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How one Texas storm exposed an energy grid unprepared for climate change
NBC News / Comcast ^ | February 17, 2021 | By Josh Lederman

Posted on 02/17/2021 6:13:45 AM PST by Oldeconomybuyer

WASHINGTON — A devastating winter storm that has plunged Texas into an electricity crisis offers warning signs for the U.S. as the Biden administration seeks to prepare for a future in which extreme weather is a greater risk and America is almost entirely powered by renewable energy.

Energy generation is one challenge. But an equally daunting task centers on storing power from renewable energy for extreme events like the one hammering Texas.

Wind and solar, still fairly small slices of the state's energy mix, played only a minimal role in the sudden power shortage, utility officials said — contrary to a wave of conservative critics who tried to falsely pin blame for the situation on renewable energy.

Still, the Texas crisis is a wake-up call that exposes how the U.S. electric infrastructure may not be fully prepared to absorb steep climate-related spikes in demand for power. The challenge is likely to grow deeper as the U.S. relies more on wind and solar power.

Electric grid regulators said the U.S. will have to develop vast supplies of power storage — such as gigantic batteries — that rely on emerging technologies that have only recently started becoming economical and feasible on a large scale.

The picture of what went wrong in Texas is incomplete. But while some wind generators did go offline as turbines iced over, the state's largest grid said the shortage was driven by a failure not of renewable sources but of traditional "thermal" sources: coal, nuclear and especially natural gas.

Although no single weather event can be attributed solely to climate change, the deadly cold that slammed Texas was the latest reminder of how weather extremes can push the delicate web of power generators and transmission lines that make up our electric grid past its breaking point.

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


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: fantasymeetsreality; fmr; globalwarming; hoax; propaganda; socialism; texas
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1 posted on 02/17/2021 6:13:45 AM PST by Oldeconomybuyer
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Got that? Climate change is so bad, its hurting our electrical grids.

More windmills, pronto!


2 posted on 02/17/2021 6:15:36 AM PST by PGR88
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Climate change

Winter spring summer fall


3 posted on 02/17/2021 6:17:51 AM PST by Truthoverpower (The guv-mint you get is the Swamp express to communist hell !! )
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

contrary to a wave of conservative critics who tried to falsely pin blame for the situation on renewable energy.


I see they got their talking points out.


4 posted on 02/17/2021 6:18:33 AM PST by CIB-173RDABN (I am not an expert in anything, and my opinion is just that, an opinion. I may be wrong.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
How one Texas storm exposed an energy grid unprepared for climate change

Propaganda 101: Overload the meaning of a term with:

1) Something that exists (changes in climate)

2) Something you claim exists (dangerous changes in climate due to human activity)

And then point out instances of 1 in a way that makes people assume instances of 2. When called out on it to defend your assertion, you can point out how it is an instance of 1.

5 posted on 02/17/2021 6:18:47 AM PST by AndyTheBear
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To: PGR88

” Global warming “ has suddenly morphed into “ climate change “.

Have no fear. China Joe and Sandy Cortez know how to fix the world’s weather.


6 posted on 02/17/2021 6:18:51 AM PST by BrexitBen
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
Wind and solar my arse.....nothing but a ponzi scheme where the connected friends of corrupt politicians make millions and soak the tax payers!!!
7 posted on 02/17/2021 6:19:23 AM PST by ontap
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Oh good God. Where to begin.

So, how is it traditional failed? Even as they admit it’s going to be MORE challenging as more PC nonsense goes on line?


8 posted on 02/17/2021 6:19:24 AM PST by the OlLine Rebel (Common sense is an uncommon virtue./Federal-run medical care is as good as state-run DMVs. I )
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Yeah that global warming really generates record cold temperatures.


9 posted on 02/17/2021 6:20:32 AM PST by <1/1,000,000th%
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To: BrexitBen

Only when it suits them.

They keep falling back on “warming”.


10 posted on 02/17/2021 6:21:01 AM PST by the OlLine Rebel (Common sense is an uncommon virtue./Federal-run medical care is as good as state-run DMVs. I )
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

LOl.
Climate change.


11 posted on 02/17/2021 6:21:01 AM PST by Kozak (The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

I could not help but notice they didn’t call it “global warming”. :)


12 posted on 02/17/2021 6:21:50 AM PST by cuban leaf (We killed our economy and damaged our culture. In 2021 we will pine for the salad days of 2020.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Electric grid regulators said the U.S. will have to develop vast supplies of power storage — such as gigantic batteries


Just how big would a battery have to be to be able to keep a state as large as Texas in power?


13 posted on 02/17/2021 6:22:05 AM PST by CIB-173RDABN (I am not an expert in anything, and my opinion is just that, an opinion. I may be wrong.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Restrict energy production at your own risk.

Planet on fire or the next ice age we must plan for either situation.


14 posted on 02/17/2021 6:23:18 AM PST by READINABLUESTATE (CENSORSHIP = VIOLENCE)
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To: ontap

15 posted on 02/17/2021 6:23:36 AM PST by cuban leaf (We killed our economy and damaged our culture. In 2021 we will pine for the salad days of 2020.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

This is a perfect illustration of why Satan got kicked out of Heaven, his lies didn’t hold up. Then, people believe his representatives? Well, be careful what you wish for.


16 posted on 02/17/2021 6:23:47 AM PST by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin (Freedom is the freedom to discipline yourself so others don't have to do it for you.)
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To: cuban leaf

ROFL.


17 posted on 02/17/2021 6:24:05 AM PST by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin (Freedom is the freedom to discipline yourself so others don't have to do it for you.)
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To: All

An honest title would be:

“How one Texas storm exposed how badly leftist ‘environmentalists’ destroyed the previously good Texas energy grid.”


18 posted on 02/17/2021 6:24:06 AM PST by LegendHasIt
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To: CIB-173RDABN

Just how big would a battery have to be to be able to keep a state as large as Texas in power?


Super sized! Costco sized! As big as Texas!


19 posted on 02/17/2021 6:24:41 AM PST by cuban leaf (We killed our economy and damaged our culture. In 2021 we will pine for the salad days of 2020.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Natural gas generation disappeared. Not sure why. I guess since everyone heats their homes with it, there were localized shortages. Wind performed as expected, solar did way better than expected.


20 posted on 02/17/2021 6:24:44 AM PST by babble-on
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