Gov. Perry: Texas Developing Power Sources to Meet Future Energy Needs

Press Release

Gov. Rick Perry today toured the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) facility and met with energy officials to discuss plans for meeting Texas' rising demand for electricity. While the state's business-friendly environment has encouraged investment that has led to sufficient generation and transmission capacity for the near term, Texas' continued growth is likely to require expanded capacity in the years to come.

"Texas is dedicated to pursuing an "all of the above' approach to energy creation, which includes expanding promising new technologies while continuing to develop traditional sources," Gov. Perry said. "I will continue working with officials at the Public Utility Commission and ERCOT to ensure we are utilizing all our available energy options. That's the only way we can assure Texans an adequate supply of electricity to power their homes, schools and businesses in the months and years to come."

Recent ERCOT projections indicate that, based on current weather expectations, Texas has the capacity to meet consumer needs over the 2012 summer months.

Texas electricity is cheaper today than it was in 2001, thanks to competition and deregulation of the markets.

ERCOT manages the power grid for the state, overseeing 40,500 miles of transmission lines connecting consumers with more than 550 generation units in the state. ERCOT is a nonprofit organization overseen by the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Texas Legislature.

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