Re: Texas Power Grid

JamandBread · ‎06-24-2021

Within 10 years, the major car and truck manufacturers have plans to phase out the production of fuel combustion engines by 90%. There are articles and quotes directly from the manufacturers stating this.

You can't stop progress. Consumers our age have about 10-20 years left to drive. The car companies don't care what we think. They are catering to the new generation who are buying electric and living and thinking green. Complaining about the inevitable isn't going to stop progress. It's all about money and the demographic buying your product. And we aint it.

Many of us won't be around to see it, but the transition is in progress.

DrBabs · ‎03-20-2022

Remember, the Texas power grid is deregulated. No incentives to build more plants -- energy prices fluctuate wildly on a daily basis because why build more generation when if what you do generate is limited and therefore valuable? It's all about the money and politics in this state -- always has been. It's a DNA mindset that is difficult to modify and IMHO will only be changed when not doing so will impact the money and politics. But the general citizenry will experience a lot of pain before then. Businesses usually get a pass.

A daisychain of bad policies, lack of appropriate (and not cronied) oversight, inadequate/negligent administration, arrogance, poor/no planning, and so many other factors woven together to create the current situation. Ignoring reports by internal and external experts in past years - lack of action again driven by money and arrogance -- accelerated the trajectory.

Herfe's an article that just appeared in DMagazine which could be helpful to explain some of what's going on:

https://www.dmagazine.com/frontburner/2022/07/ercot-is-asking-for-conservation-measures-this-afterno...

It's so hard to explain to those who don't live here. And it's just hard to live here sometimes. Period.

There is a lot of information out there for those who choose to go down a rabbit hole and try to understand the complexity of it all. But like many of my fellow Texans, I'm just exhausted by it all.

JamandBread · ‎06-24-2021

@Spurt wrote:
@JamandBread wrote:
@Spurt wrote:
@JamandBread wrote:
@Sweetbay magnolia wrote:
https://www.npr.org/2021/02/18/968921895/what-really-caused-the-texas-power-shortage
Thank you!
Here's a snippet.....

BILL MAGNESS: Really, it was across the board. We saw coal plants, gas plants, wind, solar, just all sorts of our resources trip off and not be able to perform.

DOMONOSKE: Bill Magness is the president and CEO of ERCOT - or the Electric Reliability Council of Texas - which manages the state electric grid. These frigid temperatures had people across Texas plugging in electric heaters all at once.

MAGNESS: Fundamentally, it is a historic storm that drove electric demand higher than we've ever seen by far.

DOMONOSKE: And at the exact same time, the supply of electricity went down. Wind turbines did freeze, so did natural gas wells and pipelines and water pipes at coal and nuclear plants. All of this frozen equipment meant power plants couldn't function. There simply wasn't enough electricity to go around.
@JamandBread
So whats happening this summer that we are supposed to be adequately prepared for....could it be the windmills arent turning....and the fossil fuel mix isnt enough...no problems in the past.....just when Texas went "renewable"
So the CEO at ERCOT is a liar. Got it.
@JamandBread

This is what he said on 2/1/22 from the houston newspaper....
The providers instead chose to put profits over the welfare of people, and ERCOT allowed them to do so," .

YES, that CEO got caught in his lies when others at that same meeting came forward and reported in 45 seconds they decide there's enough fuel to weather storm....and the other part of the meeting was spent laughing at Texans wearing cowboy boots in the snow.....He later resigned, if he told truth, why resign 😥...maybe I should post the report from our cities investigation....

He was pushed out as he should have been. Although he claims the texas legislature is responsible for ERCOT. He said "you created us, you can change us".

I do agree, why resign if you didn't lie? Why plead the 5th when you did nothing wrong? Why refuse to testify if you have nothing to hide? Applies across the board, right?

BlueFinch · ‎08-31-2019

@Spurt wrote:
@skatting44 wrote:
@On It

you may consider buying a generator that runs on battery power that can be charged by either electric plug outlet or solar to help keep it charged if electric goes out

I am planning ahead as blackouts for alot of people in the US are like

@skatting44

I hear what you are saying but arent all these generators that have an electric charge and electric cars that must be charged arent they putting a strain on the grid, and solar isnt reliable in the winter...Yep, people are buying more and more generators to provide resources for themselves, but it doesnt solve the problem overall....

@Spurt Yep, when we were facing possible brownout's, the news had precautions to take to avoid such. They listed about five common things.

One new request was for people NOT to charge their electric cars. So it seems it IS acknowledged they do put a significant strain on the grid. And, we don't even have that many out there now. What happens when we eventually do?

Right now there aren't a lot of reliable fixes for what we're facing. With all our knowledge, we're not there yet.

JamandBread · ‎06-24-2021

@DrBabs wrote:
Remember, the Texas power grid is deregulated. No incentives to build more plants -- energy prices fluctuate wildly on a daily basis because why build more generation when if what you do generate is limited and therefore valuable? It's all about the money and politics in this state -- always has been. It's a DNA mindset that is difficult to modify and IMHO will only be changed when not doing so will impact the money and politics. But the general citizenry will experience a lot of pain before then. Businesses usually get a pass.

A daisychain of bad policies, lack of appropriate (and not cronied) oversight, inadequate/negligent administration, arrogance, poor/no planning, and so many other factors woven together to create the current situation. Ignoring reports by internal and external experts in past years - lack of action again driven by money and arrogance -- accelerated the trajectory.

Herfe's an article that just appeard in DMagazine which could be helpful to explain some of what's going on:

https://www.dmagazine.com/frontburner/2022/07/ercot-is-asking-for-conservation-measures-this-afterno...

It's so hard to explain to those who don't live here. And it's just hard to live here sometimes. Period.

There is a lot of information out there for those who choose to go down a rabbit hole and try to understand the complexity of it all. But like many of my fellow Texans, I'm just exhausted by it all.

I'm sorry. I have 4 friends in Texas and they all say the same. I give them a lot of credit for staying to fight another day. The tides will change. Not saying when. But within our lifetimes. it's inevitable.

granddi · ‎03-16-2010

www.reuters.com › business › energyTexas freeze delivers billions in profits to gas and power ...

Natural Gas producers and pipeline companies are the winners in the Texas Grid System. It is my opinion that we can debate green energy vs fossil fuels. Or maybe its the population growth or all those electric cars. Bitcoin mining is a huge user of electricity.

In the end it is my opinion that The Texas Grid is controlled by the Energy Industry and our leaders allow this to be.

Overseas Traveler · ‎07-25-2010

I live in San Antonio, Tx. We have from 100 to 110 Temps here for the last 6 to 8 weeks.

Plus when the Temp goes dow the Humididy rises. I have my AC set at 81 with Ceiling Fans running 24/7 that is comfortable for me.

I have to tell all of you that Texas is not the only State that is having issues. Just look at the so called Golden State that has continous Brown out and much higher PG&E prices.

The New Green Deal s failing all of us we can not just rely on Wind and Solar Power.

Plus the Population in Texas has increased a lot and that also puts a strain on the Electrical Grid - More Peaplle with big Houses, More Electrical usage - It is only Logical.

People have to Think about all the variables before speaking out. It is not just one thing it is a combination of things.

wishing you a nice Day

JamandBread · ‎06-24-2021

@Overseas Traveler wrote:
I live in San Antonio, Tx. We have from 100 to 110 Temps here for the last 6 to 8 weeks.
Plus when the Temp goes dow the Humididy rises. I have my AC set at 81 with Ceiling Fans running 24/7 that is comfortable for me.

I have to tell all of you that Texas is not the only State that is having issues. Just look at the so called Golden State that has continous Brown out and much higher PG&E prices.
The New Green Deal s failing all of us we can not just rely on Wind and Solar Power.
Plus the Population in Texas has increased a lot and that also puts a strain on the Electrical Grid - More Peaplle with big Houses, More Electrical usage - It is only Logical.

People have to Think about all the variables before speaking out. It is not just one thing it is a combination of things.

wishing you a nice Day

There is no New Green Deal. it's a concept. Not a law.

DrBabs · ‎03-20-2022

FYI -- Here's a dashboard of Texas grid conditions that I have bookmarked on my computer. It's interesting in a data-nerdy way!

https://www.ercot.com/gridmktinfo/dashboards

beckyb1012 · ‎03-09-2010

Right now I am tickled pink here in North East Texas it is black as night outside and lovely sounding thunderstorms. Mid morning and 74º yes 74º outside. Grid can take a break from our neck of the woods.

"Live frugally, but love extravagantly."