Spiller named committee co-chair

Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan appointed Rep. David Spiller, R-Jacksboro, to cochair the Texas Energy Fund Advisory Board, a six-member panel that will recommend how to spend $10 billion in voter- approved funds to improve energy reliability.

The committee members will advise the state Public Utility Commission on the use of the fund in providing loans for construction, maintenance and modernization of gas-fired electric generating facilities, Mr. Spiller said in a statement.

The funds may also be used to develop microgrids and backup power for critical facilities, and to modernize portions of the state’s electric grid, the industry website UtilityDive. com said. The new generation capability is needed to support the 1,000 people moving to Texas each day, the Texas Oil & Gas Association said in a statement last November.

Young County, which has a hydrogen plant and windfarms currently under construction, does not appear to be eligible for the funds..