The Facts
- The Texas Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) mandates 10,000 MW of renewable capacity by 2025, of which 500 MW must be from non-wind sources.
- The cost of wind Renewable Energy Credits-perhaps $41 million per year- is passed on to consumers through the price of electricity.
- CREZ transmission lines-being built to transmit electricity from wind farms in West Texas-will add as much as $1.3 billion annually to electricity bills once the lines have been completed.
- The back-up generation and grid-related costs of wind energy could increase ERCOT's system production costs by $1.82 billion per year.
Recommendations
- Eliminate the Renewable Portfolio Standard.
- Support elimination of the federal production tax credit.
- Require all electrical generators to meet the same standards, including renewable energy sources.
- Eliminate the 50% natural gas mandate.