Further move toward the NAU? Texas and Mexico are preparing to interconnect their power grids. Texas' grid, which is independent of the greater U.S., is about to take advantage of excess power generation in northern Mexico, but perhaps more presciently, is about to inextricably link critical infrastructure between two countries, for better or worse.
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')exas, Mexico link electric grids
Texas plugs its grid into Mexico's so generation companies can buy and sell electricity
11:17 PM CDT on Tuesday, September 18, 2007
By ELIZABETH SOUDER / The Dallas Morning News
esouder@dallasnews.comTexas and Mexico are tying their electricity grids together to allow commercial power trade, but it's not obvious which way the juice might flow.
As a brand-new interconnection fires up next month, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas is testing whether the grid it operates north of the Rio Grande can handle commercial transactions with Mexico. Three small interconnections between the grids are now used strictly for emergencies.Northern Mexico generates more electricity than the region needs, and experts say it can do so at a lower cost than the U.S.
That's an argument for Texas importing Mexican power. But the electricity could eventually flow the other direction, as Mexico's demand for power soars.
Supplying demand on either side of the Rio Grande could present a business opportunity for power generation companies. But there are a couple of niggling issues that could disrupt the whole idea: environmental worries and federal jurisdiction.
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Dallas Morning News article