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OKIsItJustMe

(19,933 posts)
Sat Apr 20, 2019, 11:22 AM Apr 2019

Texas proves that booming renewable energy doesn't bring electricity price Armageddon

https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2019/04/20/texas-proves-booming-renewable-energy-doesnt-bring-electricity-price-armageddon
Texas proves that booming renewable energy doesn't bring electricity price Armageddon

Though Texas is the second largest state in size and population, it is the largest in electricity generation. And, according to recently released data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Texas is the national leader in electric sector decarbonization. In 2018, one-third of all coal power plant retirements nationwide were in Texas. At the same time, Texas led the nation in adding renewable power capacity.

By any measure, the numbers are impressive: In 2018 the U.S. retired 12.9 gigawatts of coal power plant capacity, 4.3 gigawatts of which came from Texas. Ohio and Florida also retired an impressive 2.3 gigawatts and 2.0 gigawatts, respectively. But Texas' contribution was equivalent to both of them combined, as well as the remaining 47 states together.

But it's not just about retiring coal. Texas already leads the nation in wind generation capacity with nearly 25 gigawatts (more than a quarter of the nation's total), and it still added more renewable generation (wind and solar) than any other state last year. In fact, Texas has enough wind capacity to rank No. 5 globally if it were still a country.



Texas is on the cusp of a boom in solar generation. The state added nearly a gigawatt, nearly doubling its solar PV capacity. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which manages the Texas electric grid, shows another 21 gigawatts of solar projects, with completed or pending agreements, in the interconnection queue. And don't think Texas is finished with wind: ERCOT has 12 gigawatts of wind projects with completed agreements and another 18 gigawatts pending.

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