Extreme cold weather brings northern air as far south as the Gulf of Mexico. Fox News senior meteorologist Janice Dean and more.
About half of Texas’ wind power generation capacity has been put on ice amid the state’s historic winter storm, according to a report.
WINTERSTORMS HEAT CENTRALLY US, CAUSE FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS, DELAYS
The Texas Electric Reliability Board (ERCOT) told the U.S. statesman that about 12,000 megawatts of Texas’ wind generation capacity has been hampered since Sunday due to frozen wind turbines. However, they also noted that unfrozen wind turbines are turning at a higher rate than expected, which helps offset the losses.
ERCOT operates the Texas Electricity Network and manages the deregulated energy market for 75% of the state,
“This is a unique winter storm that is more widespread with a lot of moisture in West Texas, where there is often not much moisture,” said Dan Woodfin, senior director of ERCOT. “It’s definitely more than we would normally assume.”
It is estimated that between 2.5 and 3.5 million people in Texas were left without power amid the storm’s icy temperatures. An ERCOT spokesman did not immediately return FOX Business’s request for comment.
TEXAS POWER NET hit by extreme storm
According to the Energy Information Administration, renewable energy accounts for nearly 1 / 5th of the net electricity generated in Texas. The state leads the country with the generation of wind power and produces nearly three-tenths of the total production of the United States.
Reuters reported that wind generation is the second largest source of energy in Texas, accounting for 23% of the state’s power supply last year, behind natural gas, which represents 45%, citing ERCOT figures.
The Public Utility Commission of Texas first adopted rules for the state’s mandate for renewable energy in 1999 and amended it in 2005 to require 5880 megawatts, or about 5% of the state’s electricity generation capacity, by 2015 from renewable sources. came and 10,000 megawatts of renewable energy. capacity by 2025, which includes 500 megawatts from sources other than wind. Texas exceeded the 2025 target in 2009, largely because of the generating capacity offered by the state’s wind farms.
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ERCOT warned on Monday against erratic disruptions as thousands of megawatts of power were lost in the state due to the storm’s ‘freezing conditions’, which resulted in a record-breaking electrical demand.
“About 10,500 [megawatts] of the customer tax was shaken off at the highest point. That’s enough power to serve about two million homes, “the agency said in a statement. Extreme weather conditions caused many generating units – over different types of fuel – to pull offline and not be available. There are now more than 30,000[megwatt}generationsthatthesystemshouldturnoff'[megwatt}orgenerationforcedoffthesystem”[megwatt}generasiewatdiestelselmoetafskakel'[megwatt}ofgenerationforcedoffthesystem”
The rotating interruptions are expected to continue at least Tuesday morning, Woodfin said during an ERCOT briefing Monday.
According to the Texas government, Greg Abbott, the state commission for public utilities has been working to restore power to about 500,000 home customers by 4 p.m., and more customers are expected to recover late Monday night.
Abbott on Sunday received a waiver from the U.S. Department of Energy to allow power generation to increase production.
“Due to the severe weather and icy temperatures in our state, many power companies could not generate power, whether from coal, natural gas or wind power,” Abbott said in a statement. “ERCOT and the PUC are working tirelessly to restore the power supply. The state also used resources to assist Texans without power and to help vital workers continue their work. In the meantime, I urge all Texans to continue to stay off the roads and save energy while government agencies work with private providers to restore power as quickly as possible. ”
In addition, Abbot is using the National Guard to conduct wellness checks and to assist local authorities in transferring Texans in distress to one of the state’s 135 local heating centers.
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According to ERCOT, consumers can reduce their electricity consumption by turning off thermostats to 68 degrees, closing shades and blinds to reduce the amount of heat lost through windows, eliminating unnecessary and disconnecting unnecessary lights and appliances, and avoiding the use of large appliances such as ovens and washing machines.
Businesses should minimize the use of electric lighting and equipment for electricity consumption, and large consumers of electricity should consider shutting down or reducing unnecessary production processes.