What Happens When the Wind Doesn't Blow?

When the wind doesn't blow as expected, we get appeals from ERCOT to reduce our electricity usage. The reserve generating capacity that ERCOT needs is 7.5%, but, several times this week the reserves have fallen below 3%. This happens when when fossil fuel or nuclear generating plants are not constructed as the population continues to grow.

Why are no new fossil fuel or nuclear plants being built? Because it is uneconomical to do so when the subsidized wind and solar plants can sell electricity to ERCOT below cost and still not lose money!

Thus, when the wind doesn't blow or the sun doesn't shine, Texas will be short of electricity generating capacity!

Unexpected power outages and reduced wind levels sent wholesale electricity prices in Houston soaring for the second day this week to $9,000 per megawatt hour Thursday afternoon -- the highest price allowed in Texas -- as the state's grid manager called for conservation as the state moves dangerously close to rolling blackouts.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas issued an appeal to the public to reduce consumption for the second day this week as electricity reserves fell Thursday afternoon below 2,300 megawatts. The problem is more dire than it was earlier in the week when prices also reached $9,000 a megawatt hour and stayed there for more than an hour. 

Texas isn't getting as much wind as ERCOT predicted, said Trent Crow, founder of the website Real Simple Energy that helps consumers choose low-priced electricity plans. The lower-than-expected levels of wind, consequently, is having an out-sized effect on prices, he said. Houston Chronicle