Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has initiated a major investigation into the use of technology products linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) within the state’s energy infrastructure. The probe specifically focuses on Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL), a prominent battery manufacturer, regarding its involvement in a power storage facility currently under construction near Mabank, Texas.
Key Investigation Details:
- Performance Issues: The inquiry follows reports that critical CATL components failed essential performance tests, raising reliability concerns for the Texas power grid.
- Legal Compliance: Investigators are examining potential violations of the Lone Star Infrastructure Protection Act, which prohibits agreements that grant Chinese-controlled entities access to Texas’s critical systems.
- Security Precedents: This probe follows previous state restrictions on other CCP-linked technologies, including DeepSeek AI tools, TP-Link networking equipment, and Lorex security cameras.
AG Paxton emphasized that Texas will not tolerate foreign interference or backdoor access to its state infrastructure. The outcome of this investigation could significantly impact how states balance global supply chains with infrastructure security moving forward.