Texas affirmed it was the leading state in energy last week as it set a wind power record.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas announced that its grid was producing 10,296 MW by wind resources at 8:48 p.m. March 26 — the most of any U.S. power system to date, according to Forbes.
The wattage accounted for close to 29 percent of the grid and originated from numerous sources, including turbines on the Gulf Coast (1,433 MW). Other regions, in mostly West Texas, accounted for the other 8,863 MW.
Texas' nearly 36,000 MW grind supplies the state with 85 percent of its electricity, partly because of its own desire for self-sufficiency and also because of the infrastructure left over from World War II production facilities.
And it's not all oil and gas. Although some might not guess it, The Lone Star State has developed more wind energy capacity than any other.
According to ERCOT, 11,000 MW of generators already contribute to the grid, and another 8,000 MW are due to come on line shortly. In addition, more than 26,700 MW are 'under study.' In 2013, wind power contributed 9.9% to the state's overall electricity supply, up from 9.2% the year prior, according to Forbes.
While Texas leads in overall wind power capacity, it is still far from leading in percentage of wind power.
Xcel Energy in Colorado reported that 60.5 percent of customer demand had come from wind power on May 24. Another provider, Bonneville Power Authority, recorded less than 40 percent in October 2012.
According to Peter Kelly-Detwiler at Forbes, the wind resource energy has grown considerably in recent years and there is a great deal of wind turbine construction happening in the middle of the country.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas announced that its grid was producing 10,296 MW by wind resources at 8:48 p.m. March 26 — the most of any U.S. power system to date, according to Forbes.
The wattage accounted for close to 29 percent of the grid and originated from numerous sources, including turbines on the Gulf Coast (1,433 MW). Other regions, in mostly West Texas, accounted for the other 8,863 MW.
Texas' nearly 36,000 MW grind supplies the state with 85 percent of its electricity, partly because of its own desire for self-sufficiency and also because of the infrastructure left over from World War II production facilities.
And it's not all oil and gas. Although some might not guess it, The Lone Star State has developed more wind energy capacity than any other.
According to ERCOT, 11,000 MW of generators already contribute to the grid, and another 8,000 MW are due to come on line shortly. In addition, more than 26,700 MW are 'under study.' In 2013, wind power contributed 9.9% to the state's overall electricity supply, up from 9.2% the year prior, according to Forbes.
While Texas leads in overall wind power capacity, it is still far from leading in percentage of wind power.
Xcel Energy in Colorado reported that 60.5 percent of customer demand had come from wind power on May 24. Another provider, Bonneville Power Authority, recorded less than 40 percent in October 2012.
According to Peter Kelly-Detwiler at Forbes, the wind resource energy has grown considerably in recent years and there is a great deal of wind turbine construction happening in the middle of the country.
