Midland-based Power West Texas, a campaign representing the region most directly affected by delays in building electric transmission capacity, has voiced strong support for the timely completion of the Permian Basin Reliability Plan. The plan was put in motion by the Texas Legislature in 2023 through House Bill 5066, studied by ERCOT in 2024, and approved by the Public Utility Commission of Texas in April 2025. The plan is designed to deliver reliable power to West Texas and move electricity where it is needed most. Kaes Van’t Hof, Chief Executive Officer of Diamondback Energy, said: “For more than a decade, West Texas operators, employers, and community leaders have voiced concerns that the electric grid has not kept pace with our region’s growing demand. With a vast amount of oil and gas resources available from undrilled locations, West Texas continues to be a viable resource for years to come,and we must invest today for future growth.”
West Texas anchors nearly 40 percent of U.S. oil production, roughly 10 percent of Texas’ gross domestic product, more than 200,000 jobs, and the largest source of tax revenue funding the state budget—the same revenue that supports roads, schools, universities, and the rainy-day fund all Texans depend on. The case for transmission build-out extends well beyond the energy sector. Electricity demand is rising, and regional use is projected to more than double within the next decade. Nearly half of this projected growth comes from sources beyond oil and gas operations, including commercial development and a growing population.
Hospitals across the region need power to add beds and services. School districts need power to open and upgrade campuses. Employers depend on power to break ground on new facilities and hire additional employees. The Permian Basin Reliability Plan supports every West Texan who lives and works here. Ben Shepperd, President of the Permian Basin Petroleum Association (PBPA), remarked, “The State of Texas has a clearly outlined process for expanding transmission, and the Permian Basin is in critical need of added power to ensure we continue growing into the future. Power West Texas will continue to support regulators as the process moves forward, benefitting West Texans and our entire state.”
Power West Texas convenes critical stakeholders and the voice of West Texas to support thePermian Basin Reliability Plan’s vital infrastructure for the well-being of our families, communities, economies, and nation’s energy security. Citizens, businesses, chambers of commerce, economic development corporations, and civic organizations interested in learning more and lending their voices to the effort can visit www.powerwesttexas.com. Power West Texas is funded by Diamondback Energy, Inc., an independent oil and natural gas company founded and headquartered in Midland, Texas.
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