Alden Energy Consulting LLC

Alden Energy Consulting LLC is an independent consulting firm focused on saving customers money with enhanced energy procurement or conservation projects.

[Joshua D. Rhodes @joshdr83]

I asked ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas how RTC+B is performing since going live on December 5th.

tl;dr: ERCOT projects more than $3 billion a year in wholesale market savings from real-time co-optimization of energy and ancillary services. They can already see it in the data.

[John Arnold @johnarnold]

Hard to overstate the role shale gas has played in lowering inflation and spurring American industry. Were we a net importer today as forecast in the 2000s, domestic nat gas & power would be at multiples of current pricing, serving as a huge tax on individuals and companies.
1/5

[Sundar Pichai @sundarpichai]

Google is now the first cloud provider to integrate 1 GW of flexible demand into long-term utility contracts. Our ability to shift or reduce our energy demand when it’s needed can help utility companies balance supply/ demand and plan for future capacity needs.

This is a big milestone for responsible data center growth and helps keep costs lower for local communities.

https://t.co/yagskz6Wq7

[Craig Lawrence @clawrence]

Battery storage in ERCOT is now routinely providing 10%-20% of power required by the Texas grid during times of peak demand. Five years ago, we had no batteries in ERCOT. The next 5 years are going to be nuts.

[James Dickey @jamesdickey]

Texas just told datacenter developers: put up $25 million before your interconnection study even starts, forfeit 80% if you walk away, and disclose your identity to the public.

The PUCT's proposed rule for large loads above 75 MW is the toughest interconnection framework in the country. 🧵

[Brian Bartholomew @BPBartholomew]

The US grid, mapped.

Public data for public use.

16,819 power plants and 36,872 generators from EIA.
750,000+ transmission circuit-miles from HIFLD.
1,000+ data centers from EPA and other open sources.

[Tim Latimer @TimMLatimer]

Interesting overview of ERCOT battery activity during the winter storm. Batteries kept waiting for a big price spike that never came so ended up sitting out during the most lucrative times. https://t.co/NxUhzMETgl

[ERCOT @ERCOT_ISO]

ERCOT is monitoring the cold weather approaching the ERCOT region and will keep Texans informed on grid conditions through our various communication channels. Grid conditions are expected to be normal. For regular updates, follow ERCOT’s official social media channels and continue to monitor real-time and extended grid conditions on https://t.co/4lhispubCP. You can also download the ERCOT app and subscribe to receive Texas Advisory and Notification System (TXANS) notifications and Emergency Alerts to your email: https://t.co/C7d4SN5MPj

[Alden Energy Consulting LLC @AldenEnergy]

US NatGas Spikes Most Since Ukraine Invasion On Arctic Blast, Major Winter Storm Threat
https://t.co/XgoI9UDHUD

[North Texas Weather Center @ntexasweather]

GFS has a huge snow uptrend with the evening model run- Now showing 50hrs+ of winter precip falling with freezing rain to sleet to snow with flurries lasting until Sunday night!

These trends need to be watched very closely as this could be a historic and record breaking storm!

[Ryan Hall, Y’all @ryanhallyall]

https://t.co/lxgROikcsD

[Richard Meyer @RichardMeyerDC]

Yes: Sufficient access to natural gas supplies is a key determinant of lower electricity prices

[John Arnold @johnarnold]

WaPo has good article on electricity costs. More demand amortizes fixed costs of transmission & distribution over more users and ↓ prices. But cost of new gen is higher than depreciated cost of existing system, which ↑ prices. If new large loads pay actual cost of new gen (and associated infrastructure), data centers can be a net positive for existing rate payers. This is doubly true if the large loads are subject to curtailment during emergency conditions. Smart system design can allow new loads to be met and improve affordability/reliability for other customers.

[King of Power @TermPowerTrader]

Your regular reminder that this is not true at all. And it's definitely not true in most of Texas, where Craig lives. Rates are either set by the market in areas with retail power choice or set by cost of service formulas used by utility commissions in areas without.

[John Arnold @johnarnold]

Energy costs have tracked inflation historically. That stability is now at risk after scores of projects across every source were cancelled over past decade due to permitting. Without reform, we will not have affordable & reliable energy. A partial list of projects affected:
🧵

[Alden Energy Consulting LLC @AldenEnergy]

https://t.co/Diij1US0YW

[King of Power @TermPowerTrader]

Most of the resource adequacy issues facing RTO markets today can be explained by this simple graph:

[Alden Energy Consulting LLC @AldenEnergy]

ERCOT Drastically Increases 2030 Electricity Demand Estimate, Driven Largely by Data Center Growth https://t.co/MG9bLD9fl3

[Dallas Texas TV @DallasTexasTV]

New York Stock Exchange announced plans today to launch NYSE Texas, headquartered in Dallas

[ERCOT @ERCOT_ISO]

TXANS Update—1/20/2025: An ERCOT Weather Watch goes into effect today through January 23 due to forecasted extreme cold weather across the ERCOT region, higher electrical demand, and the potential for lower reserves. Winter precipitation is also expected across parts of the state. Grid conditions are expected to be normal. ERCOT continues to closely monitor the weather and will keep Texans updated through our social media channels. Sign up for #TXANS emails at https://t.co/w0JH5ggfY7 and download the ERCOT official app.