Texas Electricity

Brownouts in the winter and now maybe electrical brownouts in the summer. What's going on?

Well, ERCOT is the name of the entity that supplies electricity in Texas.

I found this article from 2008 that breaks down the history, law and intent of ERCOT's mission. Even though some time has passed, it's a pretty good introduction to the subject.

Bonus: There is also a very good summary discussion of the different models of electricity distribution (including regulation vs deregulation) in Energy for the 21st Century.

Energy Use Statistics

Here are Economagic statistics from the US Department of Energy that tell you how much gasoline, coal, wood, wind, electricity, nuclear, oil, natural gas, solar, etc... was burned, used, stored or even thought about....

(note: follow the link above, sign in, scroll down and then choose Department of Energy monthly reports).

Goes by type of activity that consumed the industry too - as in commercial, residential and energy generation.

Ultimately, you can even get to imports/exports and prices paid, etc...

Human Fat Is Bio Diesel Ready

Great news - we have discovered a new source of renewable fuel in this country. In fact, we have some of the largest reserves on the planet.

Human fat. Yup, straight from the lipsosuction clinic to your tank.

Energy and Oil Statistics

A great collection of authoritative energy web sites from U.S. government, American and international organizations.

Oil and Gas Journal Databook. (This is a deep one - it has current and potential production numbers for different oil and natural gas fields.)