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Grid operator ERCOT says network collapse 'can't happen again', as investigations into state's lack of preparedness launched by the Federal Energy Regulatory Co
Frigid weather exposes the nation’s frail power grids People walk on snowy streets in Austin, Texas, on Feb. 16. Photo: The Associated Press By Robert C. Jones Jr. 02-18-2021 Frigid weather exposes the nation’s frail power grids By Robert C. Jones Jr. 02-18-2021 With cold temperatures knocking out electricity to millions of people in Texas and other parts of the country, the United States’ aging infrastructure is once again under scrutiny. University of Miami experts say upgrades are badly needed. The news coming out of Texas is disturbing, a frightening glimpse of what a ...
And why some are inaccurately blaming solar and wind for the massive outages.
Let me preface this with an explanation. Over the last few days I read online people saying that Texas' power outages had been caused by Texas being on its own grid… deregulation… Not following national standards… had Texas been connected to the Eastern Interconnection or the Western Interconnection none of this would have happened. But not one post shows any evidence or requirements that backed up these claims. So, I went looking for proof and instead of finding requirements, I found a nationwide problem with winterization.
Snow covered Texas satellite Feb 15, 2021. NOAA The Polar Vortex Has Killed 24 in Texas So Far. Who’s to Blame? Astrid Caldas, climate scientist | February 19, 2021, 1:16 pm EDT As we watch most of the country being taken over by this polar vortex, we ponder whether climate change has anything to do with it, and if these extreme events will be more likely to happen in the future. We are transfixed at images coming from Texas, where the deep freeze took a hold of most of a state not used to it, and certainly not prepared for i...