Renewable energies are those forms of energy that derive from the
natural movements and mechanisms of the environment - sunshine, wind,
the heat of the earth, the growth of plants and animals, the movement
of the seas and rivers. Prior to the industrial revolution, these
sources were virtually the only forms of energy used by man. During
the past 150 years, modern civilization has become increasingly
dependent on fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum, and natural gas.
The finite nature of these supplies implies that a transition to a
sustainable energy future is inevitable.
Texas is currently at an energy crossroads. For many years, excess
energy production from Texas fueled a sizable portion of the national
economy. During the past two decades, however, Texas' steadily
increasing consumption has finally caught up with its waning energy
production. Trends projected from this historical information,
plotted in Figure 1, suggest that Texas will become more and more
dependent on energy imported from out-of-state sources. Renewable
energy sources, coupled with efficiency measures, represent a
significant potential for meeting Texas' long-term energy demand and
offer Texans the chance to maintain their energy independence. In
March 1993, Governor Ann Richards created the Sustainable Energy
Development Council (SEDC). The Governor specifically instructed the
group "to develop a strategic plan to ensure the optimum utilization
of Texas' renewable energy and energy efficiency resources."
FIGURE 1. Texas Energy Production
and Consumption.
Texas Railroad Commission statistics for crude oil, natural gas,
natural gas liquids, lignite, coal, and uranium are summarized
in the green production line; consumption data are taken from
the U.S. Energy Information Administration's State Energy
Data Report 1992. Dashed segments represent projections.
Before the realistic potential of renewables can be determined, it
is essential to examine the natural renewable "fuel" resources of the
state. Obvious questions come to mind, such as: How large are these
resources?, Where are they located?, and How can they be used? To
answer such questions, the SEDC contracted with Virtus Energy
Research Associates (VERA) to evaluate Texas' renewable energy
resource base. The assessment consists of three distinct components:
survey, overview, and recommendations. It evaluates solar, wind,
biomass, geothermal, water, and building climatology energy
resources.
The study's survey component identifies and reviews information
sources relevant to Texas renewables. These include details on
fundamental data collection activities such as solar and wind
monitoring networks, and a review of significant summary documents,
studies, and maps. The overview characterizes each resource with
special attention given to spatial variability and the identification
of "good" resource areas of the state. Finally, recommendations are
made to prioritize Texas' future resource assessment needs.
This project comprehensively reviews information covering the full
range of renewable energy resources in Texas. No formal effort has
been made to ascertain the economic potential of these renewable
resources, since this is contingent upon the status of conversion
technologies. Future activities of the SEDC will make such
assessments. Dissemination of results is one of the main goals of the
SEDC.
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