Tag

Texas Grid

All articles tagged with #texas grid

energy2 hours ago•35 min saved

Texas halts data-center approvals for state-led audits of energy, water, and incentives

Governor Greg Abbott ordered audits of all data centers seeking connection to the ERCOT grid, pausing approvals until the Public Utility Commission and ERCOT verify details on tax breaks, electricity, water use, cooling, local impacts, and ownership; with more than 1,800 projects in the interconnection queue (about 90% data centers) the move could slow hyperscale development and heighten calls for transparency and tighter regulation.

via The Texas Tribune|

#data-centers #energy #ercot

environment2 years ago•12 min saved

Texas Faces Power Crisis After Hurricane Beryl: Gov. Abbott Sets Deadline for Utility Fix

Over a quarter million people in Houston remain without power following Hurricane Beryl, prompting political scrutiny of Texas's power grid and CenterPoint Energy's response. Governor Greg Abbott and Democratic lawmakers are demanding answers and potential reforms, highlighting the broader issue of climate change and its impact on infrastructure. The crisis has exacerbated existing vulnerabilities in Houston, including extreme heat and food insecurity, and has reignited debates on how to prevent future outages.

via The Hill|

#climate-change #environment #houston

energy2 years ago•7 min saved

"Texas Grid's 'Artificial Shortages' in Summer Heat: A Costly $8 Billion Mistake"

An analysis by the independent market monitor of Texas' electricity market found that the state's grid operator, ERCOT, intentionally created "artificial shortages" this summer, resulting in soaring electricity prices that cost consumers about $8 billion over three months. The introduction of a new reserve mechanism aimed at preventing blackouts led to the withholding of electricity supply from the market, pushing up prices even during periods of ample supply. While power companies and cryptocurrency miners benefited from the price spikes, ordinary Texans are likely to face higher energy costs in the future. Critics argue that the change did not significantly improve grid reliability and is essentially a transfer of wealth from consumers.

via The New York Times|

#artificial-shortages #electricity-prices #energy

energy3 years ago•4 min saved

The Complex Energy Landscape of Texas: A Mix of Fossil Fuels and Renewables.

Fossil fuels, including natural gas, coal, and nuclear power, are failing the Texas grid during peak demand due to broken equipment and overheating. New batteries and demand response systems are being developed to provide backup power and reduce peak demand. Texas is expected to rely mostly on clean energy in the future, but fossil fuels will still provide backup.

via Houston Chronicle |

#batteries #clean-energy #demand-response