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.