Texas nation’s top energy producer, consumer

HOUSTON (Houston Chronicle) – The Lone Star State produces and consumes more energy than any other state in the nation.

Texas produces 41 percent more energy than it consumes and is a leading net exporter of energy, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. It produces a third of the country's crude oil, nearly a third of its natural gas, and more than a fourth of all wind power generated in the U.S. Texas also is the nation's leader in crude oil refining.

Demand for power in Texas grows every year as the state's population continues to grow, according to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT). It recorded an all-time peak in power demand in August 2016 of 71,110 megawatts. One megawatt is enough to power 200 homes on a hot Texas day.

Texas broke its July record when demand hit 69,525 megawatts around 4 p.m. on July 28, ERCOT reported.