Texas planning for 10,000 to over 23,000 MW of wind by 2012

[bananas]

http://www.environmentaldefense.org/pressrelease.cfm?contentID=6650

NEWS RELEASE
07/20/2007

Aggressive Action by Public Utility Commission Boosts Texas' Lead in Wind Production

(Austin, TX - July 20, 2007) Today the PUC directed ERCOT to develop transmission plans to serve between 10,000 and over 23,000 MW of new renewable wind generation projects by 2012, increasing production sevenfold. The following statement can be attributed to Scott Anderson, Energy Policy Specialist for Environmental Defense:

“23,000 megawatts is a lot of energy coming from clean, renewable sources right here in our own state. We applaud the PUC’s aggressive action today. The legislative leadership was also a key, since they put the policies in place that made this possible. And we commend the utility industry for rising to the challenge in meeting Texan’s demands for cleaner, safe sources of energy.”

“How much is 23,000 megawatts of wind energy? By comparison, Texas added 774 megawatts of wind energy capacity in 2006. Texas is already the nation's leading producer of wind power, and 23,000 megawatts would be a sevenfold increase. A typical coal-fired power plant has a capacity of about 600 megawatts. This could well ensure that Texas continues leading the nation in renewable energy production with these kinds of decisions taking place.”

[amitten]

1. Great news!

:D

[jpak]

2. And how many nuclear plants will be built in Texas by 2012????

(zero)

10-23,000 MW of wind power is the the equivalent of 3-8 new 1000 MW nuclear plants...and will produce 0.1-0.25 EJ per year of electricity.