Texas paid bitcoin miner $31 million to cut energy use during heat wave
To ease load on aging grid, state program offers energy credits to bitcoin miners to curtail their power consumption.
Watch CBS News
To ease load on aging grid, state program offers energy credits to bitcoin miners to curtail their power consumption.
The state of Texas has sweltered this summer under a seemingly endless cycle of extreme heat warnings. Those high temperatures have put a strain on the state's power grid, with Texas' grid operator saying demand for energy has set seven records this summer alone. Emily Foxhall, Texas Tribune energy reporter, joins CBS News to give an update on how the state's power grid is performing.
The price hikes come as demand for electricity in the Lone Star State has soared in recent weeks.
Millions of Americans are still feeling the heat. At least 33 states saw temperatures reach 90 degrees Fahrenheit on Friday, and it's a trend scientists say will likely continue. Texas Tribune energy reporter Emily Foxhall joins CBS News to discuss how the Lone Star State's power grid is keeping up with demand.
Texas lawmakers will hold a hearing Thursday to address the state's power grid failure during last week's winter storm. At least five board members from the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) have resigned. It comes as the state's petrochemical plants say they may have released millions of pounds of excess pollution into the air due to failures of the power grid. Erin Douglas, the Texas Tribune's environment reporter, joins CBSN's "Red & Blue" anchor Elaine Quijano to discuss the backlash Governor Greg Abbott is facing, as well as the communities that are likely to experience the greatest impact from the spike in air pollution.
Four board members are resigning from the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT, after last week's deadly winter storm knocked out power for millions. Dallas Morning News political writer Gromer Jeffers joins CBSN's "Red & Blue" host Elaine Quijano to discuss what comes next for the state's power plans.
The storm system has placed more than 100 million Americans under winter weather alerts, and over 4,000 flights had already been canceled by Thursday morning.
With the heat index going into triple digits, ERCOT is asking Texans to raise thermostats and shut off large appliances.
Amid the winter storm last month, one woman was billed $9,546 between February 1 to19 — 40 times more than her typical bill of $200 to $250.
Some Griddy customers were charged more than $9,500 even as last month's blackout caused residents to lose power.
Approaching ouster of Bill Magness comes after last month's outages left millions without power and head in frigid temperatures.
A Houston family is in mourning after their loved one died of hypothermia during last week's power outages. Janet Shamlian reports on their loss and how they're trying to cope.
Texas resident claims power provider Griddy broke price-gouging laws as winter storm knocked out power.
"We're victims of our own attempt to let free market forces work," said one lawmaker investigating last week's outages.
The board members cited concerns of "out of state leadership," as three live in other states, and one lives in another country.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott gave an update Sunday to address how the state is dealing with the ongoing crises of skyrocketing energy bills, food shortages and lack of access to water after deadly winter weather crippled the state's infrastructure. Watch Abbott's press conference.
The images were sent to CBS News by active service members under condition of anonymity.
The family of 37-year-old Tierra Walker filed a lawsuit against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and others, saying she was denied an abortion that could have saved her life.
Tuesday's hearing marked the first time that Patel has publicly addressed the new hiring standards related to prostitution, employment theft and bestiality.
The Iran war has cost the U.S. military at least $33.4 billion — most of it on munitions — and not including hundreds of millions more spent by other agencies, the Pentagon says.
Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia targeted his plane with drones as part of a campaign to intimidate him and other foreign leaders.
Earlier Tuesday, a federal judge again blocked the board from adding President Trump's name to the facade of the building.
The Justice Department is accusing several members of Russia's intelligence services of running a "global assassination network" that targeted Kremlin critics.
The Supreme Court on Monday blocked the Postal Service from enforcing new mail voting rules ahead of the midterm elections.
Federal officials said Jonathan Kramer had armed himself to carry out a mass casualty attack against the American people.
The wildfire, which has torn through Palo Pinto and Jack counties, forced evacuations, closed roads and disrupted schools.
The previous votes have failed to stop President Trump from waging war with Iran.
The family of 37-year-old Tierra Walker filed a lawsuit against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and others, saying she was denied an abortion that could have saved her life.
Aaron Rowe, Beoga, Lukas Graham and Finneas all released statements Tuesday on Instagram saying they were withdrawing from Ed Sheeran's tour.
The Supreme Court on Monday blocked the Postal Service from enforcing new mail voting rules ahead of the midterm elections.
Car ownership costs have soared 50% since 2020, according to new economic data. Here's where motorists are getting dinged.
Top OpenAI executive endorses plan that would require AI companies to submit their technology to third-party reviews to assess their safety.
The typical U.S. household's annual earnings have risen only 2.5% since 2019, new data from the Census Bureau shows.
The Federal Reserve is likely to raise borrowing costs on Wednesday, and more hikes could be in store, according to economists.
Millions of homeowners will face higher heating costs this winter because of surging global oil prices, according to a new forecast.
The previous votes have failed to stop President Trump from waging war with Iran.
The Justice Department is accusing several members of Russia's intelligence services of running a "global assassination network" that targeted Kremlin critics.
The family of 37-year-old Tierra Walker filed a lawsuit against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and others, saying she was denied an abortion that could have saved her life.
The Supreme Court on Monday blocked the Postal Service from enforcing new mail voting rules ahead of the midterm elections.
Rep. Thomas Massie accused Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of defying Congress with the Iran war, suppressing free speech and other offenses.
A long-running lawsuit challenging what it means to be an employee and therefore have access to work-based health plans is being closely watched by health policy analysts.
A 40-year-old woman died on Saturday from complications associated with measles, the coroner reported.
Kate Ping thought she was just stressed out. A nurse practitioner's surprising recommendation led to a shocking diagnosis.
Affordable Care Act recipients in 30 states are set to receive the $500 checks starting in October. Here's why.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there is no longer a risk of people getting sick with cyclosporiasis from this outbreak and is confident that all related iceberg lettuce is off the market.
The previous votes have failed to stop President Trump from waging war with Iran.
The Justice Department is accusing several members of Russia's intelligence services of running a "global assassination network" that targeted Kremlin critics.
The images were sent to CBS News by active service members under condition of anonymity.
The Congressional Budget Office estimated the war between Feb. 28 and Aug. 1 has directly cost the U.S. about $38 billion.
Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia targeted his plane with drones as part of a campaign to intimidate him and other foreign leaders.
The rapper Macklemore was bumped from Ed Sheeran's U.S. concert tour for pro-Palestinian comments that some say crossed a line into prejudice. Now, four additional supporting acts have quit in solidarity and the headliner has addressed the controversy. Carter Evans reports.
Aaron Rowe, Beoga, Lukas Graham and Finneas all released statements Tuesday on Instagram saying they were withdrawing from Ed Sheeran's tour.
Food & Wine reveals its list of "Best New Chefs" this week. One of those talents is Masako Morishita of Perry's Restaurant in Washington, D.C., who joins to discuss her career move from NFL cheerleader to D.C. food icon and share one of her favorite recipes.
Elin Hilderbrand, who wrote hit summer reads like "The Perfect Couple" and "28 Summers," joins "CBS Mornings" with her daughter Shelby Cunningham to discuss the latest book in their co-written The Academy Series, titled "The Thoroughbreds."
Bob Mackie, who bedazzled stars like Cher, Carol Burnett and Marilyn Monroe, died at 87. "CBS Mornings" looks back at some of his legendary looks.
The growing concerns over AI safety brought together two people from opposite sides of the political spectrum on Tuesday: Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Trump adviser Steve Bannon. Washington Post tech reporter Gerrit De Vynk joins CBS News to discuss where AI legislation stands.
Congress is reacting to warnings from AI leaders that the technology poses existential dangers. Rep. Bill Foster joins "The Daily Report" to discuss.
From labor shortages to environmental impacts, farmers are looking to AI to help revolutionize the agriculture industry. One California startup, Farm-ng, is tapping into the power of AI and robotics to perform a wide range of tasks, including seeding, weeding and harvesting.
Sen. Bernie Sanders and Steve Bannon are both pushing the Trump administration to regulate artificial intelligence as industry leaders warn of risks to humanity. CBS News' Caitlin Huey-Burns has more.
Top OpenAI executive endorses plan that would require AI companies to submit their technology to third-party reviews to assess their safety.
Artificial intelligence technology is developing at an "exponential" rate, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei told CBS News, calling the situation a "warning sign" for the industry that requires serious safeguards.
Paleontologists have identified the first known trackway made by a full-grown Tyrannosaurus rex, and the discovery was made in the North Dakota badlands.
Ten research teams were honored at a satirical science awards ceremony that was hosted outside the U.S. for the first time due to travel concerns. A study of cockroach milk was among the winners.
Marmots, not bears, are the largest "true" hibernating mammal, UCLA marmot researchers Katie Adler and Emily Renkey say. The two share more fun facts about these cute creatures and explain how to vote for the fattest marmot.
NASA's new telescope could change the way we see space. With a wide-field camera that will reveal an area up to 200 times larger than the Hubble Space Telescope, and an orbit a million miles from Earth, the Nancy Grace Roman telescope is expected to find tens of thousands of unknown exoplanets.
A 21-year-old Pennsylvania man has been arrested for allegedly plotting what could have been a "mass casualty attack" inspired by ISIS, federal officials say. CBS News' Anna Schecter has more.
In Washington state, investigators said they believe illegal fireworks, shot from the back of a pickup truck, sparked a nearly 10,000-acre deadly wildfire earlier this summer. Jason Allen reports.
A man racing a stolen Tesla down a crowded boardwalk hit a woman, setting off a wild chase involving lots of witnesses, including one recording it all on a pair of smart glasses. Jonah Kaplan reports.
The FBI said it thwarted a "mass casualty attack," inspired by ISIS, allegedly by a 21-year-old man in Pennsylvania. Agents allegedly tracked the young man to a hotel where they arrested him. It's the second ISIS-related plot to surface since August. Nicole Sganga reports.
A 21-year-old Pennsylvania man planned to carry out an ISIS-inspired "mass casualty attack" before being thwarted by the FBI, federal law enforcement officials say. CBS News' Anna Schecter has more.
NASA's Roman Space Telescope launched shortly after daybreak from Kennedy Space Center and blazed toward an observation point 1 million miles away.
The $4.3 billion telescope is expected to discover tens of thousands of exoplanets while probing the nature of mysterious dark matter and energy.
President Trump plans to award the Congressional Space Medal of Honor to the crew of NASA's Artemis II mission in a ceremony Aug. 28.
The mission to save NASA's sinking space telescope has been called off, dooming the telescope to a fiery reentry later this year.
A NASA spacecraft circling the moon is providing the sharpest views yet of the crater carved by a crashing SpaceX rocket.
A look back at the esteemed personalities who've left us this year, who'd touched us with their innovation, creativity and humanity.
Dolly Parton, the country music legend who became a feminist icon, has died at the age of 80. Here is a look back at her life in pictures.
Sylvie Cachay was found dead in an overflowing bathtub at the exclusive Soho House in New York City on Dec. 9, 2010. A water leak at the hotel gave away a timeline that may have revealed her killer.
Summer is the time to enjoy live music, indoors and out. Scroll through our gallery of some of 2026's leading musical acts, featuring images by CBS News photojournalist Jake Barlow and photographers Ed Spinelli and Kirstine Walton.
The Obama Presidential Center, museum and library opens in Chicago with a star-studded grand opening ceremony and public watch party on Midway Plaisance.
Attorney General Todd Blanche told CBS News' Ed O'Keefe on Tuesday "of course" the White House will comply with a Supreme Court decision that keeps in place a lower court ruling that blocked the U.S. Postal Service from enforcing new regulations for mail voting.
Trump slams Supreme Court for blocking Postal Service rules for mail ballots; Congress reacts to AI safety warnings.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks with CBS News' Aidan Stretch about the state of the war, Russia's recent escalation, U.S. support and more.
Stocks stayed in the red on Tuesday ahead of the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision on Wednesday. CBS News contributor Javier David has a preview of the meeting.
The growing concerns over AI safety brought together two people from opposite sides of the political spectrum on Tuesday: Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Trump adviser Steve Bannon. Washington Post tech reporter Gerrit De Vynk joins CBS News to discuss where AI legislation stands.