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Bye-bye coal, hello solar: Why Texas’ top power company, Vistra, is embracing clean energy [Flashback]
The Dallas Morning News ^ | October 30, 2020 | By Mitchell Schnurman

Posted on 02/16/2021 7:37:38 AM PST by Oldeconomybuyer

“Will you remember that, Texas?”

That was President Donald Trump’s question in the last presidential debate after Joe Biden said he wanted the oil industry to start transitioning to renewable energy. Trump saw this as a gotcha moment, perhaps because Texas is easily the nation’s top producer of oil and natural gas.

But Texas also is No. 1 in wind generation, and solar capacity is coming on fast.

Here’s another sign of energy’s evolving times: Vistra Corp., the state’s largest electricity generator, is retiring coal plants and investing heavily in solar power and storage batteries.

Most of the initial spending, about $850 million, will go toward seven solar projects in Texas, which are expected to be online within two years.

Almost three-fourths of the new clean electricity will be headed to the Dallas-Fort Worth region.

“I’ve told our people, ‘We’re not going to be Blockbuster,’” said Vistra CEO Curtis Morgan, referring to the failed video rental giant that was outflanked by nimble competitors and new technology.

Morgan recalled how Vistra proposed 11 new coal-fired power plants for Texas in 2006. The idea provoked outrage, given the poor air quality in North Texas and elsewhere in the state.

Ultimately, just three coal plants were built, in part because private equity investors bought TXU and scrapped the expansion plan.

“We were like the poster child for coal,” Morgan said in an interview. “That’s not who this company is anymore.”

About a month ago, Vistra unveiled its new clean-energy strategy to investors, along with a new climate report.

“When I walked out of there, it was clear to me that man was contributing to climate change in a big way,” Morgan said. “And there were plenty of things we could do to change it.”

(Excerpt) Read more at dallasnews.com ...


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: energy; globalwarming; solar; wind
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1 posted on 02/16/2021 7:37:38 AM PST by Oldeconomybuyer
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Did they take the word ‘RESERVE’ out of the dictionary ???


2 posted on 02/16/2021 7:38:43 AM PST by George from New England
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Liberals don’t care. People could die freezing to death, and as long as it pushes the agenda, they just don’t care.


3 posted on 02/16/2021 7:39:09 AM PST by brownsfan (Term limits! Without term limits, we are doomed.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

I’m disgusted at the lack of service. No excuse. Down power lines are one thing. Get rid of those SJW climate activists and get back to sound management. They are killing people.


4 posted on 02/16/2021 7:41:16 AM PST by outinyellowdogcountry
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

5 posted on 02/16/2021 7:41:30 AM PST by bk1000 (Banned from Breitbart)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

“Almost three-fourths of the new clean electricity will be headed to the Dallas-Fort Worth region.”

Excellent! Do the experimenting with democrat big cities! How about Austin and Houston next?😎


6 posted on 02/16/2021 7:42:16 AM PST by Bonemaker (invictus maneo)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

One nice thing about a steam turbine or a nuclear reactor vessel: the weather inside it is always much worse than the weather outside it.


7 posted on 02/16/2021 7:43:33 AM PST by Steely Tom ([Voter Fraud] == [Civil War])
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Who the hell decided that killing fossil fuels was the solution to global warming. So far, it has done “0”.....Except for padding pockets.


8 posted on 02/16/2021 7:45:03 AM PST by Sacajaweau
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To: brownsfan
Liberals don’t care. People could die freezing to death, and as long as it pushes the agenda, they just don’t care.

Especially if it's people who didn't vote for them.

9 posted on 02/16/2021 7:46:24 AM PST by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin (Freedom is the freedom to discipline yourself so others don't have to do it for you.)
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To: outinyellowdogcountry

“Bye-bye coal, hello solar: Why Texas’ top power company, Vistra, is embracing clean energy..”

These Vistra asswipes better hope some REAL Texans don’t get ahold of them or they will be “embracing” an Old West necktie party!


10 posted on 02/16/2021 7:46:28 AM PST by Bonemaker (invictus maneo)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
Why do I think God is trying to teach wind and solar folks a lesson in the abundance of natural resources like coal and gas and oil.

Think about it...Solar panels and wind mills are NOT natural.

11 posted on 02/16/2021 7:47:56 AM PST by Sacajaweau
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To: bk1000

Re: your solar pic. Wisconsin here. There is hot talk of a large solar farm being planned next to some of our acreage. The utility is supposedly wanting to lease land at $900/acre - PER YEAR. I kid you not. And that picture of yours times a hundred is the picture in my mind. This whole business has to be subsidized, as in Solyndra.

https://www.solarlandlease.com/lease-rates-for-solar-farms-how-valuable-is-my-land


12 posted on 02/16/2021 7:52:16 AM PST by gloryblaze
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
I give you Exhibit A. Disappearing Glaciers
13 posted on 02/16/2021 7:56:27 AM PST by crusty old prospector
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To: Bonemaker
The hydroelectric plant of the Morris Sheppard Dam (Possum Kingdom Lake) was permanently shut down about '08.

This was a political move so the Brazos River Authority could move into the business of selling water.

14 posted on 02/16/2021 7:56:58 AM PST by Deaf Smith (When a Texan takes his chances, chances will be taken that's for sure.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

I forgot to add. Go the the 7:00 minute mark.


15 posted on 02/16/2021 7:57:27 AM PST by crusty old prospector
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Yes, I’m sitting here freezing in NE Texas (9 degrees) waiting for the next round of rolling blackout. Power has been back on about 30 minutes. It won’t be much longer.


16 posted on 02/16/2021 8:02:52 AM PST by PLMerite
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Anyone know the cost per kilowatt of solar vs wind vs coal/natural gas plants?


17 posted on 02/16/2021 8:06:14 AM PST by nevergore (I have a terrible rash on my covfefe....)
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To: nevergore

18 posted on 02/16/2021 8:09:16 AM PST by Oldeconomybuyer (The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

What do you mean rolling blackout!

I need to charge my Tesla


19 posted on 02/16/2021 8:09:20 AM PST by Steven Tyler
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Thanks! That’s about where I thought......

Natural gas, Hydro, and Coal are the most efficient for uninterrupted power with geothermal as an outlier since all areas are not able to utilize this method.....

So where is the Texas PUC in this equation. Their primary responsibility is to regulate rates and protect Texans against woke Utilities...


20 posted on 02/16/2021 8:19:04 AM PST by nevergore (I have a terrible rash on my covfefe....)
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