ERCOT

The wind isn’t blowing, but does Texas care? Why electricity prices are staying stable

Despite a poor month for wind generation, ERCOT is managing to keep electricity prices in check thanks to its increasingly diverse fuel mix.

Texas electricity demand could nearly double in six years, grid operator predicts

The prediction by ERCOT reflects a new way of counting future demand and a spike in requests to connect to the grid from large power users.

Texas solar surpasses coal production for first time

Solar production in Texas’ Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) territory surpassed coal for the first time this March, generating 3.26 million MWh, compared to coal’s 2.96 million MWh.

Texas electric power grid could add 10 GW of natural gas capacity

As much as 10 GW of natural gas-fueled power plants could be built if SB 6 is signed into law.

Texas power plants (mostly) weathered the December cold snap

Officials at grid operator ERCOT ordered several electric power generators to burn fuel oil because those plants didn’t have enough natural gas.

Pat Wood on Texas grid reform and George W. Bush’s aha moment on renewables

On Episode 1 of the Texas Power Podcast, host Doug Lewin is joined by Pat Wood, former chairman of both the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and Public Utility Commission of Texas. He helped deliver former Texas Gov. George W. Bush’s deregulation agenda in the 1990s.

ERCOT: What’s changed since Uri and what weaknesses remain

Everyone agrees Winter Storm Uri was a wake-up call. While the ERCOT grid operated successfully through Winter Storm Landon, some work remains to ensure the gri…

ERCOT: Load impact of COVID-19 minimal so far

No one can doubt the devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic on economic activity and burden to the health care industry. The fiscal hit and human tolls …

New Projects – Renewables

Surging demand for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems is being met with innovative initiatives to harness the trend. Austin Energy is in the final proving stages o…

Gas

NEW ORLEANS-The utility perspective was front and center in Wednesday’s keynote at POWERGEN International. Paul Hinnenkamp, chief operating officer of Entergy…

New Projects – Renewables

McDonald’s, Apex Clean Energy and Ares Management Corp. have announced a 220 MW virtual renewable power purchase agreement (PPA) between McDonald’s and Avia…

Batteries

Cryogenic energy storage firm Highview Power is planning to build its first large-scale commercial facility in the United Kingdom, according to a Monday press r…

Gas

Gas-fired generation and wind power are the fastest growing pieces of the U.S. electricity mix, according to the latest report from the federal Energy Informati…

Coal

Kipp will join the Seattle-based utility as president and report to Harris and then take the CEO reins in January when Harris departs….

Combined Cycle

Earlier this year, Entergy Texas broke ground on the $937 million Montgomery County Power Station. The combined cycle gas turbine plant, Entergy Texas’ f…