Not the whole truth
Credit: www.mysanantonio.com 19 August 2011 ~~
Re: “CPS buying more coastal wind power” (Page 1, Aug. 9):
Last week, you passed along claims made by ERCOT’s CEO that wind power made a “significant” contribution to the state’s electrical power grid, just in time to meet afternoon peak hour demands.
Rather than take at face value the grid manager’s rosy re-characterization, the Express-News could have consulted the ERCOT website, specifically the Aug. 7 report. It shows that instead of showing up when the power was needed most, the output of wind-powered electricity took a deep dive.
The website also revealed the actual wind power output is less than half the advertised capacity — and more like 15 percent at peak, when we really need it!
If expensive transmission capacity is being built to match the higher output stamped on the windmill faceplate, these numbers and extreme fluctuations put in further doubt the economic wisdom of this technology.
As CPS Energy customers, we will be asked to foot the bill for more and more windtricity capacity. If the power isn’t there in hours of need, it puts in serious doubt the wisdom of the investment. You should do a better job of reporting all the facts!
Michael Dennis
