downtown Houston glows while outskirts are in the dark, some sleep in their cars

[Demovictory9]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9266809/Deep-freeze-paralyzes-Texas-knocks-power-grid.html

Deep freeze paralyzes Texas and knocks out its power grid - sending cost of oil surging to over $60 a barrel for first time in a year
and leaving 5 million shivering at home without power or sleeping in their cars as Storm Uri leaves its mark

The cold bast caused by winter storm Uri is wreaking havoc on the energy industry with Texas oil wells and refineries halted and natural gas pipelines and wind turbines frozen

Oil production in the country's largest crude-producing state has plunged by more than two million barrels a day due to the storm, which has sent prices surging to $60 a barrel for the first time in a year
Wind turbines, which account for a fifth of the state's energy, have frozen solid and are contributing to the state's power woes as temperatures plummet to a bitter -20F
Nearly five million households in Texas were without power overnight and many residents took desperate refuge in their cars for warmth
The Southwest Power Pool, a group of utilities across 14 states, were forced to impose unprecedented rolling blackouts because the supply of reserve energy had been exhausted
The current crisis started to unfold when freezing temperatures that started at the beginning of the month sent prices for heating fuels, including oil and natural gas, surging higher

[dutch777]

1. Quite the dichotomy...empty office buildings cozy & lights blazing and people huddling in their cars

to just stay warm. Wondering if this will spur some action or if it will be a New Orleans like event where everyone bitches and points fingers at everyone else but no one really wants to take responsibility and find money and better ideas to fix anything. And the next hurricane is coming and so too is more extreme weather that could lead to longer cold snaps. Pity folks caught in these poorly governed areas.

[Dustlawyer]

6. They have a lot of high rise living downtown.

Tenants at the upper floors cannot get up and down 40 floors without elevators. Without a smart grid they have to power all downtown just to protect the high risers. Plus the elderly rich live there and they have stroke to use to get their way.

[dutch777]

24. That makes some sense although high rises in most states require generators for safety systems and

elevators. (Firefighters practice taking the stairs with hoses and for stretcher evacs but there is a reason there are the special keyed "Fire Department" settings on elevator control panels-- they tend to use the elevators if they can). Expect it is all you say and more than a smidge of political power reality.

[msongs]

2. corporate greed nt

[Croney]

3. It's like The Little Match Girl. Horrible.

[Laelth]

4. Our wind power went out when the turbines froze up.

Wind power accounts for 1/5 of Texas’ electricity production.

Whoops!



-Laelth

[babylonsister]

14. Happy to see you, Laelth

I read your previous post last night; sounded dire. I hope things are better today.

[Laelth]

16. They are, a bit, yes. Thank you.

We’re not out of the woods yet. I did manage to post an update in the Lounge this morning advising everyone that the daughter and I made it through the night. It was all I could do to get out one post this morning. Internet access has been terrible. Right now, for some reason, it’s great.

We’re not expecting higher-than-freezing temperatures until Saturday. We still have gas to run the minivan and keep us warm. We have had electricity for the past three hours, and that’s a bit shocking, but I am not counting on power lasting much longer. We are expecting a lot of snow tomorrow. We still lack water. Everything is frozen.

We’ll see how it goes, but thank you for thinking of us.



-Laelth

[TwilightZone]

17. Wind isn't the problem.

Wind production is above expected for this time of year, even with the frozen turbines.

Problem was natural gas shortage, combined with frozen equipment at coal, natural gas, and nuclear plants.

"Don’t point too many fingers at Texas wind turbines, because they’re not the main reason broad swaths of the state have been plunged into darkness.

While ice has forced some turbines to shut down just as a brutal cold wave drives record electricity demand, that’s been the least significant factor in the blackouts, according to Dan Woodfin, a senior director for the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which operates the state’s power grid.

The main factors: Frozen instruments at natural gas, coal and even nuclear facilities, as well as limited supplies of natural gas, he said. “Natural gas pressure” in particular is one reason power is coming back slower than expected Tuesday, added Woodfin."

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/02/16/nation/why-is-power-out-much-texas-frozen-wind-farms-are-just-small-piece-puzzle/

[Laelth]

20. That's very good to know. Thank you.

My internet access has been extremely limited throughout this event. Good to get the real scoop.

-Laelth

[Mariana]

25. Man that lie got around awfully fast

that Texas is in trouble because of the wind turbines, when in fact the wind turbines are producing more than forecast.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

28. How much comes from natural gas? (Clicked your link but hit a paywall).

[TrogL]

5. If you're going to sleep in your car, do NOT do it in the garage with the engine running

Carbon Monoxide is not your friend.

[roamer65]

8. Unless you are a US Capitol insurrectionist/seditionist.

Then please do.

[GoCubsGo]

11. Also make sure your tail pipe is clear of any snow banks and other obstructions.

[moonscape]

21. I thought this was no longer

a danger due to catalytic converters. Or maybe it's just rare?

[Walleye]

7. So oil production was affected. Not just frozen wind turbines, I guess

[roamer65]

9. There is plenty of oil.

I see the typical crisis price gouging already at the pump.

[Walleye]

12. Sucks. I drove through the south right after Katrina. Shameless price gouging for gas

[roamer65]

13. Heck of a job, Brownie...

Remember that?

Fucking Shrub.

[TwilightZone]

19. No. Natural gas shortage and frozen gear at other (non-wind) power plants.

Problem was natural gas storage due to high demand because of the cold, combined with frozen gear at coal, natural gas, and nuclear plants.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/02/16/nation/why-is-power-out-much-texas-frozen-wind-farms-are-just-small-piece-puzzle/

[Walleye]

22. That makes sense. Thanks

[TwilightZone]

23. The early reports were kind of confusing.

They were cleared up a bit later.

[GoCubsGo]

10. Those second and third photos remind me of "The Day After Tomorrow."

They're reminiscent of the scenes where Jake Gyllenhall's character and others took refuge in the New York Public Library as a catastrophic storm covered the Northern Hemisphere under under ice and snow, with deadly cold. They stayed alive by burning books in the library's fireplace for heat.

[BComplex]

15. I've got physically impaired family, and some elderly, who are freezing. No power.

And WTF doesn't Texas have more SOLAR????? Half the state never sees wind except on occasion, but the whole place is totally fixed for sun. These republican run states are so totally fucked up.

[Demovictory9]

27. sorry to hear that.

[budkin]

18. Same thing is happening in Austin and Dallas... it's a total shitshow

ERCOT, deregulation, and the Texas GOP are responsible.

[MustLoveBeagles]

26. K&R