1. Texas Wind Energy American Meteorological Society Summer Community Meeting – Norman Oklahoma Henry Durrwachter, P.E. August 12, 2009

2. 2 Installed Wind Capacity

3. 3  The only intra-state electric grid in the U.S.  3 Direct Current (DC) ties to the Eastern Interconnect (2) or Mexico (1)  Serves about 20 million customers (85% of Texas load) over 200,000 sq. miles of territory (75%)  38,000 miles of high voltage transmission lines (345 kV, 138 kv and 69 kV)  Non-profit organization regulated by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) Graphic courtesy of ERCOT Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT)

4. 4 ERCOT Reserve Margin and Energy Mix 2008  169 generating plants (72,500 MW of capacity at peak)  2008 Peak demand = 62,174 MW  16.6% Reserve Margin* (12.5% minimum)  580+ thermal generation units  Over 8,000 MW of wind generation *Estimated 309 Million MWh

5. 5 33 31 8,290 MW Installed as of 12-31-2008 In ERCOT Outside ERCOT Installed Wind Generation in Texas

6. 6 Monthly Energy Production – West Texas Wind Farm

7. 7 ERCOT Summer Peak Month Coincidence (Hourly Average) - 2008 11.7% Peak Load Hour

8. 8 High ramp rates January 5, 2007 – Total Installed Wind Capacity = 2,790 MW Hourly Variability of Wind

9. 9 Scenario 2 - 18,456 MW of Wind - $4.93 Billion Miles of New ROW: 345 kV = 2,334 138 kV = 42

10. 10 Questions Q: What is the proper role for government, industry and academia?  Government – provide access to appropriate weather data  Industry – willingness to utilize the latest tools and techniques to better forecast wind energy production  Academia – research better ways to forecast wind energy production Q: What are the primary knowledge gaps?  Correct modeling and forecasting of low-level jets and their impact on wind generation production (according to our staff meteorologist) Q: How can all parties leverage their expertise to move the nation forward to improve the adoption of renewables?  Learn from others’ experiences  Recognize the shortcomings of renewable technologies (variable fuel supply, non-dispatchability) and  create innovative methods, procedures or incentives to address those shortcomings through new or existing generating technologies or control systems.