Texas has the largest wind power generation capacity in the USA, with nearly 9,410 megawatts available, leaving it’s nearest competition Iowa far behind, which has wind power generation capacity of 3,870 megawatts. And it appears that the installed capacity is being put to good use. On February 28, the state set a record with wind power electricity generation at 6,242 megawatts for the ERCOT grid. The record didn’t stay on long and was again broken on March 5, with a peak of 6,272 megawatts. The figures are only for the ERCOT, and do not take into account the power that may have generated at the Panhandle part as that goes to another grid.
(more…)

As car manufacturers are venturing into making electric cars to beat the high costs of fuel, a 17 year old, Lucas Laborde, has already built an electric car with a difference.

It took him 150 hours to convert a normal gas powered car into one that runs on electricity. Luke, as he is known to his friends and relatives, hopes to drive to the high school, in his new creation, soon. The gas powered car, was bought for him by his father, who owns a hydraulics maintenance and repair company in down town San Antonio.

Bradley GT II - owned by Steve Striharsky at bradleygt2.com

It was a Bradley GT II kit car and was bought from eBay for $5,000. But Luke also had to spend another $4,700 for the electric power conversion parts and $1,000 for the batteries so that he can modify the car according to the design he had in mind.

Laborde, an active member of the golf team at ISA, is planning a career in sports business but if his dream car makes it big, he would be a happier person. – via Manufacturing

Image Credit – Steve Striharsky at bradleygt2.com

I can think of two very good reasons to get out of Brazoria County, Texas. First we know where Hurricane Ike is and where it’s heading. Yup, Brazoria County Judge Joe King announced a mandatory evacuation for residents of the 77541 zip code (Freeport and other coastal regions) at 10 a.m. today, while the rest of the county is subject to a voluntary evacuation.

Located right about 125 miles north of the western tip of Cuba and with maximum sustained winds in the center up to 85 mph, meteorologists expect it to strengthen over the next couple of days when it reaches Texas’ coast on Friday night to early Saturday.

“We’re surrounded by a levee,” Freeport Police Chief Jeff Pynes said. “Our levees hold about a 15-foot storm surge.”

The order came during night hours but the authorities will do their best to make sure all the people will get their messages. If you live in the area then take a look at the Hurricane Evacuation Zip Zones below (click to enlarge).

The second reason is that a convicted murder climbed the fence of a prison in the county last night and is on the loose.

heeding the evacuation warning maybe? Name: Marlow Wayne Reynolds. Looks like if Ike and the weather doesn’t get the county Marlow will. Time to get out.

Sources 1, 2, 3, 4