Alex Bruno
According to a letter from the Texas Republican Troy Nehls to the Tesla CEO that The Daily Caller News Foundation has seen, Nehls is requesting Musk’s assistance in stabilizing the electrical infrastructure in his state. Nehls wrote to Musk on Tuesday, requesting a meeting to talk about government and private sector cooperation to solve “the potential inefficiencies” of the Texas power system as more people in America purchase electric cars (EVs).
According to Nehls, Musk has a significant interest in guaranteeing “the long-term stability” of the Texas power grid since Tesla’s headquarters are there. Nehls wrote in his letter, “I believe with your help we can cultivate an effective relationship between private business and government to ensure the long-term stability of our electric grid.
As we continue to work toward solutions to guarantee our power grids can meet the Nation’s increased electric demand. “As power use is anticipated to rise as yours and other EVs become more well-known, I would welcome hearing from you on what Tesla Inc. is already doing, and intends to do in the future, to assist stabilize the U.S. energy system.”
Nearly 80% of all new EVs registered in the U.S. in 2020 were Tesla models, and according to Nehls, Musk has a “unique viewpoint” on how to solve power grid problems given his extensive experience in the EV industry. The widespread growth in electricity demand has made it difficult for power systems to sustain.
According to Pew Research Center, the typical electric vehicle (EV) needs around 30 kilowatt-hours to drive 100 miles, which is comparable to the daily consumption of air conditioning, heating, lighting, computers, and other equipment in average American home. According to research conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy in 2018, increased electrification in every area of the American economy might lead to a 38 percent increase in consumption by 2050.
According to official statistics, Texas might have lost $130 billion as a result of Winter Storm Uri in February 2021. According to Nehls, this financial loss happened as a result of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which oversees the state’s electrical infrastructure, experiencing a “near-total breakdown.”
According to state statistics, ERCOT’s failure resulted in at least 210 fatalities, 69 percent of Texans being without electricity, and almost half experiencing problems with their water supply. As more people use air conditioning in the current Texas heat wave, ERCOT this week exceeded 76,600 megawatts, shattering a previous record.
On a podcast in May, Musk slammed Biden and his management of the economy, saying that “it’s hard to tell” what the president “is doing to be absolutely honest.” In June, Biden commended Stellantis and Ford, two of Musk’s rivals, and said he disagreed with Musk’s claim that the economy is “very awful.”
Nehls said in an interview with TheDCNF that President Joe Biden has “launched an unabashed war on fossil fuels” and “constantly boxes” Elon Musk “out of any real conversations” regarding EVs. Nehls argues that rather than “ostracising” the CEO, the president ought to cooperate with him so that Musk may “offer his distinctive and inventive viewpoint” on tackling the anticipated increase in American power demand.
In August 2021, Biden issued an executive order with the mandate that by 2030, 50% of all new light trucks and passenger automobiles sold must be “zero-emission” vehicles.
In spite of the fact that less than 1% of light-duty trucks, cars, and SUVs in the United States are electric vehicles, Biden signed the $1.2 Trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in November of last year, spending nearly $7.5 million on tax money for a “national network” of 500,000 EV chargers along highways, according to Reuters. Musk, the White House, or Tesla did not reply to a request for comment.
Source: Shorenewsnetwork
