In Texas politics, non-candidate political action committees (PACs) have received $184.8 million in total donations between January 1, 2021, and February 19, 2022. The top 10 PACs raised more than $76.5 million, or 41 percent of all donations made to state-level PACs.

This article is Part 1 of a four-part series demonstrating how the money in a lobby sector can impact state politics and legislation. We’ve selected the Green Energy sector due to a resurgence of interest in a behind-the-scenes look at renewables following the 2021 snowstorms, but you can follow the money in any industry of interest that is spending lobbying dollars in Austin.

When Texas’ last legislative session gaveled to a close in late May, conservatives from across the state were not shy about expressing their disappointment with the results. Leaders of large and powerful grassroots organizations like Julie McCarty of True Texas Project, JoAnn Fleming of Grassroots America We The People, Michael Quinn Sullivan of Empower Texans and Elizabeth Graham of Texas Right to Life described the results of the session as “purple,” “loser,” and “nothing,” making ominous, albeit veiled, threats to withhold funding.