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Archive for the ‘Green/Renewable’ Category

Green Energy Link Roundup

So, there’s always a lot of stuff at foot in regards to Texas electricity and the green market. Keep in mind, most of these links aren’t really anything that relates directly to the customer in terms of their monthly electricity bills, just kind of a link dump of some of the green energy articles and topics I’ve seen browsing the internet recently.

Wind Surpasses Oil in Texas – I wanted to put a question mark at the end of this link to express my own opinion on the subject. However, this article deals with how big wind energy is becoming in the state of Texas, and how it’s creating jobs. Farmers can get money for allowing wind farms to be set up on their land and then still use most of the land for crops. It doesn’t really compare wind to oil, only implying that in the future wind electricity in Texas might be more important to the economy of Texas than oil.

Texas Writing the Book on Wind Power – Here’s another article on Wind energy in Texas. It discuses some numbers on wind energy in Texas, including what it means in terms of generation and money, as well as mentioning how other states are yet again looking towards Texas as a model for wind electricity moving forward. It also points out some interesting things, such that the Texas electricity grid might actually not be able to handle all of the available wind energy potential that exists without massive upgrades, as well as the fact that it’s still dependent upon fickle weather. It’s a great article, definitely worth a read.

Green Cleaning Tips – Our friends over at Bounce Energy have put together a tips sheet for some things people can do to “clean greaner” (my quote, not theirs). Basically, it’s a list of household items that are environmentally friendly you can use to clean, and probably save money on expensive cleaning products at the same time. They also have some Cool Earth Day Promotions on Electricity listed in the previous link.

Reliant Buys Green Energy CreditsReliant is also getting in on the Earth Day green electricity bandwagon by announcing that they’re buying wind energy for all of their residential and small business customers in honor of Earth Day. Promotion for Earth Day only.

San Antonio Solar Power Plant Ground Breaks – Even though it doesn’t effect anything other than the customers of CPS energy San Antonio, and as a result not the customers in deregulated electricity areas of Texas, I figured it was worth noting that they have broken ground on the largest solar farm in the state of Texas.

From Texas Electricity Ratings.

Available Alternative Energy Sources

The increased awareness regarding the adverse effects of carbon emissions and global warming has increased the popularity of alternative energy sources. These new energy sources provide cleaner, renewable and cheap electricity sources that can supply the energy needs of households, business establishments and industries.

Now more and more states like Texas, where energy deregulation is in full bloom, have provided their populace with the power to select providers for electricity in Houston, Dallas and other areas in Texas. Part of this includes not only the option to select the Texas electric company that will provide electricity, but they can also choose among companies that have partnered with producers using alternative energy sources.

Why is There a Need for Alternative Energy Resources

More and more electric companies are slowly introducing alternative energy sources as part of their main electricity production process. Still, many people do not understand the implication of such moves in their lives, even though they have been hearing “energy crises” issues clamored across the country and even across the globe.

Although people over the years are partly to be blamed, there is no need for finger pointing now. The key thing here is that people realize the need to use alternative energy sources — before it is too late. The world has been overly dependent on fossil fuels in generating the power they need and use in their everyday lives. However, this dependency only resulted to global warming, increase in pollution levels and the imminent dangers of climate change.

Now people has the option to take the next step and create a change — a change that will affect the way they live now, and the future that is in store for their children, and their children’s children. People now have the option for micro generation of renewable energy right in their own homes, or switch to utility companies that use alternative energy sources.

Read the entire article on Shop Texas Electricity Blog.

Expect big natural gas bills this month

Natural gas bills don’t usually cause a big stir in Houston, particularly compared to our summer electric bills. But the December gas bill that may be approaching your mailbox at this very moment may seem more the size of a post-Christmas credit card bill.

Temperatures in the Houston area were about 10 percent colder in December 2009 than in December 2008, according to CenterPoint Energy, the company that runs the natural gas distribution system for much of this area. Measured by a standard industry metric, heating degree days, it was about 44 percent colder.

From Chron.com NewsWatch:Energy.

Texas adds largest amount of new wind energy capacity

Texas again adds the largest amount of new wind energy capacity, and keeps its lead as the country’s biggest wind producing state, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) reported today in its third quarter market report.

“Wind power installations are up, and that is good news for America’s economy, environment, and energy security”, said AWEA CEO Denise Bode, adding that manufacturing is lagging and that a firm national long-term commitment to renewable energy is needed for the U.S to become the wind turbine manufacturing powerhouse and create hundreds of thousands of jobs.

Nonetheless, the U.S wind energy industry installations in the third quarter are higher than either the 2nd quarter of 2009, or the 3rd quarter of 2008, and the newly installed 1,649 MW brings the total capacity added this year to 5,800 MW. And it is the federal stimulus bill that is the major driving force that the wind industry is tracking ahead of where it were this time last year, AWEA says, even though state policies, attractive wind project economies, and expectations of action on climate change plays a role.

Read the entire article on the Examiner.