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Wind Power News: Texas
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational mission to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law. The original articles, links to which are provided, may have additional links and photos and other media that were not included here.
Galveston may get a massive offshore wind project, feds say
More than half a million acres of Gulf of Mexico waters some 24 miles off the coast of Galveston could be dotted by wind turbines after federal officials on Wednesday said they are considering leasing the area for energy projects. The proposed “wind energy area” covers 546,645 acres – larger than the city of Houston – and could produce enough electricity to power about 2.3 million homes, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management said. A second proposal about 64 miles off the . . . Complete story »
Offshore wind farm proposed for Gulf of Mexico near Galveston could power 2.3 million homes
HOUSTON – The Gulf of Mexico’s first offshore wind farms will be developed off the coasts of Texas and Louisiana, the Biden administration announced Wednesday, and together they’re projected to produce enough energy to power around 3 million homes. The wind farms likely will not be up and running for years, energy analysts and the state’s grid operator said, but the announcement from the U.S. Interior Department is the first step in ramping up offshore wind energy in the United States, . . . Complete story »
A massive wind farm project is being proposed along the coast of Galveston
President Joe Biden announced a new program on Wednesday that would develop offshore wind power in the Gulf of Mexico to address climate change. The Department of the Interior proposed two Wind Energy Areas and one sits off the Galveston coast. The area covers 546,645 acres, which could produce enough energy to power 2.3 million homes, according to the Bureau of Ocean Management. The second area is off the coast of Lake Charles, Louisiana, which would cover 188,023 miles, producing . . . Complete story »
Fate of the Texas power grid depends on daily whims of the wind
The ability of Texas—America’s oil and natural gas hub—to avoid blackouts during this summer’s punishing heatwaves is hinging largely on a different source of energy: wind power. On breezy days, Texas has plenty of electricity to spare—even as demand surges to unprecedented levels. On Wednesday, for instance, power use was forecast to skyrocket to a record 80 gigawatts. But officials haven’t even asked for conservation, thanks to vast farms in the Texas Panhandle and along the Gulf Coast that can . . . Complete story »
Biden ’emergency’ offshore wind push faces Trump roadblock
As part of his efforts to take executive action to address climate change, President Joe Biden said yesterday he would advance offshore wind development for Southeastern states – a prospect seemingly prohibited by a moratorium signed by his predecessor. Wind advocates said they aren’t ready to celebrate yet, instead focused on maintaining a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act currently moving through Congress to reverse the 10-year ban on offshore energy development in the southern Atlantic Ocean signed by former . . . Complete story »
Biden moves to expand offshore wind to Gulf of Mexico
The Biden administration on Wednesday said it had identified 700,000 acres for possible offshore wind energy development in the Gulf of Mexico, seeking to expand a growing clean energy industry to a major U.S. oil and gas hub. It also said President Joe Biden would direct his Interior Department to move ahead with offshore wind development in areas of the Atlantic coast where former President Donald Trump banned oil and gas development. “Today we open up yet another coast and . . . Complete story »
Twisting in the wind: Texas faces blackouts as heat wave strains windmill-reliant power grid
Clean energy proponents are touting the use of solar and wind power in oil-rich Texas, but a summer heat wave is showing the limits of renewables in sustaining a major power grid. Temperatures have climbed into the 100’s this month and Texas energy companies are sending urgent messages to customers to warn of rolling blackouts. They also are asking customers to conserve by raising thermostats, cutting back on using dishwashers and washing machines and limiting electric vehicle charging. Energy Texas, . . . Complete story »
Texas wind power lags as high-pressure system looms over the state
Texas wind power slowed down this week after a high-pressure system bringing triple-digit temperatures depressed winds. While Texas is the biggest wind power state in the U.S., wind turbines tend to generate less energy during high-heat events. But it comes as the demand for reliable energy is exceedingly high. This week, the state’s turbines produced only 8% of their potential output. Brian Eckhouse has been reporting on this for Bloomberg. He joined us to talk about Texas’ wind output and . . . Complete story »
Texas wind power is failing right when the state needs it most
Wind power – a key source of electricity in Texas – is being sidelined just when the Lone Star State needs it most, with turbines generating less than a 10th of what they’re capable of. A scorching heat wave is pushing the Texas grid to the brink. Power demand is surging as people crank up air conditioners. But meanwhile, wind speeds have fallen to extremely low levels, and that means the state’s fleet of turbines is at just 8% of their potential . . . Complete story »
Grid holds up despite wind turbine concerns from ERCOT, DME
Denton and the rest of Texas made it through ERCOT’s requested energy conservation period – 2 to 8 p.m. Monday – despite uncertain grid conditions, with wind turbines being the major trouble spot. Sweltering Texas temperatures have stressed the state’s power grid through high demand. That isn’t uncommon for the summer period, but the Electric Reliability Council of Texas made an ”appeal” for conservation during the hottest part of the day Monday, in hopes of keeping demand from exceeding power generation. ERCOT . . . Complete story »
