Green Energy Roundup: Northeast Storm, Texas Grid, and Storage Milestones
This daily roundup covers a deadly nor'easter that brought heavy rain and flooding to the northeastern U.S., alongside Texas setting repeated electricity demand records without blackouts through solar, wind, and battery storage. It also reports that Vermont Yankee's decommissioning is nearly complete, that researchers tested solar panels 10 meters underwater near China, and that New South Wales switched on a large battery facility.
A nor'easter brought intense rain and wind from Delaware to Massachusetts, with the Jersey Shore and southeastern New England receiving as much as three inches in a day; it caused at least one death. In Texas during summer 2026, electricity demand exceeded the old 85.5 GW record 45 times, yet the grid avoided blackouts, aided by solar, wind, and batteries.
Vermont Yankee closed in 2016 after Entergy found it unprofitable in New England's deregulated market; its dismantling is almost done, with nearly all of a $602 million fund used. Researchers also powered panels 10 meters deep near China's Weizhou Islands, and New South Wales activated the 850 MW/1680 MWh Waratah battery on a former coal site.
Count words? First para: A(1) nor'easter2 brought3 intense4 rain5 and6 wind7 from8 Delaware9 to10 Massachusetts11, with12 the13 Jersey14 Shore15 and16 southeastern17 New18 England19 receiving20 as21 much22 as23 three24 inches25 in26 a27 day28; it29 caused30 at31 least32 one33 death34. In35 Texas36 during37 summer38 2026,39 electricity40 demand41 exceeded42 the43 old44 85.5 GW45 record46 45? "45" times? Let's count: "45 times" = 47? Actually after record: 45? Let's recount. Sentence: In Texas during summer 2026, electricity demand exceeded the old 85.5 GW record 45 times, yet the grid avoided blackouts, aided by solar, wind, and batteries. Words: In1 Texas2 during3 summer4 2026,5 electricity6 demand7 exceeded8 the9 old10 85.5 11 GW12 record13 45 14 times15, yet16 the17 grid18 avoided
The Northeast storm may increase immediate risks for residents, travelers, and emergency crews. Texas's record demand met without outages could strengthen confidence that solar, wind, and storage can support reliability, though conditions vary. Vermont Yankee's near-complete dismantling may affect local redevelopment and remaining cleanup concerns. Underwater solar trials and New South Wales's large battery could inform future coastal energy and grid-storage planning, potentially influencing households and utilities in affected regions. Count: The1 Northeast2 storm3 may4 increase5 immediate6 risks7 for8 residents9, travelers10, and11 emergency12 crews13. Texas's14 record15 demand16 met17 without18 outages19 could20 strengthen21 confidence22 that23 solar24, wind25, and26 storage27 can28 support29 reliability30, though31 conditions32 vary33. Vermont34 Yankee's35 near-complete36 dismantling37 may38 affect39 local40 redevelopment41 and42 remaining43 cleanup44 concerns45. Underwater46 sola