Regents of the Texas Tech University System are expected to authorize a new master’s degree program in “renewable energy” later this week.
The degree program is part of the consent agenda for this week’s quarterly meeting in Dallas. Consent agendas are intended to enable governmental bodies to quickly move through unobjectionable items but are sometimes abused to hide controversial measures.
The board’s agenda book stated that this program will prepare graduates “to assume a broad range of technical leadership roles in nascent and established industries, government entities, and non-governmental organizations.”
“Texas and the United States show strong labor market momentum for professionals with an M.S. in Renewable Energy, driven by growth in wind, solar, and energy storage technologies,” the agenda book continued, suggesting continued demand for unreliable alternative energy, both in Texas and nationally.
The agenda book noted that Texas leads the nation in wind energy production. However, a 2022 study found that since the advent of the “environmentally friendly” alternative energy industry, millions of dollars in taxpayer money have been poured into subsidies for so-called “green” energy—which cannot compete in a free market without those subsidies.
Meanwhile, as the Texas grid relies more on alternative energy—up to 25 percent of the grid capacity—the reliability of the grid becomes shakier, especially as severe weather events impact energy sources like solar panels and wind turbines.
If regents approve the new degree program, Texas Tech will seek its final approval at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Texas Tech’s accreditor, will also need to acknowledge the new degree program.
Texas Tech University is a component of the Texas Tech University System. It is overseen by a Board of Regents that is appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Texas Senate. Cody Campbell of Fort Worth is the current board chairman.
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