*Ava Peinhardt*

“Being involved in Calendars has been one of the most eye-opening parts of my legislative experience.”

Can you us a little about yourself?

My name is Ava Peinhardt, and I’m the Energy Policy Fellow in Representative Todd Hunter’s office this session. Rep. Hunter represents House District 32 and has long been an advocate for the energy sector and the Texas grid. While he previously served as Chair of the State Affairs Committee, this session he chairs the House Calendars Committee and also serves on the committees for Public Education and Land & Resource Management. During my time in his office, I’ve been fortunate to support the work of Calendars and gain insight into how bills move throughout the legislative process.

What led you to exploring a career in energy policy?

My interest in energy policy was sparked by Winter Storm Uri in 2021. At the time, I was a freshman at Trinity University, still undecided on my major when the storm left me frozen in my dorm room for nearly a week. The chaos and devastation left me wanting to understand what went wrong with our grid, and, more importantly, what was being done to fix it. Within a few months, I declared a major in Environmental Studies and got involved in student advocacy, exploring both scientific and policy-based approaches to environmental issues.

My first hands-on policy experience came through an internship at a land trust in San Antonio, where I prepared compliance reports for 13 conservation easements located on the Edwards Aquifer. That role introduced me to regulatory structures and demonstrated how policy gets implemented and enforced on the ground. It also highlighted the importance of state-level governance and led me to explore broader topics like energy regulation and environmental justice.

What have been your most valuable takeaways so far?

Being involved in Calendars has been one of the most eye-opening parts of my legislative experience. I expected the legislative process to be more rigid and formal, but I quickly realized how much happens informally, through hallway conversations, staff check-ins, and phone calls. Relationships and trust often carry as much weight as the policy details themselves. The pace is fast, the stakes are high, and there’s always more to juggle than time allows. I’ve learned how critical it is to stay organized, adapt quickly, and communicate clearly to keep things on track.

This session also taught me how to manage expectations and embrace change. I had been looking forward to working on energy bills as part of the State Affairs Committee, and when Rep. Hunter wasn’t reappointed as chair, I initially felt disappointed. However, that change pushed me to broaden my scope. Through the Land & Resource Management committee, I began to explore how energy policy intersects with land use, permitting, and infrastructure development.

My office played a key role in facilitating conversations with industry reps, advocacy groups, and fellow legislative staff. Those interactions gave me a much broader view of Texas’s energy landscape, not just from a technical or economic standpoint, but through political, environmental, and landowner lenses as well. I’ve learned that effective policy depends on balancing diverse, often competing perspectives, and ensuring those voices are part of the lawmaking process.

Q&A with Ava Peinhardt: 2025 Energy Policy Fellow

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