Texas’ Wind Power Capacity Overtakes Coal

Last week, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) announced that commercial operation of a new 155-megawatt wind farm in West Texas pushed the State’s wind power capacity to over 20,000 megawatts, exceeding the State’s capacity of 19,800 megawatts from coal-fired power plants.  

While most of Texas’ power still comes from natural gas and coal (in 2016, natural gas and coal accounted for 44 and 29 percent of ERCOT’s electricity generation, respectively, while wind represented 15 percent), the State’s expanding wind power capacity represents a trend toward renewable energy resources in the region. Luminant, the largest generator of electricity in Texas, has announced plans to close three coal-powered plants in early 2018. Accordingly, wind capacity in Texas is anticipated to surge even further ahead of coal in 2018.