TEXAS GROWING NEW ENERGY, QUADRUPLES SUN

Renewable energy generation in Texas continues to grow, up 7 percent from 2011; Wind power continues to lead, with notable gains in solar generation

May 16, 2013 (Electricity Reliability Council of Texas)

“Electric generation from renewable resources in Texas increased 7 percent in 2012, compared to 2011, with capacity up by about 16 percent…[according to The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT)…2012 Annual Report on the Renewable Energy Credit Trading Program.

“Generators participating in the state’s renewable energy credit trading program reported 33.9 million megawatt-hours (MWh) of renewable generation in 2012, compared to 31.7 million MWh in 2011 — a 7 percent overall increase. At more than 32.5 million MWh in total generation, wind power continued to lead the pack, with solar generation representing the largest rate of growth, nearly quadrupling last year’s output, and energy from biomass sources more than doubling the 2011 total.”

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“A renewable energy credit (REC) is a tradable instrument that represents one megawatt-hour, or MWh, of renewable energy produced. That is roughly the amount of power consumed by an average home in a month. Competitive retail electric providers must acquire and retire renewable energy credits annually based on their load-ratio share of the state’s renewable portfolio standard mandate. Any electric provider may voluntarily retire renewable energy credits to substantiate claims that power they are selling comes from renewable resources.

“The Texas Legislature established the renewable portfolio standard as part of the restructuring of the state’s electricity market in 1999 to increase incentives for renewable energy production. The PUC implemented the REC program in 2001 and established ERCOT as the administrator…”

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