State’s workforce surpasses pre-pandemic high
The Texas labor market exceeded the previous pre-pandemic high in February 2020 by hitting just under 13 million nonagricultural jobs in November, the Texas Workforce Commission reported last Friday. The adjusted jobless rate was 5.2% last month, down slightly from the previous month.

Drier, warmer weather in November
Blame it on La Niña.
By the end of November, nearly half the state was experiencing drought conditions, up 25 percentage points from the end of October, according to Dr. Mark Wentzel, a hydrologist with the Texas Water Development Board. La Niña conditions are “defined as below-average sea surface temperatures in the eastern equatorial Pacific,” Wentzel wrote. This results are warmer and drier weather than normal for much of Texas.

State lowers price cap for power providers
The state’s Public Utility Commission last week lowered the maximum allowable wholesale price for electricity by almost half, from $9,000 per megawatt hour to $5,000.
The move came after prices soared to the maximum during last February’s deadly freeze, causing financial havoc along with the widespread power outages. A number of electric providers declared bankruptcy after being faced with enormous bills, including Brazos Electric Power Cooperative and Griddy Energy.

Samsung taps Taylor for new plant

Extreme weather could still threaten grid
 
The state’s power grid could still be at risk under extreme winter conditions, according to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, but should operate fine under normal conditions.
The Seasonal Assessment of Resource Adequacy, issued Friday, said the grid can meet normal and even moderately challenging weather conditions but could break down if the state faces winter storms such as occurred last February.
During Winter Storm Uri, much of the state experienced prolonged blackouts.

Abbott calls third special session for Sept. 20

EDITOR’S NOTE: THIS IS A REVISED BULLDOG EDITION OF CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS TO ACCOMMODATE EARLY DEADLINES BECAUSE OF THE LABOR DAY HOLIDAY. IT HAS BEEN UPDATED TO REFLECT THE LEGISLATURE’S ADJOURNMENT THURSDAY NIGHT. AN UPDATED VERSION WILL GO OUT SUNDAY IF NEEDED.

Elections bill passes House along party lines

Abbott sued over mask-mandate ban
 
A growing number of school districts, counties and cities have defied Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive order banning mask mandates, as COVID-19 cases continue to spike due to the delta variant and a low rate of vaccination among Texans.

Delta variant spurs huge increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations