Surge in power projects expected for Texas

TEXAS - The Texas economy has sputtered amid a prolonged national recession, but there seems to be at least one growth industry on the horizon in the Lone Star State — electric power line construction.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which manages most of the state's power grid, said that it is reviewing electricity transmission projects totaling $8.2 billion over the next five years.

They are expected to add 5,729 circuit miles of transmission, ERCOT said.

Fostering demand for a major expansion are a rebounding economy, continued population growth, new electric power generation plants, and a need to transport renewable wind energy from sparsely populated West Texas to Dallas-Fort Worth and other heavily urbanized regions.

The estimated $8.2 billion in power line projects is sharply higher than the $3 billion listed in ERCOT's 2008 transmission report. That's primarily because of inclusion of $4.93 billion for new Competitive Renewable Energy Zone transmission lines, which will support 18,456 megawatts of renewable power generation primarily from West Texas and the Panhandle. ERCOT estimates peak demand in summer 2010 will be 64,056 megawatts.

ERCOT expects Texans to have plenty of power through 2013. About 3,140 megawatts of power generation has been added since May, including 1,689 megawatts from coal-fired plants and 1,093 megawatts from natural gas-fired plants. That puts supply over projected demand by at least 12.5 percent, ERCOT's minimum desired reserve margin.

The margin could narrow, however, in 2014 and beyond. ERCOT estimates a net decrease of 1,105 megawatts of generation in 2014 and 2015 as a result of excluding the big 1,792-megawatt Cobisa plant, a gas-fired power plant planned near Greenville in northeast Texas. ERCOT said project developers notified it this month "that their current projections were such that the unit should not be included in the reserve margin calculation at this time."

Potential resources not included in ERCOT's generation total include more than 3,000 megawatts of capacity that are mothballed but could be returned to service.

Related News

840 million people have no electricity – World Bank must fund more energy projects

WASHINGTON - Why isn’t the World Bank using all available energy resources in its global efforts to fight poverty? That’s the question I’ve asked World Bank President David Malpass. Nearly two years ago, the multilateral development bank decided to stop supporting critical coal, oil and gas projects that help people in developing countries escape poverty.

Along with 11 other senators, and as a member who votes on whether to give U.S. taxpayer dollars to the World Bank, I am pressing the bank to lift these restrictions. Developing countries desperately need access to a steady supply of affordable and reliable electricity to…

READ MORE
powerline worker

Kenya Power on the spot over inflated electricity bills

READ MORE

The nuclear power dispute driving a wedge between France and Germany

READ MORE

U.S. Electric Vehicle Market Share Dips in Q1 2024

U.S. Electric Vehicle Market Share Dips in Q1 2024

READ MORE

trump-tariff-threat-delays-quebec-green-energy-bill

Trump Tariff Threat Delays Quebec's Green Energy Bill

READ MORE