Houston Chronicle by L.M. Sixel Jan. 10, 2020
Wind energy generated 20 percent of the electricity used in Texas last year, nearly edging out coal as the state’s second leading source of power, according to new data from the state grid manager the Electric Reliability Council of Texas.
Coal-fired plants generated 20.3 percent of power in Texas last year, down from nearly 25 percent in 2018, according to ERCOT. Meanwhile, wind’s share of generation climbed from 18.5 percent in 2018.
Wind energy will likely overtake coal this year, reflecting a continued decline in coal-fired generation as natural gas prices stay low and more wind projects are in the pipeline, said Ed Hirs, an energy economist at the University of Houston. More batteries on the grid will also give wind power a boost, allowing generators to store the power for periods when wind isn’t blowing.
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