Posted on 02/16/2021 12:18:43 PM PST by CedarDave
In the name of environmentalism, many on the left have proposed switching the nation’s energy from reliable fossil fuels to new green energy sources that rely on the good fortune of clear skies and proper wind velocity to power America.
As if that weren’t enough cause to hesitate to indulge in such wishful thinking, another vulnerability has become painfully apparent as a third of the contiguous U.S. was plunged into subzero temperatures Monday due to a polar vortex weather pattern, according to CNN.
Not only have freezing temperatures created an excessive draw on the power grid as residents struggle to keep warm, but generating electricity has also become a major issue for areas that rely on sources such as solar and wind power.
In Texas, freezing temperatures and winter precipitation have caused some of the state’s wind turbines to seize up, costing 12,000 megawatts in power on an already taxed state grid, according to the Austin American-Statesman.
Alex Epstein, an author and the founder of Center for Industrial Progress, summed up the problem in a tweet Monday.
“As I write this,” he captioned a chart of the supply shortfall and demand increases, “the wind-dependent Texas grid is experiencing rolling blackouts, prices the equivalent of $900 per Tesla charge, and an expected supply shortage of 10 GW–the amount of electricity needed to power 5 million homes or 8 time-traveling DeLoreans.”
With all of the problems solar and wind power are having throughout the polar vortex, coal is the clear winner followed closely by cheap, abundant and clean natural gas.
Still, the lofty aims of politicians like President Joe Biden in his so-called Plan for a Clean Energy Revolution seek to punish coal companies while moving over to those less reliable forms of energy.
(Excerpt) Read more at westernjournal.com ...
2019 was the first time I saw light weight gear box oil turn to peanut butter.
This keeps up and we will be looking at a different design philosophy for a lot of things
How are Nebraska and Iowa getting their power sent to the main Texas grid?
Is there provision for this? I thought most of Texas was on its own grid.
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Bootlegged energy.
https://www.kvue.com/article/weather/texplainer-why-does-texas-have-its-own-power-grid/269-be61fb6f-11ce-4201-b2d2-4f40fd8ff510
2/3 of the list capacity was fossil fuel generated supply.
Because they recognize there is a season called "winter" which frequently is cold, snowy, and icy. And they plan for it.
How many are in Canada, Norway, and Sweden? Answer: a lot.
Bottom line: Texas has its own grid to avoid dealing with the feds.
As a 37 year electric utility employee I can tell you it is a worthy goal to stay clear of that Federal entanglement.
It is a good idea for ERCOT to keep tabs on what FERC is up to, they do come out with good ideas, such as notices of the Chinese hacking the grid.
But a lot of what they do is of little value.
Being a member of EPRI (Electric Power Research Institute) is much more valuable.
hen things go clunk it’s cold and dark.
Haha. Does the turbine generate enough power to run the deicer? Or does it "borrow" from the grid?
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