Although Texas is best known for its fossil fuel resources (oil, natural gas, coal), the state also holds great promise for the development and production of renewable energy. This morning, I attended the 9th Annual Renewable Energy Roundup and Green Living Fair in nearby Fredericksburg, and checked out some of the options for solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass energy production. According to the Texas State Energy Conservation Office, the average Texan household produces 2,235 pounds of carbon dioxide each month, through use of electricity, natural gas, and gasoline. The state has mandated that 5,880 Megawatts of electricity should arise from renewable resources by 2015, but we can probably do better than that.
The three most promising renewable energy resources for Texas are wind, solar, and biomass. Wind energy alone, generated by turbines in West Texas, the Panhandle, and along the Gulf Coast, has the potential to provide all of state’s electricity needs. Solar energy harvesting is feasible throughout the state, but would be especially productive in West Texas, South Texas, and the Panhandle. Biomass energy can be generated from plant material, or from certain types of garbage, and would be practical to produce in East Texas and in the Panhandle. Most people I know who use pickup trucks to haul stock trailers, or as transportation on farms and ranches, purchased diesel engine models, which can be converted to run on clean biofuels for about $1000.
Biodiesel processor and fidgety Segway
The official purveyor of cerveza for the Roundup is the New Belgium Brewery of Fort Collins, Colorado, which is responsible for the excellent range of Fat Tire beers, and which utilizes wind-generated energy for production. There were many other interesting booths and exhibits, on organic gardening, rainwater harvesting, recycled construction materials, electric conversions for cars, local and seasonal food choices, solar-powered septic loos (!), and growing native plants. For lunch I had an excellent Senegalese vegetable stew in peanut sauce, served over couscous (which I suspect was infused with the power of Jah); I will not rest until I’ve figured out how to prepare something similar myself, and recipe suggestions are welcome.
Solar battery electric Jeep and Porsche conversions
Fredericksburg, like many Texas Hill Country towns, was established by German immigrants, and remains populated largely by their descendants. German farmers and ranchers developed ingenious ways to channel streams and springs, to harvest rainwater, and to store water in natural tanks, in the semiarid limestone terrain. Those lucky enough to have land near a river may have been able to use a waterwheel for at least part of the year.