The White House said Thursday a severe winter storm engulfing Texas and nearby states was the type of extreme weather event that climate change is triggering, rejecting assertions by Texas officials that "green energy" caused widespread power outages.
The crisis in the largest U.S. oil- and gas-producing state has put Democratic President Joe Biden's White House squarely at odds with Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who initially did not acknowledge Biden's 2020 election win.
Abbott has ordered state officials to fight Biden’s push to combat climate change. Washington is pausing new oil and gas leases, and cutting fossil fuel subsidies.