Texas' power grid crumples under the cold

[Klaralven]

Monday morning, as a jet stream brought frigid air south to the central United States, Texas residents found themselves facing rolling blackouts as the statewide grid struggled to meet demand amid a large shortfall in generating capacity. As the day wore on, many saw these blackouts extend for ever longer periods of the day, and grid authorities are expecting problems to extend into at least Tuesday. As of noon local time on Monday, the Southwest Power Pool, which serves areas to the north of Texas, also announced that demand was exceeding generating capacity.

The shortfalls appear to be widespread, affecting everything from wind turbines to nuclear plants. One source of trouble may be an increased competition for natural gas, which is commonly used for heating in the United States.

Coming up short
Texas is unusual in that almost the entire state is part of a single grid that lacks extensive integration with those of the surrounding states. That grid is run by an organization called ERCOT, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, a nonprofit controlled by the state legislature.

According to a statement released today by ERCOT, the grid entered a state of emergency shortly after 1am on Monday, meaning it could no longer guarantee enough power generation to meet customer demands. This is because roughly 30 gigawatts of generation capacity has been forced offline.

While some early reports indicated that frozen wind turbines were causing significant shortfalls, 30GW is roughly equal to the entire state's wind capacity if every turbine is producing all the power it's rated for. Since wind generally tends to produce less during winter, there's no way that the grid operators would have planned for getting 30GW from wind generation; in fact, a chart at ERCOT indicates that wind is producing significantly more than forecast.
https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/02/texas-power-grid-crumples-under-the-cold/

[Irish_Dem]

1. This is a dangerous situation, there will be deaths.

Texans don't know what to do in frigid conditions with no heat.

[BeerBarrelPolka]

11. Common Phrases

"I won't wear a mask because it infringes on me and I ain't 'round folks who get Covid. Chances are slim to none"

"I will always pack my gun in case I need to defend myself, even though there hasn't been a violent crime 'round here in 40 years."

"We don't get cold weather 'round here often, and when we do, we can handle it."

"It's Biden's fault."

[Irish_Dem]

13. Oh I sure they are going to blame Obama and Hillary, Biden too.

[BeerBarrelPolka]

15. In all seriousness

I already read where they are truly blaming Obama for some weather change that happened in 2009 and continues to this day. I wish I could find it.

[Irish_Dem]

17. I believe you. Doesn't surprise me at all.

[BeerBarrelPolka]

33. Here's some

Some of what I've found:

"Thank you Xiden voters and Dominion machines. F.u.c.k you for jacking up my energy costs."

"Stop with the “vortex”..... gas is rising because of tyrant democrats stopping the pipeline "

"Too bad there is not a better source of energy than natural gas that never fails to produce when it is needed most. Oh wait, there is - shame that Obama and the other Global Warming hoax cultists unconstitutionally destroyed the industry that has never failed to keep Americans warm in the winter..."

"I hope that many Xiden voters freeze out. It would serve them right."

"Just wait until Biden's executive orders kick in ... you ain't seen nothin yet."

"Let's see a fake pandemic, lockdowns crushing economy and jobs. biden shuts down fossil fuel energy production forcing higher consumer prices while eliminated 1Million direct and indirect jobs in the process. And this arctic cold? Curious if you've been watching...odd development and odd pressure on the jet stream. Perchance a modification weapon at it's heart?

These people are evil and will stop at nothing to destroy us and our culture."


I can do this all day. Biden is in office 3.5 weeks and he's to blame for the mess Texas is in according to these folks.

[Irish_Dem]

39. Amazing ignorance and hatred.

The decades of relentless propaganda has worked to demonize any Dem.

[BeerBarrelPolka]

40. It Truly Is

And I am now living among these types of people in a red county in a blue state (Illinois).

[Irish_Dem]

41. I wish all of us here could live in nice blue areas.

[BeerBarrelPolka]

42. I've Noticed

I've noticed a change in Chicago. More and more people are turning against democratic politicians. Chicago is a very corrupt city on many levels. I lived there for 30 years and it's certainly not the same as it was in several respects.

[Irish_Dem]

43. The states have been working hard to turn red.

[BeerBarrelPolka]

44. I've Found

That for me to maintain my level of sanity and happiness, I have to insulate myself to a degree. I live in 100% reality based thinking unlike some, but I find my happiness much more from within than from external sources. I'm just waiting for spring/summer so I can enjoy car rides. I've been trapped home basically caring for an ill family member, and finally the Covid restrictions have been lifted and she returns to adult daycare starting today.

[Irish_Dem]

45. Yes find happiness in daily activities.

Look for things that bring you joy.
So glad your time has been freed up now.

Yes the nicer weather presents more opportunities.
I can't wait for the weather to turn warm so I can walk every day.

[BeerBarrelPolka]

46. Walking

Walking is so relaxing as well as healthy. I miss that too. Hopefully come April the weather will be accommodating.

[Irish_Dem]

47. Yes I find walking very relaxing, and it makes me happy.

The sun, fresh air, looking at the scenery.
Yes I hope warmer weather returns early this year.
But not looking like it at this point.

[BeerBarrelPolka]

48. Yes

For me in my area, teens until next week, then highs in the low 30's. About 2.5ft of snow on the ground.

The hardest part of all of this is the lack of reality in my world. Politics is so alternate reality, and taking care of my mom with Alzheimer's and her lack of cognizance is overwhelming for me.

[Irish_Dem]

49. I think it is really important for you to reach out for adequate social contact

that is reality based and stimulating.

Reading and posting on this forum is very good for you.

Do you have friends you can call?
I have a number of friends and we talk for hours on the phone.
It really helps.

I will go out and walk when the temps are in the 30's. But not with snow or ice on the ground.
I keep falling and breaking bones. So not smart for me to walk on ice or snow.

[BeerBarrelPolka]

50. Funny thing

What you just mentioned about friends and falling.....my one friend in this area just called me yesterday from an ambulance. He went outside to smoke a cigarette and fell and broke his hip. Surgery is scheduled for today.

[Irish_Dem]

52. After snow and ice storms, the Hospital ERs are full of people with broken bones.

So be careful everyone!

[BeerBarrelPolka]

53. Good Point

Agreed.

[global1]

2. Could This Turn Texas Blue?.....

With the Texas power grid crumbling - could the Dems use this as a future campaign issue and turn Texas blue?

[Shell_Seas]

3. A million things could turn Texas blue.

[JHB]

12. What's lacking is an apparatus to remind Texas voters of this, every day...

...day after day, for hours on end.

[Shell_Seas]

16. I do what I can. We need more enthusiasm

[Shell_Seas]

4. Republicans are blaming clean energy for this.

Apparently it's because of frozen wings turbines.

[Miguelito Loveless]

22. Well, since Antarctica

uses wind turbines at far, far colder temps, we are not getting the whole story.

[Mariana]

32. And as with most things Republicans say, it's a lie.

Since wind generally tends to produce less during winter, there's no way that the grid operators would have planned for getting 30GW from wind generation; in fact, a chart at ERCOT indicates that wind is producing significantly more than forecast.

[BeerBarrelPolka]

7. I'm sure

I'm sure the cold weather is turning people blue.

[MyNameGoesHere]

10. Only the influx of 10 million democrats

Could turn Texas blue.

[Irish_Dem]

14. I think they are literally blue right now.

[msongs]

5. videos showd loads of businesses with lights blazing away at 2 am. nobody shutting

down the neon sign, the marquees, lit billboards, all these on businesses that were closed for the night anyway. well they have all that oil I guess

[Gothmog]

6. Texas GOP and ERCOT-Preparation is for wimps

It is tough living in Texas at times. The GOP has set up ERCOT which is a separate Texas only power grid that is not well planned. The Texas GOP was proud of Texas being independent of the rest of the United States and now we are paying for this arrogance

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[Hermit-The-Prog]

18. So GOPer trickle-down and science denial won't keep the lights on? Whodathunkit!

[wcmagumba]

8. Just a preview of the future "Republic of Texas" ...

Sorry for folks there and hopefully they will keep the system up and running...Texas (and the other red states) don't seem to realize what the rest of the country provides for them in the way of a safety net (OMG Socialism), I read where the Biden admin has already authorized assistance (without a President threatening or bragging afterwards). An independent Texas would surely miss all the socialism they profit from like military bases, NASA installations, air traffic control and hundreds of other federal handouts and projects...I do wish them the best and hope there is little suffering among the citizens because of arrogant and outright poor planning from the republicans in charge...

[Bev54]

9. I think they should have an election to see if they are willing to

take assistance from a dem president. After all many of their citizens hate democrats.

[Mr.Bill]

29. On conservative websites they already have a convoluted

way of blaming Biden for it happening in the first place.

[Bev54]

30. Why does that not surprise me.

[moonscape]

35. To be fair, Biden has had

3 weeks to prevent the freeze from happening. And to beef up the power grid.

[Paladin]

51. So glad you're deriving pleasure from the suffering in Texas.

As a lifelong Texas Democrat who just went a full day without power in 12-degree weather, please let me know if there's anything else I can do to make your smugness factor increase. No guns or tax cuts involved.

[Red Mountain]

20. So if wind is not the culprit.....

What is offline?

Surely the companies that produce a summer driving season gasoline shortage haven't diversified to power production?

That would be criminal.



Texas wholesale electric prices spike more than 10,000% amid outages

https://www.reuters.com/article/electricity-texas-prices/update-2-texas-wholesale-electric-prices-spike-more-than-10000-amid-outages-idUSL1N2KL0XG

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=post&forum=1002&pid=15114290

[Lancero]

36. Traditional powerplants, hilariously.

Texas rarely gets these low of temperatures. So power plants get partially shut down in the winter since power use drops, significantly, when no one needs to have the AC running full blast for 24 hours a day. (Gotta cut production to keep rates up during the winter months, the bottom line demands it!)

Of course, here comes weather that makes everyone run for the heater. Heat pumps are normally sufficient in Texas during the winter months... Except temperatures dropped so low that your standard heat pump can't do shit anymore, so most people are using electric-restive heaters. Which use far more power than a AC unit does.

Their grid was never intended to sustain the output that this situation demands.

[czarjak]

21. Republican policies are always great until they're not.

[UpInArms]

23. Texas secession bill formally filed in state legislature

After weeks of touting his secession bill on social media, State Rep. Kyle Biedermann, R-Fredericksburg, formally filed the proposed legislation on Friday, which would give Texans a chance to explore opting out of the union in a referendum.

Biedermann began talking about the potential “Texit” in early December, saying it’s his response to a federal government that is “out of control and does not represent the values of Texans.”

In a news release published after he filed the bill, Biedermann said HB-1359 would not allow for “immediate independence,” but create a referendum that, if approved, would lead to the creation of a committee that would develop a plan for secession.

“For decades, the promises of America and our individual liberties have been eroding,” Biedermann said in a statement. “It is now time that the People of Texas are allowed the right to decide their own future. This is not a left or right political issue. Let Texans Vote!”

More at:

https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2021/02/01/texas-secession-bill-formally-filed-in-state-legislature/

[SWBTATTReg]

26. I love this blame game now going on in TX...

Last edited Tue Feb 16, 2021, 11:12 AM - Edit history (1)

In this guy's own words:

“For decades, the promises of America and our individual liberties have been eroding,” Biedermann said in a statement. “It is now time that the People of Texas are allowed the right to decide their own future. This is not a left or right political issue. Let Texans Vote!”

You mean to tell me that the republican governor, the republican legislature, and the governor appointed members of the Texas Public Utility Comm., all messed up in taking care of Texas facilities, and somehow, allowed outsiders to tell Texans what to do?

Yeah, right. There is no one telling Texans what to do in their state, other than Texans, and as a Missourian, I don't want or need to tell Texans what to do, don't need to. They can do what they want in TX. Missourians can do what we want in Missouri.

So how does this stupid and ridiculous excuse for such a proposal, even intelligently being ruled/voted on? Seems like the issues TX has is TX-created?

[UpInArms]

31. Thank you

You summed it up so beautifully

[splano]

24. We're getting out

We were lucky to secure a flight out of Dallas tomorrow. The situation is getting worse by the hour. And with temps heading down to about 4 tonight and another snow system coming late tomorrow, it’s going to be at least Friday before we see any relief.

So, it’s the warm beaches of Ft Lauderale for us for a few days.

We’re just praying everything works out well tomorrow at the airport

[Mr.Bill]

28. Before you leave, turn off your water at the meter.

Or you may be coming home to broken plumbing and a flooded house. Best of luck to you and have a safe drive to the airport.

[JI7]

34. Is it safe to fly then ?

[safeinOhio]

25. I really feel bad for the people in Texas.

But, I’ve always felt bad for them.

[krispos42]

27. I fully support emergency aid for Texas after an 8-month wait.

Or however long the covid-19 relief bill was held up in the Senate.

[Duppers]

55. There ya go! 👍

[Buckeyeblue]

37. It's a once a century type of winter storm

My guess is that many of the houses are not equipped with natural gas furnaces, like houses in the north. Because of this, electricity demands have increased.

Our over all power grids are in poor shape. As is the rest of the country's infrastructure. Trickle-down economics does not account for the need to invest in the country. The wealthy aren't going to build roads or new power grids.

[Klaralven]

38. There is a lot of heating by heat pumps

Heat pumps, basically central air conditioners run backwards, are very efficient as long as the outdoors temperature doesn't go too low. However as the outside temperature decreases the efficiency decreases. In other words they use more than double the electricity if the temperature difference inside - outside doubles.

And even worse, once they are unable to heat the house via the heat pump, they turn on resistive electric heating, which is extremely inefficient.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

54. K&R