Texas Electric Grid Faces Uncertainty in 2012
Will the lights stay on in 2012? Texas electricity experts cannot say for certain.
The state’s electric grid operators are coming off of a tumultuous year, one they are not eager to repeat. In February, a deep freeze knocked numerous power plants out of commission as equipment broke, causing rolling blackouts across the state. Then, the hottest summer on record spurred repeated conservation warnings, as grid managers worked — successfully — to avoid more blackouts.
What happens next year will largely depend on the weather. While a piping-hot summer could spur blackouts, as electricity use spikes because of air-conditioning loads, winter ...
Comments (30)
BurningFeet
Odd how wind energy generation is called 'fickle', when it isn't dependent on water availability, or subject to plant closing mechanical failures. In fact, the wind energy providers were the only dependable suppliers last summer, delivering exactly as promised. Heck, the wind guys don't even need a Run For Your Life evacuation plan in case of meltdowns or other earth scorching events. Fickle, indeed.
Rudyg43
The correct answer is these industries have know about the needed upgrades for over three years or longer and have chosen to play as they have all along. The EPA and Jobs have been called into this argument , but does not pass the smell test. They have threatened "Black outs" or "Rolling Brown-outs", but the fact remains they do not want to abide by the rules. They have had Republican backing for a long time and they feel they have an inside track to get their way at the cost of polluting every one's air. This also points out the incompetence of our so-called leaders in Austin.
Joe Estep via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Well there goes the recovery, if there ever were one.
Dave Mundy via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Texas, we have another option: independence.
Luisa Inez Newton via Texas Tribune on Facebook
the future is solar & conservation. period.
John Cobarruvias via Texas Tribune on Facebook
How is that electricity deregulation working fer you?
Mike Openshaw via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Of course, we can avoid blackouts. When power gets tight, shut down the 20% that is sent out of state and refer all complaints to the EPA (whose very Texas-specific actions will be responsible for the shortage of capacity.)
Pam Karnes via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Texas has the least regulations on businesses like power plants etc, specifically high rates of children with asthmatic conditions.. oh and the least amount of children with health insurance... keep on, the sicker your children get, the sicker your future is..
Audrey Fisher via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Blame the EPA, really? Is that the knee-jerk reaction of an individual who cares more about their own agenda that the health of today and future generations. I suppose that naysayer's also believe that EPA is regulating dust.
Lorna Presswood via Texas Tribune on Facebook
The power grid is not state isolated. People that are arguing what Texas should do is rather moot. Texas will do whatever it has to do to keep up with the national grid and the EPA will rule the entire thing...to enviornmentalist need to attack the national system if they want to get anything accomplished. Blame the EPA?..LOL. That's laughable. Of course blame the EPA, along with every other major federal department that handles anything. Texas is just a small cog in the wheel.
namoyer
There is no national grid. Texas is an electricity island by its own choice. ERCOT (bunch of oxymorons) must begin mandatory industrial electricity demand management NOW! Also, natural gas fired combined cycle powerplants can be built cheaply and quickly, and have low water demand. They are also more than double the efficiency of old simple cycle coal/gas/nuclear units. Reduce cost of ERCOT by cutting bloated executive compensation.
Brandon Whittle via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Lorna, most of the Texas grid is indeed isolated. The rest of the 48 are split into two grids, but TX is on its own.
Erin Anderson via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Brandon is correct - Texas is fortunate to have its own power grid and thus somewhat more control over our energy future.
gypsy314 ne
This is why we should be using LNG for power plants any better than waiting on Obama and crew to do anything but close power plants down and we have the problem like California has. As a Texan I say hell no.
Anyone but Obama!
Remember a vote for a democrat is a vote for Obama and illegal aliens , homosexuals and terrorist.
Philip Welsh via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Why the utilities and local gov'ts make it difficult and so very costly (above and beyond the cost to buy equipment) to put solar on our homes is the issue....can you imagine the impact if homes had solar units on them generating power? That is the answer.
Elmo
Here's the problem people. Senator Sibley from Waco got deregulation passed and made millins lobbying for those who benefited, namely power companies like TXU and Coops. They said what happened in California would never happen here. Well it has . Thanks Sibley
Neil Moyer via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Erin, and that's the control you have now...; interconnection protects all against transient shortages...
namoyer
Time to chase down Waco Sibley, hog-tie him, tar and feather him, and run him out of the state...
Elmo
Power cost have gone out the roof since Sibley got that passed with Perry and Kip Averitt
Philip Welsh via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Just like big oil, big coal and the utilities don't want solar ... period. They want to keep bilking the public for power when power can be virtually free after we "invest" in panels and equipment. Oh, but they can invest in coal plants and dams, etc., but somehow that is waaaaaaay cheaper? Come on.
John Burton via Texas Tribune on Facebook
It's helpful to have some historical perspective. Dirty utilities have forecast economic doom and blackouts every time the EPA has ever issued an air or water regulation. Every time! And every single time, they've been wrong. As EPA chief Lisa Jackson is fond of pointing out, in its 40-year history, the Clean Air Act has never yet caused an electric reliability problem. I suppose it's possible that dirty utilities are right this time and independent analysts are wrong, but as a guiding heuristic, "dirty utilities are full of self-serving sh*t" has proven pretty reliable.
David Spratt
All these people touting the green energy thing need to step up. For an average home and a family of four all you have to do is spend $40,000 and you can get all that green power you want. 20KW will run most and in 20 years or so it will be paid for. What is holding you back?
BurningFeet
Hey, Dave. Why not just sign up for clean wind electricity from Green Mountain? Been doing it for years. Works just fine, no mercury pollution, no piles of radioactive garbage, no catastrophic plant failures, and easy money in the pockets of West Texas wind ranchers. Your grandchildren will thank you.
David Spratt
Already have a turbine and regular power is supplied by CO-OP. There is no choice. Besides how do you know the electrons coming to your house originated at the turbine? Are they trained to only go where they are supposed to go? I bet most of the ones coming to your house came from somewhere other than a wind turbine.
BurningFeet
C'mon, Hoss. Do I have a big extension cord plugged into a wind farm in Big Spring? No, no I don't. But my wallet is hooked directly into it.
Joe Calzone
Hello BF wind is excellent, but they are talking about a GRID issue. The State and Country needs to look into a smart distributed grid. Still waiting for my renewable energy company to take off.
BornFreeTexan Wants Liberty For All
Joe Barton tried to warn us!!! The Enviros won't be happy until we are all using bicycles or back to the horse and buggy!!!! Where do you think that "light switch" comes from?? WE need COAL!!! It's our own natural resource!!! We don't have to get it from people that hate us!!!! It's cheap and it's ours!!!!! Tell the Enviros to go back to California and hug those damn trees!!!!!!!!!!
Elmo
Born Free. It is clear your clueless. Natural gas is everywhere and it is not dirty like coal. It is clean. Sibley deregulated electric rates ! He is the highest paid lobyist in TExas and gets ton of amoney form the power companies. That tell you anything? Coal has mercury. Clean it up
gypsy314 ne
Joe sure did and Ross warn us about free trade and everything he warn us about has happen. jobs went south quick. How is Nafta working for everyone? Bill Clinton and crew fix it good. I say enough vote every democrat out of office and lets take our country back before it is to late.
Anyone but Obama!
Remember a vote for a democrat is a vote for Obama and illegal aliens , homosexuals and terrorist.
gypsy314 ne
Are you a Texan I say clean it up some but not at the expense of the citizens. I say use all sources get rid of EPA they are just a arm of Obama using his power to attack Republicans for now we will have the last word and I say tar and feather Obama send him back to Kenya.
Anyone but Obama!
Remember a vote for a democrat is a vote for Obama and illegal aliens , homosexuals and terrorist.