General Discussion

Major Nikon

(36,927 posts)

28. The grid itself was never the problem

Wed Feb 17, 2021, 12:43 AM

Feb 2021

Deregulation (state not federal, btw) was never the problem. The problem is power plants that weren't winterized against weather conditions not seen much more than once in a lifetime. It's worth noting massive pattern outages do happen all over the US from time to time. This isn't just a Texas thing.

The reality is that electricity in Texas is largely apolitical. The electrical production and transmission in Texas is actually pretty progressive when you consider we produce far more wind power than any other state and our grid is one of the most modern in the nation. The rates we pay are also far lower than most. As a Texan and someone who just lost power for a day and a half I have to say our system of electricity is not something I'm particularly at odds with our current (lack of) leadership.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

90 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Beto: We are nearing a failed state in Texas. [View all] RandySF Feb 2021 OP

No shit. This is a MAN-MADE clusterfuck. dalton99a Feb 2021 #1

I've lived here my entire life and we've never had temperatures this low. The disaster is still rainin Feb 2021 #83

Or a LET'S NOT BOTHER TO MAKE ANYTHING cluster lame54 Feb 2021 #90

The power problems are republican deregulation coming to roost SoonerPride Feb 2021 #2

Worth watching....Beto is offering/bringing a different reality to Republican Texas. OAITW r.2.0 Feb 2021 #3

He IS the man of the hour in Texas ... our whole state is in disarray. 42bambi Feb 2021 #13

+1. He is the only Democrat that is well known statewide dalton99a Feb 2021 #14

And Cecile richards for Lt governor. Chipper Chat Feb 2021 #78

That's what I thought upon hearing this. BadgerMom Feb 2021 #37

Has any figured out how TX will falsely blame Joe, Kamala, and/or my dog DonaldsRump Feb 2021 #4

And Obama and Hillary! PatSeg Feb 2021 #16

Her emails! His tan suit! Michelle's bare arms! DonaldsRump Feb 2021 #22

Oh I'm sure there are a few more PatSeg Feb 2021 #26

🤔 wasn't there something involving fancier mustard? electric_blue68 Feb 2021 #45

You forgot the Clenis. muntrv Feb 2021 #76

That there is funny Roc2020 Feb 2021 #79

Probably will involve pizza in some way. cstanleytech Feb 2021 #68

And the Deep State, PatSeg Feb 2021 #71

So Deep Dish? cstanleytech Feb 2021 #73

Found this article/video where RW nut is blaming Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez for TX freeze RestoreAmerica2020 Feb 2021 #42

Thank you for posting this. DonaldsRump Feb 2021 #46

They are already blaming the Green New Deal DBoon Feb 2021 #55

I read 4 million without power. Corgigal Feb 2021 #5

Galveston is making plans to collect bodies: dalton99a Feb 2021 #8

with GQP in charge its just a matter of time till the next avoidable crisis. nt BootinUp Feb 2021 #6

Careful, Beto gratuitous Feb 2021 #7

That's actually a good admonition. His comments are slightly gratuitous for a politician LuvLoogie Feb 2021 #57

I always think of that old joke about St. Peter and the 3 boats theneworiginal Feb 2021 #58

I have told that story many times, except he refuses his friend in a truck, yellowdogintexas Feb 2021 #61

Sad such a Great State is at the mercy of such a catastrophe... StClone Feb 2021 #9

we lived in Texas for seven years. Democrats elected everywhere. Nothing like this at all. demigoddess Feb 2021 #10

What time frame was this? BigmanPigman Feb 2021 #12

In the 70s, Potter county (Amarillo) had a UpInArms Feb 2021 #50

I have known his son, Davis for nearly 30 years yellowdogintexas Feb 2021 #63

1972-1979 demigoddess Feb 2021 #89

Democrats still control urban areas. dalton99a Feb 2021 #18

Yes they do Horse with no Name Feb 2021 #59

Tarrant county (Fort Worth) the last red metro area turned blue in 2018. yellowdogintexas Feb 2021 #65

So Texas is like Somalia, Haiti and Afghanistan? lol... not quite. nt EX500rider Feb 2021 #11

Likely Beto knows next to nothing about electrical generation & distribution grid design & operation Klaralven Feb 2021 #15

Beto likely knows more than people on a forum demtenjeep Feb 2021 #20

I would love to hear some suggestions (sincere, not snark!) Bongo Prophet Feb 2021 #24

The grid itself was never the problem Major Nikon Feb 2021 #28

Thanks for that, and I appreciate the good points Bongo Prophet Feb 2021 #29

There is interconnection with other grids for emergency purposes Major Nikon Feb 2021 #41

Y'all need to winterize questionseverything Feb 2021 #82

That is the actual problem Major Nikon Feb 2021 #84

I saw a video of electricity arcing between power poles questionseverything Feb 2021 #86

Yes, as would a defective meter at your house Major Nikon Feb 2021 #87

We need some national top down design of the grid. Klaralven Feb 2021 #31

Thanks for the links! Bongo Prophet Feb 2021 #38

Basically, Republican leadership gerrymandered the physical power grid? Clearly fogged in Feb 2021 #27

Decentralizing power generation through renewables and coti Feb 2021 #30

Gee. If only that fleet of electric cars had some batteries or something to store energy. Hermit-The-Prog Feb 2021 #44

he mentions that in the interview. El Paso can draw from New Mexico yellowdogintexas Feb 2021 #62

Governor Beto will hire people who know how to fix it. roamer65 Feb 2021 #17

+1. You don't have to be a trained chef to distinguish an omelet from a pile of shit dalton99a Feb 2021 #19

THIS. roamer65 Feb 2021 #21

But a trained chef will know whether combining several ingredients will produce a tasty dish or Klaralven Feb 2021 #23

deregulation never has and never will work, but will work for the rich. AllaN01Bear Feb 2021 #25

maybe losing power like this will make them wake up and smell the coffee nt yellowdogintexas Feb 2021 #66

Guess that secession thing might not be such a good idea matt819 Feb 2021 #32

Yeah, that secession thing will likely never happen. I hope not. Bongo Prophet Feb 2021 #39

He really needs to run against Cruz again for that senate seat. Vivienne235729 Feb 2021 #33

He has said he is considering runnning for Governor and considering all the problems JI7 Feb 2021 #35

Gov Abbott was on TV tonight for the first time in MONTHS. He's worried about Covering his ass. flying_wahini Feb 2021 #34

Yes! Beto for TX Governor in 2022!! So tired after 25 years of GOP rule here. onetexan Feb 2021 #47

In general, the Dems need to make a hard push for Texas. Every election, every office. nt Progressive Jones Feb 2021 #36

our push is getting stronger every election yellowdogintexas Feb 2021 #69

Excellent !!! My state, IL, was a "red state" in recent history. We fixed that. nt Progressive Jones Feb 2021 #81

Texas has been moving towards a failed state fantase56 Feb 2021 #40

Rt TY & Beto! Cha Feb 2021 #43

I dare anyone BeerBarrelPolka Feb 2021 #48

bwa ha ha ha Roc2020 Feb 2021 #80

It has everything to do with policy malaise Feb 2021 #49

Beto bdamomma Feb 2021 #51

You can't trust the people twodogsbarking Feb 2021 #52

El Paso is not on the ERCOT grid used by most of Texas. They had outages of a couple hours total. Lonestarblue Feb 2021 #53

Exactly this. Jetheels Feb 2021 #54

Nearing failed state status? I think it is there. Irish_Dem Feb 2021 #56

Seems more like confirmation bias to me... EX500rider Feb 2021 #60

well according to Fatso the Former, California is a failed state yellowdogintexas Feb 2021 #70

Failed states are corporate states. Controlled of, by and for fictional personhoods and not humans. ancianita Feb 2021 #64

Not really: EX500rider Feb 2021 #67

You're talking textbook definitions. The reality are the agents behind this passive definition. ancianita Feb 2021 #77

Pres. Biden, please send troops to Texas now to maintain a civil society. NCjack Feb 2021 #72

Leadership creating an s*hole state. Sogo Feb 2021 #74

I wish he would run JustAnotherGen Feb 2021 #75

So when is the state going to secede from the union? Acornsouth Feb 2021 #85

Nearing? Blue Hal Feb 2021 #88