New Record Set for July Power Usage
Keeping the A.C. on all day may be a good way to stay cool, but not to help Texas' electric grid.
A new July record was set yesterday when the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) reported that demand on their electric grid peaked at 65,790 megawatts (MW). The previous record was set last July, during one of the hottest summers on record, at 65,432 MW.
ERCOT says that there was sufficient generation to serve the electricity use and the other new records that were set in June. But the group still reminds consumers to watch their power usage by doing things like turning the thermostat up a few degrees in the late afternoon and wait to do chores that use large appliances until later in the evening.
Temperatures the next few days should still reach over 100 degrees, so to keep up with grid conditions, download the ERCOT Energy Saver free mobile app from the iPhone or Android store.
Former Longhorn Goes for Gold
Another Texas Ex has an Olympic gold medal.
Ricky Berens competed in the 4x200m freestyle relay with teammates Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte, and Conor Dwyer. He swam the third leg, giving Michael Phelps a full four-second lead going into the anchor leg.
Berens and fellow Longhorn Jimmy Feigen also collected silver medals in London for the 4x100m freestyle relay.
Former UT athletes continue to compete today. Troy Dumais will be in the Men’s Synch 3m Springboard final at 9 a.m., Destinee Hooker will play against China in Women’s Volleyball at 2 p.m., and Kathleen Hersey will be swimming the 200m Butterfly finals at 2:09 p.m. Click here to check out what time you’ll be able to watch them.
C-130s Will Likely Stay in Texas At Least Until 2014
The custody battle over whether Texas will keep its C-130s may be over soon, at least for now.
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson announced yesterday that the Senate Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Defense has taken steps to maintain Air National Guard planes in Ft. Worth until a long term plan can be developed by the Defense Department.
The planes, which carry oversized cargo such as helicopters and armored vehicles, have been used throughout the Gulf region in recent years in disaster relief efforts, including last year’s wildfires. The planes have carried more than 3,100 people and delivered more than 900 tons of emergency supplies since 2005, Gulf Coast governors say.
The full committee is expected to vote Thursday to approve the decision that will keep the planes in Texas at least until 2014.
