Posted on 03/28/2014 1:24:37 PM PDT by thackney
New West Texas transmission lines helped Lone Star wind power reach new gusty heights, hitting a record of more than 10,000 megawatts of generation late Wednesday night.
The new West Texas transmission lines – with the unwieldy name of Competitive Renewable Energy Zone lines – cost the state almost $7 billion by the time they were completed last December, but are expected to earn their keep, giving the state the ability to nearly double its use of wind energy.
“These Texas wind records were made possible by the completion of the Competitive Renewable Energy Zone transmission lines earlier this year,” said Michael Goggin, the transmission expert for the American Wind Energy Association in a written statement “These power lines connect world-class wind energy resource areas in West Texas and the Texas Panhandle to electricity demand centers in other parts of the state.”
Wind generation accounted for nearly 30 percent of the 35,768 megawatts of electricity at its peak that evening, and made up nearly 40 percent the following morning, according to the American Wind Energy Association.
One megawatt is enough electricity to power about 200 homes during periods when electric use is highest and about 500 homes during mild weather when less electricity is being consumed.
The new record beats a prior one earlier this month by more than 600 megawatts, and is also the record for wind generation in any U.S. power system.
The new West Texas transmission lines, an almost $7 billion investment completed last December, are expected to allow the state to nearly double its use of wind energy, Goggin said.
The Texas grid has more than 11,000 Megawatts of commercial wind power capacity, as well as an additional 8,000 megawatts of projects in development and another 26,700 megawatts under study, according to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which manages the grid for about 90 percent of the state.
Wind power made up 9.9 percent of the total energy used in the Texas region in 2013, up from 9.2 percent in 2012.
The citizens of Texas likely would not want this Wind scam.
Politics the world over is pretty much dominated by one type of individual -- sadistic control freaks.
Our Founders clearly saw the type of person that would seek political office -- mostly evil and scummy. That is why they tried their best to keep government "weak" and chained down by the constitution.
Follow the money. The billion$ being pumped out of the ratepower and taxpayer for this subsidized temple to Gaia flows to landowners, windmill builders and installers, transmission line operators, from all of them to politicians. The greenies fly cover for the politicians, giving them a 'holy' excuse for accepting the graft.
Oh, Wile E. Coyote Power Generation Co., powered by Acme.
I guess you like the taxpayers being raped to support this nonviable program?
If you think it is "worth" it then why don't you advocate the removal off ALL taxpayer subsidies. Second, why don't you then invest your funds and see how viable it is after a few years. I would say you would be bankrupt.
You may think it is worth it, but it is immoral to use the "force" of government to take taxpayer funds to subsidize a product (windmill/solar to produce energy) that would not stand if left on it's own, especially when there are many alternative products already existing that provide energy at much lower unit costs.
So much for the wide openness of west texas
And these wind mills just ruin the countryside — they’re butt ugly.
The bottom line is ALWAYS money in pockets and anything will pass!
There are HEFTY wind royalties for the wind turbines...so the ranchers get a check for the wind and then below for the oil and gas....!!!!
Pump it TEXAS!!!
>How on earth, you have to wonder, did the Texas Legislature and Governor fall for the wind power scam?<
.
Simple.
Campaign contributions from energy companies.
With enough money, you can buy off anyone.
Yep, that describes the scummy human drawn to politics. Very few people of virtue are in government office today.
Most bureaucrats definitely fall into the evil sadistic class. They relish bringing pain and misery to people who just want to live their lives in freedom and peace.
Government at all levels is accelerating towards despotism.
True enough. Most people would wrongly believe that with enough campaign finance reform or such that the problem would be lessened. Mostly people of the lowest of character are attracted to government positions.
As John Adams stated, "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
Our Republic is in definite decline due to the numerous cretins that fill it's offices at the local, state, and federal level.
Four days ago Obama awarded the 7th LNG export permit. And because of Ukraine, many are calling to approve more/faster. Almost all new power plants being built are natural gas fired. More and more nat gas is being used for transportation.
If the price of nat gas goes up, coal, nukes, wind, solar become more competitive.
IIRC, there is a set of wind turbines in Norway near a hydroelectric dam. They are able to use the wind energy to pump water back into the reservoir, which they can then release as they need it.
All to make a greenie in Austin feel good.
Without taxpayer subsidies none of the wind farms would even exist. Wind farms are strictly a non-market product pushed by evil Green leftist and corrupt cronyism paid for on the backs of taxpayers.
The Earth has immense reserves of very accessible, clean sources of energy. The biggest impediment to cheap energy the world over is busy-body politicians and corrupt businesses.
Just a few month ago, Mid-America Holdings placed the largest order ever for wind turbines, and none of those will be subsidized.
On the other hand, there have been some recent events that draw attention to the externalized cost of coal that coal power plant owner or rate payer don't have to pay for. That is the health and environmental costs of coal that get socialized. Who is paying for that big coal chemical spill in Kentucky. The coal company ain't. Who's paying for the coal ash spill?
All these external costs of burning coal get socialized and you like it because you are a rightwing socialist.
Bull. LOL you are a fool to believe such lies. Show me the proof. If not for tax breaks no wind farm would go up. Tax breaks the world over are the only reason these monstrosities go up.
That is the health and environmental costs of coal that get socialized. Who is paying for that big coal chemical spill in Kentucky. The coal company ain't. Who's paying for the coal ash spill?
In a just society any company that damages the public should indeed be liable for all costs involved. I never implied otherwise. I believe in strict liability, not crony capitalism.
All these external costs of burning coal get socialized and you like it because you are a rightwing socialist.
Right wing Socialist?? LOL Touched a nerve, did I? You are truly mentally challenged to come to that conclusion. LOL You are wound too tight. Then again, most masquerading leftists show their true hatred when their taxpayer supported fantasies are exposed for the frauds they are.
Please, seek professional help. I truly pity you. Please go and stay at the DUmp, the site of all those who hate capitalism and believe in the fantasy of a green paradise.
A quick google search has the below snippet MidAmerican Energy
Federal policy and tax credits that help keep renewables on a level playing field with more mature electricity sources figure into MidAmerican’s strategy, according to Weisgall.
Again, none of these idiotic wind farms would exist without taxypayer provided subsidies. Buffet is the worse kind of crony capitalist.
Take your pathetic anti-Liberty, anti-Capitalist lies elsewhere.
That is incorrect. The subsidies were discontinued for new windmills only. See http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-01-09/wind-energy-companies-prepare-for-tax-credits-end
The tax credit lasts for 10 years after a project is complete, so most of the wind energy produced in the U.S. will continue to receive federal support for at least a few more years. And any wind turbine that was under construction before the end of last year will still get a full decade of credits. But projects that get under way from now on won’t qualify for the benefits.
Ben Ficklin also said "All these external costs of burning coal get socialized".
Unfortunately all the external costs of my wood stove are socialized as well. I use it in part because of the shutting down of coal plants raising my electric rates. The coal electric plant is a point source and a lot of pollution can be controlled at the source. That is not true with my wood stove.
Not only Austin, but here. See my post#36, 37...
Green energy is just another feel good rip-off of the taxpayer.
I predict within 20 years most of these ridiculous wind farms will be taken down. Even with the taxpayer subsidies, the life-cycle maintenance costs will doom them. More and more people will wake up to the scam.
Fall?! LOL! There's backroom money in them thar windmills. The only ones falling are the taxpayers that subsidize them via the Guv's legislative sanctioned slush fund. Crony capitalism isn't just for sleazy democrats.
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