How big is the electricity generated by Texas' wind farms? To answer that question, let's compare wind production in the Lone Star state to nuclear generation around the country.
Even in 2013, Texas wind generated more electricity than nuclear did in all but 7 states!
http://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.cfm?t=epmt_1_12_b;
http://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.cfm?t=epmt_1_17_b.
Yet, Texas right now is adding another 7,000 megawatts of wind capacity to its current wind fleet of approximately 11,000 megawatts. And so, by the end of 2014, Texas will have more than 18,000 megawatts of wind capacity.
That 18,000 megawatts of wind capacity will produce about 60 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in 2015, when it operates for a full year, or more electricity than nuclear produces in all but 2 states--Illinois and Pennsylvania.
You read that correctly. Stunningly, by next year, Texas wind will produce more electricity than nuclear does in all but 2 states. Amazing!!
And it won't be that long before Texas wind passes the number 2 nuclear production state--Pennsylvania.
Finally, wind production--that is now about 10% of Texas' power--drives down power prices and helps keep the lights on, during periods of tight power supplies. In fact, power prices in Texas would jump without all the wind electricity in the its grid.
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