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 on fossil fuels like petroleum and gas. There are few windmills and panels. State-wide support is required to make a transition to renewable energy large-scale.
Natural gas
Texas' economy is heavily dependent on 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 will that do to ratepayers? And what can Texas do about 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. It has the largest processing capacity in the country. The Barnett Shale, Texas' largest onshore natural-gas field, is located in Texas' Bend Arch-Fort Worth Basin.
The pipeline will be able to transport enough gas to supply 1.5million homes in Texas every day. It also has the potential to deliver enough gas to Europe and other European countries. This will allow Texas to meet its increasing demand for natural gas for air conditioning. 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 are located in the state. Regulatory agencies oversee how companies manage their operations and ensure the safety of public health and the environment. They regulate air emissions, flaring, and other activities. Operators who do not follow these rules can lose their Texas permits.
Wind energy
Texas's energy mix includes wind energy. There are over 150 wind farms in the state, which produce over 30,000 MW of electricity. This represents a significant source of clean energy and a large percentage of state energy consumption. Texas's wind energy sector is growing rapidly, and the government has invested heavily in wind energy development.
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. This is why policymakers must address these issues now to prevent a crisis. While analysts suggest a range of solutions, none has been proven effective. The most effective approach may be a combination of capacity markets and pure free markets.
Both wind and sun energy are essential to Texas' energy mix. While solar energy accounts for a much smaller percentage of electricity in Texas, it is growing at a fast pace. Texas generated about 4% of its electricity last summer from solar energy. This number is expected to grow to 7.2% this summer. Solar energy is especially important in summer when winds speeds tend to be slower. The sun also beats down harder in the summer, making it more important to harness solar energy to help combat summer heatwaves.
Texas is the world's leader in wind energy generation. This trend is increasingly popular. The state is second in size after Alaska and has numerous wind sites that are available for development. In addition, wind power projects have the potential to beat the cost of electricity produced by coal. A wind turbine farm can be built in Texas with minimal effort.