Texas is an energy leader, but the state is far away from becoming a green energy utopia. The state still depends on fossil fuels like oil and gas, and windmills and solar panels are not widespread. State-wide support is required to make a transition to renewable energy large-scale.
Natural gas
Natural gas is an important part of the Texas economy. In 2006, the oil and gas industry employed 312,000 people and contributed 14.9% to the state's gross state product. What happens if natural gasoline prices continue to rise in the future? What effect will that have on ratepayers What can Texas do about this?
In Texas, natural gas production is concentrated in and around the Gulf of Mexico. Nearly three percent of all world natural gas reserves are located in Texas and Louisiana. The state is home to the largest processing facility in the nation. Texas' largest natural gas field onshore is the Barnett Shale in the Bend Arch Fort Worth Basin.
The new pipeline will transport enough gas every day to supply 1.5 million homes across Europe and Texas. This will be a boon for Texas' growing demand for natural gas to power its air conditioners. The peak demand for natural gas in Texas will be reached Monday. Therefore, the Public Utility Commission of Texas has asked Texas consumers to conserve energy.
Numerous oil and natural gas companies call the state home. The government oversees how companies manage their operations, and ensures the safety of the environment. They regulate air emissions and flaring. Operators that do not comply can lose their Texas licenses.
Wind energy
Texas has wind energy. Over 150 wind farms exist in Texas that generate more than 30.000 MW of electricity. This represents a significant source of clean energy and a large percentage of state energy consumption. Texas is investing heavily to develop wind energy.
Texas' wind energy boom is bringing many benefits for the state, both in terms of cost and in terms of environmental impact. This growth poses challenges to grid reliability. This is why policymakers must address these issues now to prevent a crisis. While analysts suggest a range of solutions, none has been proven effective. One combination of pure market capacity and pure market freedom may be the most effective.
Both wind and solar energy are important components of Texas' energy mix. While solar energy accounts for a much smaller percentage of electricity in Texas, it is growing at a fast pace. Texas got about 4% its electricity from solar power last year. This is expected increase to 7.2% by the end of this summer. Solar energy is especially important in summer when winds speeds tend to be slower. The sun also beats down harder in the summer, making it more important to harness solar energy to help combat summer heatwaves.
Texas is a leader for wind power generation and wind power projects are rapidly becoming more popular. Texas, second after Alaska in terms of state size, is home to many outstanding wind sites. Wind power projects can also be cheaper than electricity produced from coal. In Texas, the process to build a wind turbine farm is relatively easy.