Texas Energy Grid & Data Center Reporter

Hearst Magazines; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Houston Chronicle is seeking an ambitious reporter to cover the intersection of energy, the electrical grid and data centers in Texas. Based on our Business desk, the reporter will examine how power demand shapes the state’s economy, infrastructure and communities.

This beat sits at the crossroads of business, public policy, infrastructure and climate. You will cover how Texas’ grid adapts after the 2021 winter storm and how utilities/regulators respond to growth in demand and data centers.

Qualifications

• Approximately 5 years of relevant reporting experience, preferably covering energy, business, infrastructure, or policy beats.
• Proven track record of breaking news and exclusive reporting.
• Ability to translate complex energy and regulatory issues for a broad audience.

Responsibilities

• Cover Texas’ electrical grid, power markets, and rising electricity demand from data centers and large industrial users.
• Break exclusive news on utilities, grid operators, regulators, energy companies and tech firms.
• Develop deep sources across energy industry, state agencies, utilities, lawmakers and environmental groups.
• Produce accountability journalism examining grid reliability, investments, ratepayer impacts, and resilience planning.
• Explain complex energy/tech issues in clear terms that readers can relate to daily life.
• Use public records, regulatory filings, data analysis, and investigative techniques to uncover exclusive stories.
• Produce both breaking news and longer-term accountability projects.

Skills

Energy coverage

Investigative reporting

Source development

Data interpretation

Job description

Houston Chronicle is seeking an ambitious reporter to cover the intersection of energy, the electrical grid and data centers in Texas. Based on our Business desk, the reporter will examine how power demand shapes the state’s economy, infrastructure and communities.

This beat sits at the crossroads of business, public policy, infrastructure and climate. You will cover how Texas’ grid adapts after the 2021 winter storm and how utilities/regulators respond to growth in demand and data centers.