ERCOT CEO says electricity grid needs to increase capacity to keep up with demand

Pooja Lodhia | Source: abc13 | Posted 06/14/2024

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas just testified before a Texas Senate committee that there's a 12% chance we will see rolling blackouts in some parts of the state this summer. Vegas testified that the electricity grid needs to increase 76% in the next six years to properly serve Texans, a much higher estimate than he has previously given.

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ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas warned a Texas Senate committee that there's a 12% chance of rolling blackouts in some parts of the state this summer. He emphasized the need for a 76% increase in the electricity grid's capacity over the next six years, attributing much of the added demand to new AI data centers and cryptocurrency companies.

These industries, specifically the surge in cryptocurrency operations in Texas, have raised concerns about the strain on the state's energy resources. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has called for a closer examination of the energy consumption of these sectors, questioning if the benefits in job creation outweigh the significant energy usage. Experts also stress the urgency of addressing transmission issues to ensure the effective delivery of existing power sources to consumers.

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Source Link: https://abc13.com/post/ercot-ceo-tells-texas-senate-committee-grid-needs/14945089/

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ERCOT CEO says electricity grid needs to increase capacity to keep up with demand

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