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Historic winter storm freezes Texas wind turbines; millions without power
The Blaze ^ | FEBRUARY 15, 2021 | CHRIS PANDOLFO

Posted on 02/15/2021 1:49:04 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum

Millions are without power in Texas after a historic winter storm blasted the state over the weekend, creating freezing conditions that have made the roads dangerous and knocking out nearly half of Texas' installed wind power generation.

Texas grid operators who spoke to the Austin American-Statesman said freezing rain and historically low temperatures caused wind turbines in West Texas to freeze to a halt, knocking out some 12,000 megawatts of energy production. Wind farms in Texas typically generate up to 25,100 megawatts of energy, almost half of which is currently out of production as the state works to thaw out the turbines.

"This is a unique winter storm that's more widespread with lots of moisture in West Texas, where there's a lot of times not a lot of moisture," said Dan Woodfin, senior director of system operations for the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, the nonprofit corporation that manages the power grid. "It's certainly more than what we would typically assume."

According to the American-Statesman, wind power is the fastest-growing source of energy in Texas' power grid. In 2013, Texas lawmakers approved a $7 billion plan to subsidize wind energy production. Wind farms now provide 23% of Texas energy and are the second-largest source of energy after natural gas.

Some of the lost wind power in West Texas has been offset by coastal wind farms to the east that are still operational and spinning faster, propelled by storm gusts. But the frozen turbines have contributed to rolling blackouts that have put more than 2.7 million people out of power Monday.

ERCOT reported Monday that electricity demand hit a new winter peak record. In response to the demand, ERCOT asked residents to attempt to reduce their electricity use as much as possible in a news release statement.

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


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: andagain; electricity; energy; powergrid; poweroutage; texas; windenergy; winterstorm
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1 posted on 02/15/2021 1:49:04 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
Sometimes in winter, you will see weather that is uncharacteristic of normal winter weather for that particular area. I've seen that happen in my neck of the woods from time to time.

In just 10 weeks, all of us in the northern hemisphere will experience an explosion of green growth in the trees and on the ground and whatnot. Tree frogs, birds and crickets will be singing.

2 posted on 02/15/2021 1:52:11 PM PST by SamAdams76 (By stealing Trump's second term, the Left gets Trump for 8 more years instead of just four.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

We were told they are doing rolling random power outages (of approximately 1 hour at a time) through our area, as well, and that the affected states go from TX to ND. It was 6 below here (Nebraska) at 1 p.m. today, surely much colder in SD and ND. I am skeptical as to the necessity of this.


3 posted on 02/15/2021 1:52:58 PM PST by NEMDF
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

So when you need the turbines the most, they perform the least. They’d be all cozy with any one of the fossil fuels.


4 posted on 02/15/2021 1:53:38 PM PST by Sacajaweau
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Real time data from ERCOT. Wind turbine capacity 25,0000 MW. Generated power 1987 MW right now, That is 8% of capacity. Wind turbines are useless, expensive, virtue signaling waste.


5 posted on 02/15/2021 1:53:43 PM PST by rigelkentaurus
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

*subsidized wind energy

Stop, just stop.


6 posted on 02/15/2021 1:53:45 PM PST by Irenic
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

I’m one of them. No power since 4:05 this morning. It won’t get above freezing until Saturday.


7 posted on 02/15/2021 1:54:28 PM PST by Dalberg-Acton
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

According to the American-Statesman, wind power is the fastest-growing source of energy in Texas’ power grid.”

Hey, relying upon the wind...sounds real fecking modern...21st century stuff...


8 posted on 02/15/2021 1:54:44 PM PST by TalBlack (We have a Christian duty and a patriotic duty. God help us.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

“subsidize wind energy production”

Anyone wanna see what a real welfare queen is just look at “green” energy company execs. I’m looking at you Elon.


9 posted on 02/15/2021 1:55:42 PM PST by Organic Panic (Democrats. Memories as short as Joe Biden's eyes.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Wow! Bird blenders are working so well the they’ve reversed glorbull warning and started an ice age.


10 posted on 02/15/2021 1:56:53 PM PST by Sirius Lee (They intend to murder us. Prep if you want to live and live like you are prepping for eternal life)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Texas. Has coal, has oceans of oil, and staggering amounts of natural gas. No they are freezing in the cold because of the woke renewable windmill bullcrap.

Idiocracy.


11 posted on 02/15/2021 1:57:02 PM PST by DesertRhino (Dog is man's best friend, and moslems hate dogs. Add that up. .... )
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Wind farms now provide 23% of Texas energy and are the second-largest source of energy after natural gas.

...except when you need it during a Winter storm.


12 posted on 02/15/2021 1:57:19 PM PST by Flick Lives (“Today we celebrate the first glorious anniversary of the Information Purification Directives.”)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

I can finally say that I’m experiencing Texas weather.

A first.


13 posted on 02/15/2021 1:59:20 PM PST by Jonty30 (What Islam and secularism have in common is that they are both death cults. )
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To: DesertRhino

https://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=TX#tabs-3

Holy crap.


14 posted on 02/15/2021 1:59:45 PM PST by mewzilla (Break out the mustard seeds. )
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Bet the wish they had those coal and lignite plants Obama had shut down, back about ten years ago.

Wonder if ERCOT wishes they had connections with the other Power Pools in the USA, but then that would give the Feds authority to regulate them.


15 posted on 02/15/2021 2:09:50 PM PST by Ruy Dias de Bivar ((Democrats have declared us to be THE OBSOLETE MAN in the Twilight Zone.))
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To: rigelkentaurus
Wind turbines are useless, expensive, virtue signaling waste.

After this, I wonder how many of these ugly useless windmills will have bullet holes in them?

16 posted on 02/15/2021 2:11:00 PM PST by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

They are starting to take them down in NE Wisconsin.


17 posted on 02/15/2021 2:13:10 PM PST by crz
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To: NEMDF

They are just trying to condition us to get used to it.

Just like the masks and lockdowns.

It’s the new normal, after all.

Our future with being green energy dependent.


18 posted on 02/15/2021 2:17:36 PM PST by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith..)
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To: Dalberg-Acton

That’s going to do a real number on the environment.

Plants and animals which are not particularly cold tolerant can handle brief episodes of cold, but a whole week of what they are forecasting?

It’s going to be devastating.

I can only imagine what produce prices are going to do in the supermarkets.


19 posted on 02/15/2021 2:20:08 PM PST by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith..)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

they probably look picturesque with icicles hanging from them...


20 posted on 02/15/2021 2:21:11 PM PST by heavy metal (your reward will be in heaven not on your paycheck...)
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