Texas’ annual energy warning — that high demand during the hot summer months could cause blackouts — came with a bit of a twist this year. It also includes information that could offer interesting insight into the thinking that contributes to some of the problems that hinder the nation’s most energy-productive state.
Public Utility Commission Chairman Peter Lake on May 3 issued what he obviously considered a dire warning: For the first time ever, expected demand for electricity this summer will exceed the total capacity of all the fuel-burning power plants in the state.
Lake then said the fact underscores the need for more facilities that burn fuel, especially natural gas. It ignores the fact that nearly 40% of the state’s power supply already comes from wind and solar generators.
If fuel-burning stations can produce almost all of our electricity needs, the addition of almost the same output from renewable sources seems more than adequate to meet the state’s needs.
Several studies conducted after the lethal statewide power collapse that occurred in February 2021 indicated that our state’s biggest energy problem is not one of production, but of delivery and storage. It doesn’t matter how many new power plants we build if our grid can’t deliver the electricity to our homes and businesses.
Lake, who’s a former Lake Ronel Oil Co. executive, saw the opportunity to shill for more facilities that burn gas; many of them have an additional turbine that uses fuel oil as a backup.
His call sees to support a package of bills, supported by the governor and deemed a priority by the lieutenant governor, that mandates more fuel-burning plants and restricts the expansion of renewable energy. Some bills would end and ban tax-funded incentives for wind and solar energy, and cap total output from such sources.
In a state where population and business growth drives energy demand ever higher, limiting energy production — from any sources — is utterly insane.
The environmental benefits of wind and solar power, which don’t produce hazardous emissions, are well documented. Just as valuable is the fact that because they literally run on air and light, there are no fuel costs, making them much more cost-effective options that can help keep utility bills down.
Certainly, we need fuel-burning electricity-producing facilities for the foreseeable future. All energy sources, however, — including the potential growth of geothermal and nuclear power — need to be considered in overall plans. Each source can augment the others, and help reduce the overall impact when one segment of the energy market takes a hit, as when weather cuts green energy output or supply chain problems affect fuel-burning plants.
Texas needs a comprehensive energy strategy that takes all possibilities into account. Local and commercial entities also can do their part by providing more storage and backup facilities, such as the 100-megawatt battery bank that began operating last month in Harlingen.
Most importantly, we need officials who recognize the need to maximize resources in order to help the public they were hired to serve — not to impose restrictions that actually limit our options — and our future growth.
