VERY Interesting Read on Renewables in Texas

[SageBrush]

https://cleantechnica.com/2019/05/19/te ... s-started/

ERCOT gives an almost uniquely transparent view into renewables on a large scale
EXCELLENT article

[iPlug]

Nice and informative read. Thanks for posting.

As the article mentions, California is often in the (initial) lead with such things. Many would attribute that to green mindedness > economics.

But would say most can probable agree that Texas is primarily interested in "show me the money". That's a good sign for similarly minded states and countries who can now follow Texas's lead and we still get to the same good end points.

[powersurge]

Texas is perfect for solar and wind.... They have a lot of sun, and a lot of dirt...

[powersurge]

Texas is perfect for solar and wind.... They have a lot of sun, and a lot of dirt...

[iPlug]

True, and a nice glimpse of things to come.

Texas has lots of land but not a monopoly or huge advantage on sun or wind compared to many states. And the cost of these technologies continues to improve making it a better move for other states each year.

Here is an aesthetically pleasing ~live national wind map. One can see wind resources are readily available in most states.
http://hint.fm/wind/

Nice wide band of high average wind speed from upper Midwest, down to Texas, more so in the upper Midwest. Lots of land to place wind turbines here. Only the traditional South has the relatively weakest wind conditions but sufficient sun.

[GerryAZ]

Washington, Oregon, and Idaho are out of the picture for both wind and solar, but they have an abundance of hydroelectric power.

[SageBrush]

@iplug,
IIRC modern windmills are sited nowadays based the wind resource at 80 meters. In general the higher up you go the stronger the wind (at least where windmills are concerned.) So the resource map is actually quite a bit better than the one you posted.