Next Texas Energy Boom: Solar

Layzej writes: The Wall Street Journal reports: "Solar power has gotten so cheap to produce—and so competitively priced in the electricity market—that it is taking hold even in a state that, unlike California, doesn't offer incentives to utilities to buy or build sun-powered generation." Falling cost is one factor driving investment. "Another reason for the boom: Texas recently wrapped up construction of $6.9 billion worth of new transmission lines, many connecting West Texas to the state's large cities. These massive power lines enabled Texas to become, by far, the largest U.S. wind producer. Solar developers plan to move electricity on the same lines, taking advantage of a lull in wind generation during the heat of the day when solar output is at its highest."

Comments

Re:In "oil" country no less!

[drinkypoo]

I just wish people would hold other people accountable for their rank hypocrisy. Here's another commercial example... Chevy has aluminum trucks coming in 2018 but they're slagging Ford for selling them right now. What astonishing douchebags. But people will just buy those trucks in a few years...

Why are solar and wind not on the same land?

[ThomasBHardy]

There's something I've never understood here.

if you have land for wind power, why would you not want solar spread around it in the safety zone of the tower? Same lines can carry all of the power. Lower real estate cost. Why is it that I only ever see or hear about a solar farm or a wind farm and never an energy farm?

Maybe someone here more familiar with the topic can help me out, or tell me that it's being done and just not talked about much.