# Texas Senate Race Focuses on Energy Costs

> Texas Senate candidates Paxton and Talarico pledge to lower energy costs amid rising prices.
- Title: Texas Senate Race Focuses on Energy Costs · Texastribune
- Summary: Texas Senate candidates Paxton and Talarico pledge to lower energy costs amid rising prices. texas, senate, energy costs · reported by Texastribune.
- Keywords: texas, senate, energy costs, paxton, talarico, data centers, liheap, federal gas tax, climate policy, renewable energy, news, local
- Source: Texastribune — https://feeds.texastribune.org/link/16799/17500042/paxton-talarico-energy-prices-senate-race-texas
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: texas, senate, energy costs, paxton, talarico, data centers, liheap, federal gas tax, climate policy, renewable energy, news, local
## Texas Energy Landscape
Texas produced 43% of U.S. crude oil in 2025, about 5.8 million barrels daily.
## Rising Energy Costs
U.S. energy prices increased over 30% in five years, according to Electric Choice data.
## Senate Race Dynamics
State Rep. James Talarico and Attorney General Ken Paxton compete for one of Texas’s two U.S. Senate seats.
## Data Center Debate
Texas has nearly 400 data centers requiring 17 terawatt-hours of electricity annually, powering 1.6 million homes.
## Paxton’s Data Center Plan
Paxton proposed banning Chinese tech from U.S. data centers and holding companies liable for child safety harms.
## Paxton’s Tax Exemptions
Paxton voted in 2013 to grant data centers sales tax exemptions costing Texas billions in revenue.
## Talarico’s Data Center Stance
Talarico called for data centers to fund their own infrastructure and local community approval for construction.
## Paxton’s Fraud Case
Paxton was charged in 2015 with persuading investors to buy $100,000 worth of stock at a data center startup without disclosure.
## Gas Prices Spiking
Nationally, gasoline prices have jumped over a dollar since last year, reaching $4.30 to $4.40 per gallon.
## Federal Gas Tax Debate
Talarico wants temporary federal gas tax end, while Paxton seeks permanent removal by 2026.
## LIHEAP Shortfalls
Over 38 million households nationwide are LIHEAP eligible, but only 15% receive assistance.
## Climate Policy Divide
Paxton blocks federal climate regulations, while Talarico supports emissions cuts and climate education.
## Key takeaway

Texas Senate candidates Paxton and Talarico promise to reduce energy costs as prices rise.