A Blow to Nonrenewable Energy

Will Texas face rolling brownouts this year like last? The Electric Reliability Council of Texas is reckoning not – and the thanks may go to wind power.

ERCOT manages the grid for most of the state and has to make big, elaborate calculations for how much power people will need and when. Under their newest sums, they reckon this summer that will top out at 63,794 megawatts, up 2.3% from last year's peak of 62,339 MW. This extra demand is being met in part by wind, since there's an extra 1,200 MWs worth of turbines coming online this summer. On top of that, changes in how ERCOT calculates the wind component of what's called the energy mix has seen it soar from 2.3% to 8.7% of the total production capacity.

Hang on for some stats: Generally, ERCOT aims for a minimum 12.5% spare production capacity, just so they're ready on a hot day when people crank up the air conditioning or if everyone decides to blend up a frozen margarita at the same time. This summer, they've worked out they've got a healthy 14.3% maximum spare available. However, ERCOT's expecting peak demand to reach a whopping 70,733 MW by 2012. That's a lot of turbines to be built.