Hi Rap –

Thanks for this. (just now saw your post burried in spam posts..)

I think you could not be more on-the-spot with this comment. Being aware of one’s own natural resource footprint -and ways one might change it for the better- is perhaps a key insight for leading to personal responsibility/action. And I’ll bet we can all do better -I know I can.

Be Well!

Adam

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Kim. There are many issues to track. It’s hard to know what is driving what… But we can follow the money… :/

Hi Kendra,

You’re right that it won’t be connected to the ERCOT grid. (The blog entry was partially incorrect on that and has been updated accordingly). Apparently it will be connected to the regional grid -that’s run by Southwest Power Pool (SPP)- which is the primary utility co in the Pan Handle region. In the public filings, SPP would, under contract, receive excess (and emergency) power from the complex.

We think this type of hybrid, localized energy harvesting/generation, storage & consumption “complex” model is likely to be duplicated in other regions across the state as the promises these folks made are tested against reality over the next few years. And of course, there’s changing state and geopolitical stuff… We’ll have to just watch and see.

I really appreciate your feedback. :)

Adam

Hi Cyrus,

I appreciate your feedback.

You’re right. The environmental tradeoffs here are less-than-desirable. This facility is going to put a large amount of particulate crap and carbon into the environment. The so-called “clean” NG plant is an unfortunate inclusion at the facility. Hopefully they can just keep it shut down once the PV/wind arrays and reactors are all built-out and turned on.

And yeah, you are rightly pointing out that water consumption is going to be considerable. Also, agree, the data on unsustainable aquifer and surface water depletion is alarming.

All this stuff -all the implications for continued and unabated resource depletion and pollution is far too under-discussed or comprehended. We here (@ NATiVE) do really believe that the produce of our work is a net-positive thing for the Earth and our customers as stewards. And we aim to be clear-eyed about the dirty side of power even if we don’t talk about it enough.

**I have just now made myself a commitment to better-balance some of these pieces to include the reality and scope of the environmental tradeoffs being made in the service of human comfort and, dare I say, decadence. I’ll have to tone it down a little bit, unfortunately -but we can definitely do better here.**

To your other point -yes the power generated will apparently be *mostly* for onsite consumption @ Google (and other potential) data centers along with some likely adjacent new manufacturing plants. The public filings show the plan does articulate an interconnection agreement with Southwest Power Pool (SPP) -the primary utility co in the Amarillo region which would, under contract, receive excess (and emergency) power from the complex. It won’t help ERCOT consumers, though. (I had it partially wrong in the piece, and have updated the website.) Thanks for pointing that out as well, Cyrus.

We always appreciate hearing from folks -and your input is well-taken here.

-Adam

you’re quite welcome! Let us know any questions we can help you answer.