Solar could be the answer
Energy issues
Regarding “Editorial: Wind and solar aren't the enemy in Texas. Neither is natural gas,” (Dec. 6): I read your editorial with interest but there was a significant piece missing — where was the mention of residential rooftop solar power generation? This sector is growing fast in Houston (supported by Mayor Sylvester Turner, nonprofit Solar United Neighbors and initiatives such as Texas Solar Switch). Houstonians are no longer solely at the whim of Gov. Greg Abbott's appointed Public Utility Commission. Many are turning to the power of the sun to generate energy on their own.
Residential solar generates power that can also be poured back into the grid to supplement fossil and thermal energy sources. Where is this counted? Homeowner solar power is generated so close to the point of use that there's minimal electrical transmission loss — an additional efficiency which is regularly overlooked in energy generation. Rooftop energy is created without harmful emissions (bar those from manufacturing and transporting solar panels). When supported by battery storage, solar power provides energy security for homeowners, which is more than mighty ERCOT can deliver.
The power of residential solar (pun intended) can no longer be ignored. It's time to get behind residential solar fully and give power back to the people.
Sophia Ashworth, Houston, manager, Safe Solar Clean
Texas consumers pay too much for electricity now. Why isn't the Texas PUC helping us cut our bills by facilitating more renewable energy? Nowadays renewables are competitive with, if not cheaper than, natural gas electricity.
Renewables keep getting cheaper. The average cost of solar panels has dropped nearly 70 percent since 2014. One of China's wind turbine makers says export prices will drop by up to 20 percent per kilowatt of capacity in 2023, as newer units become more efficient and other technological advances are made.
Nan Hildreth, Houston
Regarding “Opinion: To save the grid, we need better incentives,” (Dec. 7): No mention was made of the middlemen who make huge amounts of money selling the different electric provider packages. The grid is treated as if it were an oil or gas pipeline that providers can use for minimal fees. There seems to be no incentive to do repairs and it is falling apart at the local level. I have had three power failures this year (I live in the city), only one associated with a storm of any kind. I have never had more than two in one year anywhere I have lived. That includes 18 years growing up in a rural area of East Texas, two years in West Africa and 18 years in Saudi Arabia. Get prepared, it is going to get a lot worse.
J. David LaRue, Conroe
Yesterday I received a bill of $184. Since this was over three times the $61 of last month, I was upset.
Looking at the bill, I find that fuel adjustment charges were $146, the huge majority of the bill.
I know that the price of LNG is up a lot, but I also know from the media that the oil companies are posting record profits. It would seem only fair that at least part of the increase be borne by them, instead of consumers footing the bill.
It would seem that these rates were prescribed and set by the regulatory and elected officials who performed so well for us in the last winter freeze. In short, it appears to be price gouging to an illegal extent.
Paul Maddock, Houston
Regarding “EU price cap on Russian crude marks shift to ‘partitioned' oil market, Yergin warns,” (Dec. 5): In this article in the business section, the writer noted “The European Union's move in response to Russia's February invasion of Ukraine represents a major shift in energy policy for importing nations, as oil has been sold for decades without regard for its origin.”
Apparently nobody told that to Biden since he wants to import oil from Venezuela, a known dictatorship, and has eased sanctions on Iran, a terrorist state, rather than work with domestic oil companies.
Brian Binash, Houston