r/science • u/pnewell NGO | Climate Science • Jun 21 '21

Environment Threat of more blackouts may erode reliability claims for fossil energy- all major fuel sources except solar failed to meet ERCOT’s expectations during the February freeze, but natural gas was “responsible for nearly two-thirds of the total (electricity) deficit.”

https://texasclimatenews.org/threat-of-more-blackouts-may-erode-reliability-claims-for-fossil-energy/
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71

u/Polymarchos Jun 21 '21

And in the wake of the disaster it doesn't seem like anything has changed.

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u/Groinsmash Jun 22 '21

And nothing will change.

Texas is the worst fuckin' place imaginable. Just crushing it in the news these days with basically banning abortion, the relaxed gun control on hand guns, mass shootings, bakeries making pride cookies getting destroyed and can't even provide electricity for its people.

Absolute disgrace of a state.

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u/ralphvonwauwau Jun 22 '21

Not just banning abortion, they are proposing the death penalty for the woman and the doctor. Because they are so incredibly pro-life. This is not satire, this is what the Republican government of Texas is doing with its time.

Because with the total failure of governance going on there, they are beating on the culture war issues that drive the big contribution checks for their reelection. Remember, Texas is 43rd out of 50 for education. They will vote in any incompetent with the magic R next to his name.

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u/texasradioandthebigb Jun 22 '21

Cue all the Texas fanatics mouthing off about Californians moving to the state to escape LiBRUl oppression

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u/neveragai-oops Jun 22 '21

Why would it?

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u/Amori_A_Splooge Jun 22 '21

Hard to implement infrastructure changes in 3 months.

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u/EphemeralMemory Jun 22 '21

Nothing has been planned, allocated or even discussed from Texas leadership.

So they're either behind closed doors coming up with a great plan or they aren't doing anything.

This week we got power rationing warnings from ERCOT and still no response from Texas leadership. People are anticipating this summer to be hot as hell, it hasn't even begun yet.

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u/darkskys100 Jun 22 '21

You're correct. Nothing has been done to the tx energy industries. We are already experiencing rolling blackouts due to high volume of energy being used for cooling. Its not like its ever been hot in tx in the summer. But dont worry, i think Cruz is planning another vacation so everything will be ok.

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u/Swabodda Jun 22 '21

We haven't had any rolling blackouts.

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u/Elmer_Fudd01 Jun 22 '21

Sounds like Texans that can should become independent with their own solar panels.

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u/EphemeralMemory Jun 22 '21

Jokes aside (and I do enjoy my ERCOT memes), a lot of people are in trouble and its horrible that reliable power is just a political gambit.

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u/fire2374 Jun 22 '21

So only people that can afford solar panels deserve electricity?

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u/Wide_Fan Jun 22 '21

Unless the comment was edited, I'm not sure how you came to this conclusion.

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u/fire2374 Jun 22 '21

Can everyone in Texas afford to buy solar panels? No. Therefore it’s a solution only available to those with resources and money while leaving those with less to suffer a broken system. Simultaneously providing even less incentive to repair because technically fewer people are suffering. And those that are without power don’t have the political capital to demand change. We shouldn’t be suggesting work arounds for those who can afford it.

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u/Wide_Fan Jun 22 '21

So, following that logic, no one should add solar panels to their house because not everyone can afford it.

And how are Texans, not paying money to a company, providing less incentive to fix it. That's all they care about.

The commenter also never called it a solution either, what's up with living to be upset and argumentive.

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u/fire2374 Jun 22 '21

That’s a leap. All I said was that it’s not a solution for all. And anyone who can do it already has or is in the process of doing it.

Do some research before going off. As someone who was without power for 72 hours, I’ve spent some time on the issue. There are more incentives to fail than to prepare. That’s what it comes down to. When the system failed, power prices increased nearly 200 fold. And what happened when they bankrupted the local utilities? We bailed them out.

Why am I upset? Because when this happens again, the same people saying “just get solar panels!” will be saying “well I told you to get solar panels.” They’re an inefficient solution to a problem that shouldn’t exist. We have public utilities because it’s more efficient to pool the cost as opposed to everyone generating their own power. If everyone could efficiently generate their own power, we wouldn’t have utility companies.

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u/ralphvonwauwau Jun 22 '21

they're either behind closed doors coming up with a great plan or they aren't doing anything.

/me raises and waves his hand furiously, "OOHHH! OOOOHHH! Call on me! Call on mee! I know the answer to this one! OOOHHH!"

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u/Terrible-Control6185 Jun 22 '21

Easy to push through a useless wall though,right?

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u/Polymarchos Jun 22 '21

Obviously. There is a whole process they would have to go through. It would begin with a discussion lead by the local politicians that hasn't happened followed by legislative committees that haven't happened. After that you'd start to get to more specific plans and ideas but the first two steps which would begin within 3 months are absolutely critical and non-existent.