Texas Nationalists Rage at Power Grid Plans

Secessionists in Texas have called a bill that would require the state's power grid to connect to the nation's major grids a "direct attack" on efforts to make Texas an independent nation.

Democratic lawmakers introduced the Connect the Grid Act last week, aimed at ensuring the state's power grid does not fail again like it did during 2021's Winter Storm Uri, which left millions without power for days and claimed hundreds of lives. Rep. Greg Casar of Texas said by requiring the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to connect to neighboring grids, Texas would be able to avoid similar tragedies in the future. ERCOT serves most of the state's 30 million residents.

But in a statement to Newsweek, a spokesperson for the Texas Nationalist Movement—which is pushing for the state to leave the U.S.—blasted the proposal and said it was an effort to try and stop Texit.

"Texas needs to be less dependent on the federal government, not more. These politicians want to mismanage our electric grid just like they mismanage our border," the statement said.

"We reject this idea wholeheartedly and encourage Texans to call their legislators to urge them to defeat this legislation. This is a direct attack from the progressive left to try and stop Texit. They know that Texit is inevitable and they are trying to make independence harder—we won't let them."

Daniel Miller, the president of the Texas Nationalist Movement, has called on Republican Gov. Greg Abbott to call a special session of the Texas Legislature to put the question to voters.

In a post on social media, Miller said he and other supporters of secession delivered a petition with more 170,000 signatures to Abbott's office last week calling for him to "to honor the wishes of the voters." Newsweek has contacted Abbott's office for comment.

Efforts to have Texas become independent have failed to gain traction over the years. But the fight has had a boost amid the state's ongoing standoff with the Biden administration over immigration enforcement.

Miller told Newsweek last month that the movement has been gaining steam over the past three decades and he is convinced it will eventually be successful.

"I think the trajectory the federal government is on, the trajectory that Texas is on, I think we are headed in that direction. So whether by conscious decision or collapse of the federal system in its inability to meet its basic requirements, I think Texas becomes an independent nation definitely inside of 30 years," he said.