The Solar Duck Is Too Fat?! California’s Grid Crisis + Texas & Louisiana Shakeups

Renewable energy curtailment has hit new highs in California, with the state forced to turn away 3.4 million megawatt hours of clean electricity in 2024 - a 29% jump from the previous year. The solar "duck curve" continues to deepen as midday generation vastly outpaces demand, especially during spring months when solar output soars but air conditioning needs remain low. This imbalance leaves grid operators in a precarious position, requiring some gas plants to keep running during peak solar hours just to ensure they can ramp up quickly enough when evening demand spikes.

Looking forward, California is taking steps to address growing energy demands with CAISO approving nearly $5 billion in new infrastructure projects aimed at accommodating an anticipated 76,000 megawatts of new load by 2039. This massive growth projection stems from accelerating electric vehicle adoption, data center expansion, and broader electrification initiatives across the state's economy.

The renewable landscape in Texas narrowly avoided potential disaster as several bills that would have severely undermined wind and solar economics failed to pass the House. The proposed legislation would have imposed onerous requirements including mandatory gas backup purchases and one-to-one matching with dispatchable resources. Meanwhile, a promising 110 MW geothermal project is moving forward in western Texas, while Louisiana residents are left questioning who's responsible after 100,000 customers lost power during a holiday weekend. As Entergy and MISO point fingers at each other, the incident highlights the fragility of our aging grid infrastructure amid rising demands and extreme weather events. Subscribe to our channel for weekly updates on the rapidly evolving energy landscape and what it means for consumers and communities across America.

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