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Texas: renewable energy goals reached 15 years ahead of schedule

Wind power boom ensures Texas hits renewable energy goals 15 years ahead of schedule Industrial Fuels and Power May 19th, 2010 The state of Texas has reached its goal of 10,000MW of installed renewable energy capacity this year, 15 years earlier than scheduled, thanks to the explosive growth of wind farms.

Ninety-nine per cent of the 10,367MW of installed capacity is in the form of wind power and the state has some of the USA’s best wind resources. Under the Texan system, which was signed into law by the-then governor George W Bush in 1999, each MWh of renewable energy earns a renewable energy credit (REC), which can be sold separately.

In addition, the majority of utilities in the state are required to purchase and use up a certain quota of RECS a year. Interestingly, the low cost of Texan wind power has led to the creation of a voluntary market in RECS that is larger than that for mandated REC purchases.

Wind power boom ensures Texas hits renewable energy goals 15 years ahead of schedule | Industrial Fuels and Power

May 20, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | renewable, USA | antinuclear, climate change, energy efficiency, renewable energy, renewables, wind