US Sets Wind Output Records In October Amid Country-Wide Wind Rush
The United States has set a number of wind output records throughout the month of October, thanks to windy conditions and the ongoing “wind rush.”
According to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), the national trade association for the wind industry, a number of states and regions throughout the US vied for wind output records throughout October, specifically in Texas and in the Midwest. Specifically, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), the state’s grid operator, and the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), the grid operator for the Midwest, “spent the past week neck and neck in a race for record wind output, leading to a photo finish.” Apparently, Texas jumped into first place on October 22, before losing its lead a week later to MISO.
Joining the festivities was Colorado, which also set a new wind output record in October, as well as Lower Plains grid operator Southwest Power Pool (SPP), and grid operator ISO-NE in New England.
For those not wanting to embiggen the image above, ERCOT hit a peak wind output record of 12,238 MW on October 22, eclipsing its previous record of 11,467 MW set on September 13, and the US grid operator record of 11,930 MW, which was set by MISO on January 8, 2015.
However, not to be outdone, MISO jumped on top of that new record on October 28, setting a new record of 12,383 MW.
Xcel’s Public Service Company of Colorado set its own record on October 2, with a wind output of 2,352 MW. SPP, the grid operator for Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska, and parts of neighboring states, hit 8,458 MW on October 18, and the AWEA is working with ISO-NE and PJM to validate preliminary data that indicate they also broke new records.
These wind records will no doubt play into the current policy debates surrounding the role the US Government will play in supporting the renewable energy industry. Onshore wind continues to show itself as a strong contender for cheap, reliable, and efficient energy provision around the country, growing ever-closer to grid parity with traditional, fossil fuel-based energy generators.
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Can we please not use FF talking points.
“Onshore wind … growing ever-closer to grid parity with traditional, fossil fuel-based energy generators”
ignores the externals of FF as if they don’t exists; at least say.
“Onshore wind … growing ever-closer to grid parity with traditional, fossil fuel-based energy generators, even ignoring their externals.” or better also add “Which when even a small portion is include make Onshore wind cheaper that fossil fuel-based energy generators”
Else I get, “See even CleanTechica says coal is cheaper and that is when wind get federal support.”
Not to mention comparing comparing fueling old plants with building new ones. Show me one example of a price for a new coal plant competitive with wind in the great plains. Yes, not counting externalities is stupid. The PTC is a small consolation prize, but your conclusion is right on. It’s really competitive, and becoming even more so.
Actually wind is really really cheap once its installed. It competes very well with any fuel based energy source, whether its investors make money or not.
I live in the green part of IL that’s from PJM. We have a co-op agreement to get wind energy from MISO.
I pay 6 cents per kilowatt hour. Since I’ve had wind energy, not a single outage. Going on 3 years now.
ComEd handles distribution.
(I actually pay ComEd more than I pay the wind company. Distribution costs more than my actual electricity.) Distribution monopolies are the next danger area. No matter what energy you use, ComEd is there to take a piece no matter what and you have no say on what they take. They are starting to do what Comcast does where in which you just see random charges appear all of a sudden.
Wind works. Anyone who tells you otherwise is making direct money off of shoving coal down your throat.
Amen!
Wind works pretty well indeed. Here in IL we have a pretty unique position really. As one of the early adopters of wind power we have a lead over most of the rest of the country, with the good and the bad that brings. Despite some teething problems IL has been able to replace a good bit of coal with wind, enough so that IL is 4th in the US for wind power generation.
It does help that IL has a large nuclear power base to help with base load demand. With increased wind and a bit of solar generation coal may get squeezed down significantly here.