Tesla Plans To Sell Clean Energy In Texas Following Massive Power Outage
Image via Tesla
After this year’s winter storms led to widespread blackouts and millions being left stranded, many fingers were pointed at Texas’ electricity market, which is mostly deregulated. The current providers weren’t equipped to handle the disastrous storms.
As a result, a few have left the market, and it’s opportune timing for new companies to step in. One of them happens to be Tesla, which has filed to enter Texas’ deregulated energy market, consequently becoming an official electricity provider.
Under the Tesla name, a new subsidiary of the company was established and filed with the Public Utility Commission (PUC) of Texas to sell electricity, Texas Monthly reports.
The company has told the state’s grid operator that it plans to build two giant batteries that will simultaneously serve as wholesale power companies.
A 250-megawatt battery is planned to be located near its factory outside Austin, which is currently under construction. There, the company is planning to build Cybertrucks and Model Y electric vehicles.
With this new venture, Tesla could sell kilowatts from the grid or grabbed from Tesla’s own home batteries, the Powerwalls, if a storm were to cause the grid to fail again.
Plus, if homeowners find that their solar panels are producing more energy than they need, Tesla might even allow them to earn some extra cash by sharing that with the grid, Texas Monthly notes.
In its filing with the PUC, the company states that it plans to target its pre-existing customer base through its app and website. With loyal customers and an increased interest in clean energy, moving away from fossil fuels, the company may have tapped into a largely profitable market by offering a new form of electricity.
The PUC will be expected to inform Tesla of its decision by November.
[via Electrek, image via Tesla]
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