Responsibly Sited Renewables Are a Heatwave Buffer in Texas

As temperatures soared previous 100°F throughout Texas this week, the Electrical Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) projected a brand new Could file for statewide electrical energy demand—highlighting the growing pressure on our energy grid. Lately, now we have seen the system pushed to the sting repeatedly, whether or not from deep freezes, hurricanes, or heatwaves. These occasions are now not uncommon—they’re a part of our new regular. This early heatwave is a well timed reminder that reliability and affordability go hand in hand with a wiser, extra balanced vitality combine.  

Excessive climate is hard on birds—and it’s robust on folks. To satisfy the second, Texas must put money into responsibly-sited wind, photo voltaic, and battery storage—assets which are already serving to hold the lights on and payments down for ratepayers throughout the state. Texans deserve a dependable grid powered by the vitality sources that work finest for them. However laws like Senate Payments 388, 715, and 819 threaten to strip Texans of their selection and delay or prohibit the very vitality sources that assist hold the grid steady and electrical energy costs in verify throughout instances of excessive demand. 

We want your assist. Later within the weblog, you’ll discover simple methods to take motion and assist Texas transfer towards a cleaner, extra dependable vitality future. 

We Want Resilience When It Issues Most 

Renewables have strengthened the resiliency and dependability of our grid, particularly throughout excessive climate occasions. Even below regular climate situations, renewable vitality helps our grid thrive. Ample sunshine helps meet demand throughout peak hours. Wind era typically kicks in throughout late afternoon and night hours, smoothing the demand curve. And, not like different types of vitality, wind and photo voltaic require much less seasonal upkeep, making them a dependable backup throughout deliberate outages for pure gasoline and different energy sources. Battery storage can also be shortly turning into the bridge between each—storing low cost, clear vitality and shortly dispatching it to customers when wanted most. 

Whereas pure gasoline has lengthy been part of Texas’ vitality combine, it comes with dangers, each to grid reliability and long-term resilience. It has constantly underperformed throughout excessive climate, with excessive charges of deliberate and unplanned outages contributing to a number of grid emergencies in recent times. And whereas typically promoted as a “bridge gas,” pure gasoline emits methane and carbon dioxide, exacerbating the acute occasions and stressors that put our electrical grid below strain. An “all-of-the-above” strategy to vitality should nonetheless be balanced. We can not afford to lean too closely on a useful resource that has repeatedly failed us in disaster and intensifies the underlying downside. A stronger, extra dependable Texas grid will rely on a various gas combine—anchored by responsibly sited wind, photo voltaic, and battery storage—that retains energy flowing and prices steady for all Texans. 

Responsibly-sited renewable vitality performs an important function in defending birds and the habitats they depend on by lowering dangerous emissions and supporting more healthy ecosystems—how and the place we construct this infrastructure issues. That’s why Audubon works alongside vitality builders, landowners, and statewide companions to advertise accountable clear vitality siting—utilizing superior mapping instruments and finest practices to make sure renewable vitality initiatives transfer ahead whereas safeguarding birds and habitats. As a part of our broader response to the long-term impacts of local weather change,i Audubon’s Flight Plan outlines how responsibly sited wind and photo voltaic, paired with storage, may also help bend the fowl curve—reversing the alarming decline in fowl populations by considerate vitality improvement.ii Audubon advocates for renewable vitality initiatives that keep away from key migratory pathways, delicate habitats, and high-risk collision areas.iii With sensible insurance policies and science-based siting practices, we are able to increase clear vitality, create native jobs, strengthen Texas’ electrical grid and financial system, and safeguard the birds and pure landscapes that outline our state. 

Renewables Decrease Costs—and Texans Know It 

Wind and photo voltaic aren’t simply stabilizing the grid—they’re additionally driving down vitality prices. Throughout many high-demand hours, clear vitality is among the many lowest-cost energy sources within the statewide market, serving to to cut back electrical energy payments for all Texans. Between 2010 and 2022, wind and photo voltaic saved Texas customers $28 billion in electrical energy prices.iv These initiatives additionally increase native economies, contributing an estimated $3.5 billion every year by funds to personal landowners, along with producing state and native tax revenues.v Photo voltaic and wind are additionally creating jobs throughout Texas communities. As of 2023, over 261,000 Texans work in clear vitality jobs throughout the state.vi Texans acknowledge the worth: polling constantly reveals sturdy, statewide assist for renewable vitality.vii,viii Audubon’s place is rooted not solely in science and economics, however in what on daily basis Texans are asking for—actual options when excessive temperatures put strain on our energy system and endanger our communities. 

Take Motion: Inform Your State Consultant to Hold Texas a Chief in Clear Power and Conservation 

This week’s excessive warmth is a transparent reminder: Texas wants well-planned wind, photo voltaic, and battery storage. Texas leads the nation in renewable vitality as a result of we’ve embraced vitality independence, personal land stewardship, and financial alternative. Turning away from that progress now with laws like Senate Payments 388, 715, and 819 would weaken our electrical energy grid and abandon the values that outline us. Being anti-renewables is being anti-energy—and that’s not the Texas manner. 

With record-breaking warmth and rising demand straining our grid, now’s the time to face up for sensible, forward-looking vitality options that shield each birds and folks. Contact your state consultant at this time—particularly members of the House Committee on State Affairs—and urge them to oppose Senate Payments 388, 715, 819, and different laws that stalls responsibly sited clear vitality. Inform them you assist a resilient, reasonably priced, and bird-friendly future that retains Texas within the lead. 

Your voice issues. Let’s energy Texas ahead—collectively.