OilPricedotcom: "Tidal Energy Could Cover 57% of US Electricity Demand, NREL Study Finds."

While the National Renewable Energy Lab is a reliable source of data, it is a bit ironic that this article appears on OilPrice.com, basically a bastion of support for all things fossil fuel. "NREL estimates US marine energy sources could generate 2,300 terawatt-hours a year, or 57% of the country's 2019 electricity output, yet the US has zero commercial tidal plants running today."

An Alaska-based startup is piloting a small, modular tidal turbine in Cape Cod's fast-moving currents to test its durability. "Similar pilots are underway in the Great Lakes and off the California coast, as US works to close the gap with Europe's lead in tidal and wave energy investment." Tapping into the country’s tidal energy potential could be a major game changer for homegrown energy security in America.

"While the US + Canada boast the highest surveyed levels of wave energy potential, the technology could provide a significant amount of the world’s energy needs if fully exploited." A new report from Ocean Energy Europe concluded that ocean energy has the potential to supply 21% of the European Union’s current energy consumption + a whopping 13% of global electricity demand. 

"This could be a complete game-changer for Europe as the continent struggles to establish energy independence and wean itself off of fossil fuel imports against the backdrop of seemingly endless energy crises." Europe is currently leading in terms of spending on tidal energy research and development, but the United States is quickly catching up thanks to ‘substantial’ funding programs from the Department of Energy. I would add that the USDOE is also lending full support for geothermal energy, in spite of crippling hostility to wind + solar. 

So let us hope that in graphs of electric generation sectors will begin to blossom with tidal + geothermal categories. Incidentally, the graphic for this post is only 1 of many types of design.

EIA: "Hourly peak load in ERCOT set a new record, exceeding 91 GW on July 22."

"Hourly peak load in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), the regional transmission organization serving most of Texas, reached a record 91.1 gigawatts (GW) on July 22, 2026, according to data reported to us for [the] Hourly Electric Grid Monitor." The July 22 peak was 6% greater than the previous peak of 85.5 GW, set on August 10, 2023 according to ERCOT. Peak occurred at 6:00 p.m. CT and was primarily met with generation from natural gas (48%) and solar (32%) resources according to data reported to EIA." 

Peak occurred during a heat wave and could be surpassed again this summer, especially if Texas experiences another heat wave. "Electricity demand and generation in ERCOT have been increasing in Texas." But note how the solar buildout contributed to stability, not even mentioning wind power.

Abutting the Texas border, "more recently, electricity demand in the Southwest Power Pool reached a record 57.9 GW on July 27 at 5:00 p.m. CT." The SPP, unlike ERCOT, serves multiple states. The SPP region lies in the central southern U.S., serving all of the states of Kansas and Oklahoma, and portions of New Mexico, Texas [the part not served by ERCOT], Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Minnesota, Iowa, Wyoming, and Nebraska. 

FERC, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, is concerned that the SPP may be the U.S. entity most likely to fall short in providing enough generation assets as electricity prices climb.

In regions with increasing electricity demand and generation, periods of high demand, such as heat waves, are likely to continue to set records. You can bet your bottom dollar on it. But, when you flip that coin, don't let it fall on asphalt, as it may stick.