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Blackouts a Texas-sized embarrassment
seguingazette.com ^ | February 4, 2011 | seguingazette.com

Posted on 02/06/2011 10:18:30 AM PST by dragnet2

Forget all the concern about al Qaeda terrorists using explosions to take out our power grid or foreign hackers disabling it from afar - in Texas a cold front can apparently do the job.

As the lights flickered and went dark across Texas on Wednesday in response to a state-mandated rolling blackout plan, Lt. Governor David Dewhurst was clearly irritated.

He wasn't the only one.

"This should not happen," Dewhurst told reporters on Wednesday.

Dewhurst said that cold weather knocked 50 of the 550 power plants in Texas offline. That, coupled with increased demand, turned out the lights.

"Lack of adequate winterization and preparation appear to be a major cause of the outages," Dewhurst said.

The plant managers and the parent companies might want to make a note in their day planners for next year - "WINTER CAN BE COLD!"

The fact that we weren't properly prepared for it - and because of that computers and equipment all over the state came to a screeching halt - is simply inexcusable.

(Excerpt) Read more at seguingazette.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial
KEYWORDS: 3rdworld; blackout; electricity; energy; texas
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To: dragnet2

On February 28, 2008 similar rolling blackouts in Texas were narrowly averted when a weather front idled most of the state’s wind turbines. I wonder if the current blackouts could in part be attributed to wind turbines being inadequate to handle the increased demand.


101 posted on 02/06/2011 1:13:44 PM PST by The Great RJ (The Bill of Rights: Another bill members of Congress haven't read.)
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To: dragnet2

I guess it only got really cold in Texas. I haven’t heard of any rolling blackouts in any other states.


102 posted on 02/06/2011 1:14:31 PM PST by lewislynn ( What does the global warming movement and the Fairtax movement have in commom? Misinformation)
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To: steve86

Thanks mate.

My storage experiences have been in the two year range max.

You say “metal” containers. This is a must - yes?

I’ve been using plastic.


103 posted on 02/06/2011 1:16:59 PM PST by primeval patriot
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To: primeval patriot

Propane and lamp oil is only fuel I store long term. Power Services Diesel Additive is in my bed tanks on the trucks. I know stabil, marvel mystery oil, CRC Marine Diesel Fuel stabilizer, Amsoil are good products for such long term storage of bulk amounts etc ....


104 posted on 02/06/2011 1:19:41 PM PST by Squantos (Be polite. Be professional. But have a plan to kill everyone you meet)
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To: Squantos

You have obviously put considerable thought and planning into this. Only thing I would be concerned about on the NG supply is electric grid outages which take down NG transmission pumps (compressors). No power, no gas. That is exactly what happened in NM.


105 posted on 02/06/2011 1:20:27 PM PST by steve86 (Acerbic by nature, not nurture (Could be worst in 40 years))
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To: primeval patriot

http://www.thefarm.org/charities/i4at/surv/sta-bil.htm


106 posted on 02/06/2011 1:21:26 PM PST by Squantos (Be polite. Be professional. But have a plan to kill everyone you meet)
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To: primeval patriot

You get so much evaporation out of plastic containers and some light gets in.


107 posted on 02/06/2011 1:22:42 PM PST by steve86 (Acerbic by nature, not nurture (Could be worst in 40 years))
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To: Squantos; steve86

Thanks


108 posted on 02/06/2011 1:26:04 PM PST by primeval patriot
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To: steve86

Never have had such happen here in Panhandle of Texas.....yet !....:o)

Most of power brownouts and storms are localized, as in one is back on before the other goes out per se..... so NG is not interrupted in such a manner I am guessing.

Our basics are woodstove, oil lamps, convection cooling, and vehicles with the power inverters for emergency needs. Water is stored, 2 large katdyn expedition water filters allow us to rob the rain barrels, swimming pool and jacuzzi if needed for potable water. Also use a old pressure cooker for distilling water. Adhoc still per se.....suspect water in, steam out, condenser coil of copper tubing, clean water drips out.

2 large manual pump bug sprayers we use for showers when camping with the water saver heads on em fill the emergency shower system task. I used such in the desert w/ fogger heads for evaporation cooling as well. That of course takes a low humidity area to work best.

Just some ideas.....:o)


109 posted on 02/06/2011 1:30:11 PM PST by Squantos (Be polite. Be professional. But have a plan to kill everyone you meet)
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To: Squantos
May have questions for ya later when I start my ‘battery’ backup project.

Please feel free when it is time. I can impart what was right and what was wrong along the way.
110 posted on 02/06/2011 1:37:40 PM PST by PA Engineer (Liberate America from the occupation media. There are Wars and Rumors of War.)
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To: Squantos

I have very similar stuff! I like the bug pump mist cooling idea for the summer. We are in an arid area so it would work well. We live next to the Columbia River and so have a huge source of easily-filtered water. Many times, filtration would not even be strictly necessary out away from the banks.


111 posted on 02/06/2011 1:38:40 PM PST by steve86 (Acerbic by nature, not nurture (Could be worst in 40 years))
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To: lewislynn
I guess it only got really cold in Texas. I haven’t heard of any rolling blackouts in any other states.

Ohhhh...LL your always good for total KO.....lol

112 posted on 02/06/2011 1:42:14 PM PST by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: lewislynn

“How’s that “deregulation” working out for you?”

Fine for me, my electric cost per kWh used to be 50% higher (but then I shopped for the best price) before deregulation. I do fear the ‘smart meters’, however, as they SKYROCKET the price of electricity during peak times - but then the entire country is getting that treatment, thanks to Obama’s ‘stimulus’.

And it would be nice if regulators allowed the utilities to build more power plants. The idea of allowing ‘community organizers’ to come into town and whip up the locals to stop these power plants is sickening. And now we have EPA regulating ‘greenhouse’ gases to make sure nothing more gets built.

Why do you ask?


113 posted on 02/06/2011 1:43:49 PM PST by BobL (PLEASE READ: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2657811/posts)
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To: primeval patriot
Any tips/links on long term fuel storage?

Propane will last pretty much indefinitely. Diesel with PRI-D will also preserve for a very long time. Gasoline is a problem. I use E-Zorb and PRI-G and get about two years storage without any noticeable problems. I hope this helps.
114 posted on 02/06/2011 1:49:28 PM PST by PA Engineer (Liberate America from the occupation media. There are Wars and Rumors of War.)
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To: lewislynn; RoseyT
Welcome to California life.

Oh no......KO #2, to our disingenuous friend!

115 posted on 02/06/2011 1:52:50 PM PST by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: SuzyQue

Sorry Suzy...Bone chilling cold and no electricity is something I like to avoid...But whatever spins your spokes is fine with me.


116 posted on 02/06/2011 2:02:53 PM PST by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: gitmo
I heard that Texas has not allowed electric stations to be built for about 15 years.

I don't come from Texas, but it didn't take long to come up with this list and maps of New Electric Generating Plants in Texas Since 1995. According to this data, since 1995:

152 plants have been completed producing 50,000 MW.

A further 81 plants have been announced which will produce another 33,000 MW.

55 plants have been mothballed or retired for a loss of about 15000 MW.

So the net gain (completed) in 15 years is about 35000 MW, which is enough to power about 30 million homes.

117 posted on 02/06/2011 2:09:45 PM PST by wideminded
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To: Squantos

Sounds good to me.


118 posted on 02/06/2011 2:17:09 PM PST by freekitty (Give me back my conservative vote; then find me a real conservative to vote for)
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To: steve86

Yep some folks like the metal bug sprayers as you can set them into a campfire to heat up then add the pump etc and get a warm shower. The fogger thang was a cobbled up desert storm deal I made in Qatar . Hot Hot HOT !....The fogger evap cooling was a blessing !

Simple stuff is what I sought for basic needs in storms an such that robbed us of commercial comforts of air conditioning and multimedia entertainment. So wood stove, library on paper, even PDF E-Books printed out etc , Oil Lamps, barking puppy and a 12 gauge gets us through the day if all else fails ......

STAY SAFE !


119 posted on 02/06/2011 2:19:46 PM PST by Squantos (Be polite. Be professional. But have a plan to kill everyone you meet)
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To: ChuckHam
Texas screwed this one up.....still don’t think it equates to the disaster you are living in californication land.

I was told all these blackouts was because it was cold...lol.

In any event, we're both crawling with illegal aliens, you guys now have rolling blackouts etc, so we'll call Texas, Texico and you can call us Mexiforia...No problemo.

BTW, the only reason we're here is it's 78 degrees, clear, sunny, and with a mild Pacific breeze..In February!!....It's like this nearly year round...Worth a fortune to us...lol

Best of luck to ya!

120 posted on 02/06/2011 2:20:58 PM PST by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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