Reply
Honored Contributor
Posts: 13,510
Registered: ‎05-23-2010

Winterizing power grids

[ Edited ]

I have no idea where the power grid is winterized. I do know that areas that had warmer winters in the past might need to quickly reevaluate whether winterization should be done in light of climate change and the changing weather we see now days. Floridians would probably laugh if lawmakers tried to winterize locations here, but I'm not laughing. So many unpredictabilities lie ahead that I'd rather be safe than sorry. 

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 7,776
Registered: ‎02-13-2021

@Mindy D wrote:

I have no idea where the power grid is winterized. I do know that areas that had warmer winters in the past might need to quickly reevaluate whether winterization should be done in light of climate change and the changing weather we see now days. Floridians would probably laugh if lawmakers tried to winterize locations here, but I'm not laughing. So many unpredictabilities lie ahead that I'd rather be safe than sorry. 


Of course, this makes sense to most folk.  Unfortunately that's usually not the way things are done.  Seems they prefer to be "reactive" to things that arise, as opposed to being "proactive" when they can be to ensure things to occur.  I see it time and time again.  

 

I find this to be the case in many situations.  I don't get it.  Why not get in front of a problem instead of waiting for it to happen.  Doesn't that cost more?

 

I do hope you're right @Mindy D.  They should be getting their act together now.





A Negative Mind ~ Will give you a Negative Life
Honored Contributor
Posts: 38,221
Registered: ‎05-22-2016

Building codes need to be re-evaluated also. 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 13,510
Registered: ‎05-23-2010

Re: Winterizing power grids

[ Edited ]

@gertrudecloset wrote:

@Mindy D wrote:

I have no idea where the power grid is winterized. I do know that areas that had warmer winters in the past might need to quickly reevaluate whether winterization should be done in light of climate change and the changing weather we see now days. Floridians would probably laugh if lawmakers tried to winterize locations here, but I'm not laughing. So many unpredictabilities lie ahead that I'd rather be safe than sorry. 


Of course, this makes sense to most folk.  Unfortunately that's usually not the way things are done.  Seems they prefer to be "reactive" to things that arise, as opposed to being "proactive" when they can be to ensure things to occur.  I see it time and time again.  

 

I find this to be the case in many situations.  I don't get it.  Why not get in front of a problem instead of waiting for it to happen.  Doesn't that cost more?

 

I do hope you're right @Mindy D.  They should be getting their act together now.


@gertrudecloset @I use the same terms when I describe how so many think; reactive versus proactive. Few in power ever try to do things in the event of a worse case scenario when such a scenario is presented to them. It's understandable when costs come into play with planning but it seems to always be a case of too little too late. I think back to Fukushimama Nuclear Plant, designed to withstand almost the highest quake intensity. Even the careful planners were hit with over a 9 in intensity, and they tried to plan, but just not enough. 

Respected Contributor
Posts: 4,003
Registered: ‎05-01-2010

Texas chose to go it alone and not be part of the national grid.The only city that stayed on the grid was El Paso which was minimally impacted and could get energy from other Western states. There are worse things than regulations. I wonder if Texas will continue their solo path.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 13,510
Registered: ‎05-23-2010

@chessylady wrote:

Texas chose to go it alone and not be part of the national grid.The only city that stayed on the grid was El Paso which was minimally impacted and could get energy from other Western states. There are worse things than regulations. I wonder if Texas will continue their solo path.


@chessylady @It's not just the connection to the grid. It's the grid's lack of winterization that will probably need changing. 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 38,221
Registered: ‎05-22-2016

In 1989 Texas experienced their last cold wave but since then the need to prepare for the next deep freeze was ignored. 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 13,510
Registered: ‎05-23-2010

Re: Winterizing power grids

[ Edited ]

@Sugipine wrote:

In 1989 Texas experienced their last cold wave but since then the need to prepare for the next deep freeze was ignored. 


@Sugipine @I lived in Texas in the 80's. We had very cold winters when I lived there with tons of snow and ice. At the time, I thought that this weather was normal for Texas.  I thought this way because it was all I saw and because there were so many fireplaces in living spaces. I didn't know any better. There was enough heat indoors but the roads were covered with snow and ice. I kept wondering why they didn't get the roads clear the way the roads were clear when I lived in New York. They put salt on the roads but in Austin and San Antonio where I lived they were not prepared the way places with cold climates are. Texas and other places will have to prepare for more than the impact of climate change on power. I'm in Florida and I've been wondering if it's time to take SCUBA lessons Smiley Happy

Honored Contributor
Posts: 16,355
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

@Sugipine My sister and BIL had gone to Dallas for a conference from their home in PA and got stuck in their hotel for several days in that storm. Even though they were used to driving in wintry conditions, their rental car and the roads were not up to the challenge.  BIL and I recalled that experience just a few days ago.

 

Apparently not much has been upgraded since then, and this time conditions are worse.  I have lived through winter weeks without power and the experience was horrid.  Yet I believe I had far easier times than many Texans are having.

 

Last night I listened to Anderson Cooper talk with Bill Gates about climate change.  So much to think about and so scary I am not surprised we keep shoving the problems to the future, yet I fear that future isn’t as distant as we would like.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 32,017
Registered: ‎05-10-2010

 FL is connected to the national power grid that requires winterization for all states, whether they experience frigid temperatures or not.  TX has it's own power grid which does not have the requimrements and regulations that the national grid has.  

TOP