Texas generated the most wind power in its history earlier this month, as more coastal wind farms come online. On October 7, the state generated 7,400 megawatts of wind power, according to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT).
Fifteen percent of all electricity on the ERCOT grid, which covers 85 percent of Texas, was coming from wind power on that day. The previous record, set in June, was 7,355 megawatts.
Coastal wind farms are growing, and unlike the larger wind farms in West Texas, they tend to generate electricity closer to peak demand times.
“Instead of dropping off in afternoon, they will start picking up around one or two [o’clock] in the afternoon,” ERCOT spokesperson Dottie Roark told KUT News. That helps during the peak electricity demand time from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Since 2009, more than 1,200 megawatts of wind generating capacity have been added to ERCOT’s South Zone, which includes most of the Gulf Coast.
