WC Texas News

While the rise of wind-farm generated electricity in Texas is making headlines and being celebrated by people throughout the renewable energy industry, others warn that this development has cost Texans billions of dollars and endangered the reliability of the state's electric grid.

According to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), wind-farm energy is now tied with production levels from coal plants, according to a commentary by Bill Peacock in  the Texas Scorecard. 

Peacock noted that many of the renewable energy companies create jobs in exchange for tax credit subsidies from the federal government, and 30 of those companies received over $4.2 billion in taxpayer subsidies. Some firms receive those tax subsidies directly, like NRG/Reliant, BP, Pattern Energy, and EDP Renewables. Others receive those funds indirectly, like GE Renewable Energy. GE sells wind turbines to power-generating firms at prices supported by federal subsidies.

Last year, wind and solar generators operating in Texas received an additional $1.1 billion in state and local subsidies.

Peacock also writes that the 23,860 megawatts of installed wind capacity in Texas — more than in any other state — is a liability for Texas because its production is unreliable.

"The Texas electricity grid needs to run at peak efficiency during hot summer afternoons," he wrote. "Unfortunately, that is when wind energy is at its least efficient. As wind capacity has increased, reserves during peak demand have hit historic lows. We have had several close calls when demand almost exceeded capacity over the last couple of summers."

While Peacock acknowledges renewable energy often has benefits such as adding jobs to the area, it can often come at a higher cost. Many of these companies pay high weekly wages, but that doesn't benefit Houston residents who have to pay for the subsidies and do not work for the companies. 

Peacock pointed out three other distinct disadvantages for Texas residents across the state as they are impacted by windfarms. 

***In Matagorda County, officials fear turbines will kill and scare off birds, harming their important birding industry. 

***Crop dusters in Wharton County worry about their livelihoods, as turbines are reducing the acreage in which they can fly safely.

***Property owners in places like Brown County worry the resale prices on their land and homes is dropping as views become polluted by turbines, and

***Homeowners in Comanche County report having a hard time getting to sleep because of the noise and light from turbines surrounding their homes.

According to Peacock, Texas residents need to target an end to windfarm subsidies by telling lawmakers renewable energy companies can pay their own reliability costs while Texans keep their money.