@datandmaps: In 1974, California and Texas had roughly the same amount of installed generating capacity: about 30 GW in California and 34 GW in Texas. Fast forward to 2026 and the systems barely resemble each other. John Bistline's EIA-based visualization puts Texas at roughly 243 GW of installed capacity, more than twice California's roughly 113 GW, while also showing how differently the two states built their electricity systems. Texas still relies heavily on natural gas, but it is also adding renewables at an enormous pace. EIA expects Texas alone to account for around 40% of new U.S. utility-scale solar capacity added in 2026, and solar generation in ERCOT is forecast to exceed coal generation for the first full year. (U.S. Energy Information Administration) That matters because U.S. electricity demand is climbing again. Data centers and manufacturing are helping push consumption toward new records. So this map is not just history. It is a preview of the choice ahead. Do we meet the next wave of electricity demand with more low-carbon power, storage, and transmission, or lock in decades of additional fossil fuel pollution? EPA is currently proposing to eliminate the remaining federal greenhouse gas standards for fossil-fuel power plants. The grid gets built one generator at a time. 
So does its pollution. Visualization: John Bistline
Data: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-860M #creatorsearchinsights #california #texas #timelapse #energy

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Friday 09 October 2026 01:10:06 GMT