New Initiatives, New Plants

Texas Energy Services from DynowattThere are lots of things that individuals do very well

. In fact, the history of Texas is filled with stories of intrepid men and women who, through their dedication and ingenuity, improved the quality of life for future generations. Unfortunately, there are plenty of tasks that require a great number of Texans to work together in large groups toward that common goal. Those in the Lone Star State have particularly strong motivation to innovate in the energy sector; that way, Texans can remain at the forefront of the energy industry. Agencies such as the Public Utility Commission of Texas and initiatives proposed by ordinary citizens are bringing public and private interests together, increasing Texas energy efficiency and paving the way for the next generation of electric plants.

The stated mission of the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) is quite simple. The agency, run by a chairman and two commissioners, endeavors "to protect customers, foster competition, and promote high quality infrastructure." The average citizen can get as involved as he or she wishes. You can browse the weekly minutes of each Commission meeting in convenient PDF format or watch the agency's hearings live on the Internet. During the week of August 5, 2010, for example, the PUC heard complaints from citizens and reviewed licensing requests from Texas electricity companies.

People like you and your neighbors are always looking for new ways to get involved. Elizabeth Souder, a writer for the Dallas News, pointed out a recent proposal from the Public Citizen and Environmental Defense Fund. Currently, several state agencies are responsible for educating citizens about green energy and increasing the efficiency of public concerns. Instead, the state could create a single agency that allows consumers to learn about rebates available for new appliances and more. While all of this information can still be found, it's likely that more people would get involved and state programs would experience still greater success if they were marketed in a central location.

One of the biggest benefits of creating a central clearinghouse for energy efficiency information would be the increased ability of average energy consumers to share what they have learned and interact more easily with policy makers. Sure, the average person isn't going to develop a generator that is fueled by water (even though that would be nice), but average people could help each other decide which solar collectors are best for their home.

New policies and new techniques for saving energy must be accompanied by new power plants to serve the always-growing Texas population. During the hot season, the electric grid is under a great deal of stress because of the widespread use of air conditioners to keep living and work spaces comfortable. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) cited one of the complications of increased summertime Texas electricity demand: the necessity to maintain and run old, inefficient natural gas-fueled power plants. These plants are infrequently used, but utilities (and therefore customers) must pay technicians to keep these antiquated facilities in working order. Further, these previous-generation plants are worse for the environment than generators based upon current technology. It's a difficult situation; it doesn't make financial sense to build new natural gas-fueled plants when renewable energy is right on the horizon, but those old backup stations are critical to maintain power levels during summer.

This is a situation in which average citizens must join with government and advocacy groups to chart a logical path. Souder notes that wholesale power prices in Texas have dropped quite a bit in the past few years, while demand has reached all-time highs. (In fact, during one afternoon in August 2010, the peak load reached a staggering 63,594 megawatts.) Those low prices deter companies from building new power plants because companies fear the return on their investment will not be high enough to justify the cost.

Perhaps the most important thing an individual can do to improve the condition of the Texas energy picture is to accept a little bit of sacrifice. Whatever initiatives the state puts forth, we must all be willing to turn the air conditioning down a little or pay a little more for electricity or even tolerate the presence of an electric plant closer than we'd like. Once the next-generation infrastructure is in place, however, these sacrifices will be even more worthwhile.

by: Terry Mickelson

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