Texas The Texas Legislature's proposed new tax breaks for corporations will not help average Texans.
  • Tomlinson: Will EVs crash the Texas grid? It’s not complicated Electric companies have big plans for the grid as consumers buy more EVs, columnist Chris Tomlinson writes.
  • 'Bubba' Levy, Houston entrepreneur and Texans adviser, dies at 88 Anyone who’d ever met Levy knew him as Bubba, a gregarious and jocular raconteur that mixed good ol’ boy Texas with a modern, global perspective.
  • Tomlinson: Experts slam $10B grid plan, GOP approves anyway Texas Republicans approved a $10 billion plan for backup electricity after industry experts and executives told them it was a bad idea, urged alternatives.
  • Tomlinson: I'm not worried about chatbots replacing me Technology has never eliminated work or obviated creativity. Despite increased productivity, most people still work long hours to house and feed themselves.
  • Tomlinson: Mitchell Foundation pushes cutting edge energy Mitchell Foundation supports transforming Texas oilpatch workers into climate change warriors in advanced energy jobs.
  • Tomlinson: Generator company could boost grid reliability Enchanted Rock provides a fabulous example of how demand response from small, distributed generators can provide affordable, reliable power.
  • Tomlinson: Lawmakers to send electric bill much higher Proposed bills would destroy the competitive electricity market and return Texas to the era of big government.
  • Tomlinson: Jobs in offshore carbon capture Oceans absorb most of the planet's carbon, companies can do more to fight climate change.
  • Tomlinson: Magic mushrooms offer health and profit Oregon legalized medical psilocybin this year, and Colorado has decriminalized possession of psychedelics, reducing the charge to a ticket. Now Texas is considering authorizing the medical use of psychedelics.
  • Tomlinson: Hydrogen and geothermal steal show from Big Oil The biggest revelation at CERAWeek 2023 was the low turnout for the oil and gas CEO speeches and the standing-room-only crowds for clean technology entrepreneurs.
  • Tomlinson: Big Oil playing catch up on cleaner energy Big Oil’s leaders rejected strategies to speed the transition in a way that could hurt their shareholders. Many insisted the world is coming around to embracing fossil fuels.
  • Tomlinson: Texas grid plans couldn't be more different Texas electricity generators and big consumers face off over very different plans for ERCOT grid. The fate of residential customers lies in the balance.
  • Tomlinson: Texas GOP lawmakers propose laws attacking freedom Bills proposed by GOP lawmakers hurt employers, employees, clean energy and LGBTQ people.
  • Tomlinson: World will need oil and gas forever Climate change fight will reduce the need for oil and natural gas but not eliminate it.
  • Tomlinson: Go Texan Day is fun, but not really accurate Houston celebrates Go Texan Day by dressing up as cowboys, but cotton and slavery played bigger role in the economy.
  • Tomlinson: Patterns are often misleading, question them Our brains are pattern recognition machines, but too often, historical injustices lead us to the wrong conclusions.
  • Tomlinson: Texas energy and French wine have same problem Texas energy companies and French winemakers had a bad 2021 due to extreme weather, 2023 may be a repeat.
  • Tomlinson: Texas energy and French wine have same problem Texas energy companies and French winemakers had a bad 2021 due to extreme weather, 2023 may be a repeat.
  • Tomlinson: Exxon Mobil CEO’s doublespeak reveals climate quandary Exxon Mobil's CEO promises to lead the energy transition while investing more in fossil fuels, a contradiction hard resolve.