Texas leads USA in wind and natural gas power growth

• 8 years ago (2015-12-16)
• David Flin

North America 1021 Renewables 776

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According to a report from the US Energy Information Administration, the national grid has seen the addition of 5000 MW from gas-fired power plants, 4000 MW from wind farms, and 1500 MW from solar power, while losing 11,000 MW from the retirement of old coal-fired plants.

Texas accounts for about 1400 MW in new gas-fired power, about twice that of its closest rival state, New Jersey. Texas also accounts for around 1800 MW of new wind power, triple the 600 MW of new wind power in second-placed Oklahoma.

Although Texas is still heavily reliant on coal power, a shift is quickly taking place. In 2015, up until October, 48.7 per cent of the ERCOT -managed grid power came from natural gas, up from 41.1 per cent for the same period in 2014. By contrast, coal fell from 36 per cent to 28.6 per cent over the same periods.