The Texas grid operator confirmed that wind set a new record on the afternoon of October 7th. Wind supplied 15.2% of the electricity used by Texans during that time, according to the American Wind Energy Association (http://www.awea.org/).
Power demand totaled 48, 733 megawatts on the afternoon of October 7th and wind provided 7,400 megawatts. New wind farms along the Texas Gulf coast amounting to 1200 megawatts now combine with the West Texas wind. The Gulf coast wind is particularly important and valuable as its production tends to peak in the afternoon time period when power demands are highest.
For this reason, ERCOT, the Texas grid operator, has urged that more wind be built on the Gulf coast. Duke Energy is building another 402 megawatt Gulf coast wind farm that will begin operations by the end of 2012.
Wind power requires no water, another important advantage, especially during times of drought, as Texas has been experiencing.
Texas is proving in the real world that wind can provide substantial generation. Herman Cain might want to pay attention, since he confidently predicted that wind and solar could never provide more than 5% of total power. Others should pay attention too.
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