(CNN) Wind power has surpassed coal for the first time in Texas, according to a new report.
The numbers cap an enormous rise in wind power in the nation's top energy-producing state over the past decades.
Wind has generated 22% of the state's electrical needs this year. It just edged out coal, which provided 21% of the Lone Star State's power, according to the Electrical Reliability Council of Texas, which manages electrical flow on about 90% of the Texan grid.
Sixteen years ago, in 2003, wind made up just 0.8% of the state's power, and coal satisfied 40% of electrical needs, the council documents show.
By 2010, wind accounted for 8% of the state's energy, and it steadily inched forward to 19% last year and now 22% in the first half of 2019.
starshame on July 26th, 2019 at 06:11 UTC »
I live in South Texas and I'm seeing trucks carry those wind blades almost everyday. This is great news.
JohnGillnitz on July 26th, 2019 at 04:21 UTC »
RRC (Rail Road Commission, which is weirdly in charge of power in Texas along with TCEQ and ERCOT) has adopted the policy of a watt is a watt years ago. Texas is a huge resource for wind and solar. There is no reason for us to stay on the carbon tit.
RealKenny on July 26th, 2019 at 03:55 UTC »
The government really is the only thing keeping coal going at this point