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Texas Wind: Too Much Of A Good Thing?
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Texas produces more electricity from wind than any other state. But that success has come with political challenges.
Inside Energy (https://insideenergy.org/tag/wind/page/3/)
Texas produces more electricity from wind than any other state. But that success has come with political challenges.
High Country News | Alaska models renewable-diesel hybrid microgrids that could be used for communities too remote to be hooked up to the grid.
Wyoming wind is powerful but not when it isn’t blowing. And that’s the problem with electricity generated by wind: the supply isn’t reliable. One solution? Storage. Deep underground in Utah salt caves. Inside Energy’s Leigh Paterson reports.
With wind projects planned from Wyoming to Iowa to Oregon, there’s growing demand for skilled technicians to install and repair the wind turbines. But a unique skill set is required — the fearlessness of a pro rock climber along with the know-how of a skilled mechanic.
As we talk about the future of renewable energy, there’s one aspect that should be at the forefront of the conversation: storage. We’ve already figured out how to capture wind and solar energy, but it’s equally important to figure out the best way to store this energy and use it when it’s needed.
It’s not exactly news that many scientists agree that switching to low-carbon technologies to produce energy would help reduce pollution. But as we consider these technologies, questions arise regarding the cost of building new plants, the materials necessary and whether they would cause other types of pollution. A study, released this week in the Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences journal, set out to answer these questions and arrived at a simple conclusion: taking all these factors into consideration, low-carbon technologies are still the answer to a greener planet.
With a handful of large-scale projects in the works, Wyoming’s wind power industry could finally take off. But financial and regulatory barriers make this type of development incredibly difficult.
Another massive, costly project is in the works to bring Wyoming wind to the West Coast. Are the Pathfinder/Zephyr Wind Project and the Chokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind Energy Project in fierce competition or just responding to gigantic demand?
Energy rich states produce billions of barrels of oil and gas but are also home to some of the best renewable resources in the country. Earlier this month, a massive wind farm got the green light from the state of Wyoming. If it gets federal approval, it could be come the biggest in the country. But for now, there is no way to transport the wind energy, and as yet, no confirmed buyers at the other end.