A Texas-Sized Energy Problem (Is Texas the new California?)

MasterResource ^ | April 24, 2009 | Robert Bradley

[Fiddlstix]

Ping

[wolfpat]

...meeting them would mean saving 1,176 megawatts of electricity — as much power as could be generated from two coal-fired power plants.

Actually, that's one coal fired power plant. Or it's one nuclear reactor.

[brushcop]

Non of the greeny pipe-dream “alternative” energy technologies are going to be the panacea they think they are but then again, greenies usually have more money than good sense and can afford just about anything so it’s really a moot point, well, except the maggot-infested unwashed hippie types.

Oh I forgot, those people are now wearing suits and ties and are now ruling our lives with environmental regulations such as: in Texas we are now taxed on our water wells, forget what your deeds say, nope, they’re gonna “save you” you see...

I challenged a envio-wacko about practicing what they preach one day (during the water well taxing scheme “debate”). I asked him to come over. We have a clothesline (always have, my wife prefers it—the dryer gets used in the winter if then), “water saver” shower heads (hard to get wet under the dern things!); the only grass is volunteer if there’s enough rainfall (since we live on a well) but it is kept trimmed and edged. Porches cover E & W side windows and the A/C is used only if temp rises to 90s+. We have two old but serviceable vehicles PAID for and they work fine but they sure won’t impress anyone.

This is not to make an impression, it’s how we live in our 30 year old home in Texas but we’re getting up in age so that’s okay. Before they came over I was going to ask my wife to fill the wash tub and put the scrubbing board in it as if she was going to wash a load of clothes, freak out time.

It panics them when I ask to see their clotheslines, paid for vehicles, water saver fixtures, etc., they KNOW they’re hypocrites. I tell them I also want to see their water saving (since everyone seems to be a water expert these days) toilets, plants and landscaping.

[basil]

My fear is that Texas is turning into a blue state....

Our legislature only meets once every other year---and the Nannie state legislation coming out of this meeting is painful to see.

[Redbob]

"......meeting them would mean saving 1,176 megawatts of electricity — as much power as could be generated from two coal-fired power plants. Actually, that's one coal fired power plant. Or it's one nuclear reactor."

Actually, it's none of the above.

Electric generation "capacity" is defined (logically enough) as the rate power can be delivered at any time it's needed.

Wind power, unfortunately, is delivered whenever it dang well pleases.
Therefore, it does not add capacity at all.
It has to be duplicated with conventional power generation facilities.

[Redbob]

"Our legislature only meets once every other year---and the Nannie state legislation coming out of this meeting is painful to see."

I'm thinkin' it ought to meet just every four years...

[Wuli]

The fallacy of the massive number of “green jobs” they say they are going to create:

in terms of energy and economic efficiency, how can an energy regime that requires thousands, if not millions of new jobs, be more efficient, in terms of energy or economics, than the present energy regime without them - it can’t - so, in fact, the cost of energy is not going to go down;

or, if the creation of all the new “green jobs” is a figment of their imagination, then what is that promise worth - zero; “job creation” in major technology shifts MOVES net jobs, from areas losing jobs to areas gaining jobs, rarely, as employment figures indicate, do they create net additional jobs.

The only energy changes worth implementing are energy changes and energy investments able to make energy CHEAPER and cheaper usually means LESS labor intensive and getting more “bang for the buck”, and nuclear is THE ONLY energy (right now) that does that.

And it’s technology is improving.

A totally self-contained, about the size of a big shed, 25-30 megawatt, mini nuc plant, producing 25-30 megawatts, is now available, for about $25 million. There is not even anything but power “released” from the system, because even the cooling system stays within the system, continually recycled.

http://cleantechnica.com/2008/11/09/mini-nuclear-power-plants-for-your-neighborhood-in-five-years/

http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/11/mini-nuclear-plant-is-safe-affordable-and-purifies-water-but-d/

http://www.hyperionpowergeneration.com/about_tech.html

http://www.hyperionpowergeneration.com/why.html

[TexasBeth]

How long before they start selling this energy to other states, after we’ve been force to pay for it.

[truthguy]

Non of the greeny pipe-dream “alternative” energy technologies are going to be the panacea they think they are but then again, greenies usually have more money than good sense and can afford just about anything so it’s really a moot point, well, except the maggot-infested unwashed hippie types.

Congratulations, this is one of the best lines I've ever read on FR. It's also true. Excellent Post.

[Spirochete]

environmental regulations such as: in Texas we are now taxed on our water wells, forget what your deeds say, nope, they’re gonna “save you” you see...

Texas is just about eaten up with liberals and Mexicans. If it this bad here, I can only imagine what a living hell it must be in other states.

[wolfpat]

You’re right. I was just trying to show how uninformed the reporter was in terms of the size of a power plant. Just a few miles from here is the Belews Creek Plant of Duke Energy. It has two coal fired boilers that, IIRC, generate 1200 MW each. One boiler that generates 1200 MW will produce less “greenhouse gases” than two 600 MW boilers.

The GE ABWR is a reactor that can be rated between 1350 and 1460 MW.

The author was trying to make the windmills sound more advantageous than they really are.

[cgbg]

The current plan is to move to Texas when we retire.

Our current high energy costs in the Northeast is one reason to move.

Please don't let them foul up your state like they have CT. (Our utility bills have gone up four-fold in the last two years.)

[Ben Ficklin]

"How long before they start selling this energy to other states"

Texas has a stand alone grid that operates outside of regulatory authority of FERC. The Texas grid won't sell to the outside because they don't want to be regulated by FERC.

Even if Texas did try to sell offgrid, their price is to high because prior to dereg much of Texas's electricity generation was converted to natural gas. Do you know how much more your electricity cost you because of the natural gas shortages caused by Katrina?

"after we've been force to pay for it"

Notice at the bottom of the article it mentions $4.9 billion for the two transmission lines that connect Dallas and San Antonio to the wind zone. That will cost you the rate payer $4 bucks a month.

[SunkenCiv]

Texas, which has the strictest renewable energy mandate in the country, is about to increase its quota for the third time. Now the wind capital of the U.S., Texas's new law would make the state the leader in solar power as well. Expensive and intermittent, wind- and solar-forcing will work only to increase electricity rates for captive consumers and reduce reliability on the grid. Taxpayers are on the hook as well.

[Carry_Okie]

Government goes to those who show up. With utilities financially protected and not wanting to be labeled as anti-”green,” and principled taxpayer, consumer, and free-market groups virtually absent, the interventionists have taken over.

The author is clueless. "Green power" is all about making more money by manufactured shortages and an increased installed base.

The link describes how the gambit worked in California.

[ASOC]

LOL

When the Greenies get finished a 800 SqFt home in Levitown will be the new McMansion....

[MeekOneGOP]

Ping !!

[Squantos]

We remodeled last year. Added 4 inches of foil faced rigid foam insulation to exterior of the home and 6 on interior by sistering the exterior wall shells 2x4’s w/ new 2x6 framing and using expanding foam system. Good seal on the homes shell, siding etc , new windows & doors and storm windows and doors have made a massive difference in our utility bills.

As well we went after ghost wattage big time. Yeah the microwave will blink,and the TV takes a little longer to come on and off but only thing drawing power right now in the home is fridge and freezer, ceiling fan , the TV I am watching and the LED desk lamp. We surf the net on cellular media cards and laptops. We have a large amount of hickory stored and use that to heat the homes radiant floor system with a combination wood and electric gasification boiler that allows such when we are home and is all electric if we are gone and the switch is thrown. Also we have a small glass faced door wood stove to back that up. All winter long we were able to use very very little electricity. Home is very comfortable even when extreme cold and high winds are about.

Heating up for summer will raise the bills due AC costs of course but we have lots of shade from large eaves and porches as well as trees and shade from plants etc . Stays cool on all but the really hot days . Looking at foggers and misting systems when humidity is low and evaporation will augment other systems to keep us cool .

We observed this fiasco coming first hand on the power companies. Our next expense we have saved for is to go off grid 100%. Cut the wire altogether. Right now researching and looking at combination solar panels that heat water and produce power. They are new designs and stand up to large hail as well. Plan B.

I know everyone can’t do as we have be lucky enough to get done. Yet ........insulation, awareness of whats being used and better planning can make a massive difference in utility bills !

Don’t give the utility companies anything ya don’t have to .

Stay safe and Thanks for the ping !

[stevie_d_64]

Thats the way to do it...