The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has warned power consumers in Texas to conserve energy on Monday afternoon and evening because there will not be enough wind power to operate the power grid reliably in peak demand.
Though Texas is known for its role in the oil industry, it is also the nation’s number-one producer of wind energy. [bold, links added]
During a cold snap in the winter of 2021, however, wind turbines froze and many Texans found themselves without electricity.
That scenario is likely to repeat itself, albeit due to high temperatures that are accompanied by calm conditions.
ERCOT said in a statement:
With extreme hot weather driving record power demand across Texas, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) is issuing a Conservation Appeal, asking Texans and Texas businesses to voluntarily conserve electricity, Monday, July 11 between 2-8 p.m.
ERCOT also issued a Watch for a projected reserve capacity shortage from 2-8 p.m. At this time, no system-wide outages are expected.
…
Factors driving the need for this important action by customers:
• Record high electric demand: The heat wave that has settled on Texas and much of the central United States is driving increased electric use. Other grid operators are operating under similar conservative operations programs as ERCOT due to the heatwave.
• Low wind: While solar power is generally reaching near full generation capacity, wind generation is currently generating significantly less than what it historically generated in this time period. Current projections show wind generation coming in less than 10 percent of its capacity.
The failure of wind power during peak demand comes as President Joe Biden and other leaders are pressing the nation to give up on fossil fuels in favor of “renewable” sources like wind and solar — and often without mentioning nuclear power.
But as California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) warned during a similar power shortage in 2020, consumers need to “sober up” about the limits of wind and solar energy to power their electric grid.
This week, Biden will go to Saudi Arabia, hat in hand, to ask it to produce more oil, after his administration has taken steps to reduce domestic oil and gas production.
Read more at Breitbart
I’d say a rather predictable outcome given the market developments in Texas the past 20 years (or so). Over reliance on installation of renewables, an exploding population and prematurely retiring thermal generation sources (i.e. coal & less extent natural gas) have ALL contributed to a razor thin reserve margin within ERCOT BTW. I grew up in Dallas. This “heat wave” is what I call “seasonal.” It is routinely over 100 degrees in the afternoon in July & August. Nothing unusual about that. Again, if we can’t get a well informed & fact based discussion started on energy imperatives, this NONSENSE will only get worse…
So just how much are we the tax payers suppost to shell out to pay for their Bird Maiming eyesore Wind Turbines and Solar Panels?
Stupidity knows no boundaries or borders.