Texas is currently the world's leader in energy use but is far from a place where renewable energy is possible. The state still relies heavily on fossil fuels, such as oil or gas, so windmills or solar panels are not very common. State support will be required for a widespread transition to renewable energies.
Natural gas
Texas is home to natural gas. The state's oil and gas industry contributed 14.9% of its gross state product in 2006 to 312,000 jobs. What happens if natural-gas prices rise further? What effect will that have on ratepayers What can Texas do to stop it?
In Texas, natural gas production is concentrated in and around the Gulf of Mexico. Texas and Louisiana are home to nearly three percent of the world's total natural gas reserves. The state has the nation's largest processing capacity. Texas' largest offshore natural gas field is Barnett Shale. It is located in the Bend Arch Fort Worth Basin.
The new pipeline will transport enough gas every day to supply 1.5 million homes across Europe and Texas. This will be a boon for Texas' growing demand for natural gas to power its air conditioners. However, peak demand is expected to hit Texas on Monday. The Public Utility Commission of Texas (ERCOT), has asked Texas residents to conserve energy.
Many oil- and gas companies have their headquarters in the state. The regulatory agencies supervise how companies manage operations and ensure that the environment and public health are safe. They regulate air emissions, flaring, and other activities. Operators who do not follow these rules can lose their Texas permits.
Wind energy
Wind energy in Texas is a part of the state's overall energy mix. The state has more than 150 wind farms that produce over 30,000 MW electricity. This is a huge percentage of the state's energy usage, and represents a huge source of clean energy. Texas' wind energy is expanding rapidly and the government is investing heavily.
Texas' wind energy boom is bringing many benefits for the state, both in terms of cost and in terms of environmental impact. This growth poses challenges to grid reliability. These concerns must be addressed by policymakers now, before it becomes a crisis. Analysts have suggested many options, but no single solution has been found to work. Combining capacity markets with pure free markets could be the best approach.
Both wind energy and solar energy are vital to Texas' energy mix. Although solar energy only makes up a fraction of Texas' electricity, its use is increasing at an impressive rate. Texas got about 4% its electricity from solar power last year. This number is expected grow to 7.2% next summer. The summer will see solar energy become more important because of the lower wind speeds. Furthermore, the sun beats down more during the summer, so solar energy will be even more valuable to counter the summer heatwaves.
Texas is an industry leader in wind power generation. Texas, second after Alaska in terms of state size, is home to many outstanding wind sites. Furthermore, wind power projects are more affordable than the electricity produced from coal. It is easy to set up a wind farm in Texas.