With vast expanses of land and one of the largest economies in the world, Texas, in many ways, is like another country. It likes to do things its own way. And it does them big.
Texas cities are among the fastest growing in the U.S. In fact, Austin is No. 1, and Dallas is No. 2. Statewide, there are about 28 million residents who call Texas home. And with all those people, it’s no wonder it’s the largest energy consumer in the country, using about 1/8 of the U.S. total.
But did you ever wonder where all that energy comes from?
Texas may use a lot of energy, but it also produces a lot. The most in the U.S., in fact.
It’s the country’s biggest producer of natural gas, and it’s this clean-burning fuel that’s responsible for making most of the electricity in Texas. Natural gas, which now accounts for more than 58 percent of energy production in the state, has steadily outpaced coal as the chief source of fuel.
Coal is still in the picture, though. Texas is a major coal producer, and it’s used to make about 28 percent of the electricity for our homes and businesses here. But it costs more than natural gas, and it’s not as friendly to the environment. Many predict its use will continue to decline, especially as advances in renewable energies like solar and wind power move forward.
Solar energy has yet to become a major player in terms of energy production in Texas. But wind power is another matter. Texas is the biggest producer of wind energy. On average, it accounts for about 12 percent of the electricity generated in the state. Texas has almost 11,000 wind turbines, and energy production from this resource is expected to grow in coming years.
And, finally, there are the nuclear facilities that produce about 11 percent of the state’s electricity. Texas has two such facilities: the South Texas Project and the Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant. This is an expensive means of making electricity, and the future of nuclear power is uncertain. The federal government approved two new permits for reactors near Houston this year. There are no plans to move forward with construction any time soon.
Energy officials predict natural gas and wind power will continue to be important energy producers in the future. The latter is hoped to increase to up to 20 percent in Texas by 2031. Solar energy, which contributes less than a percent today, is hoped to contribute as much as wind by that same time.
