Posted on 02/12/2011 10:01:48 AM PST by dragnet2
That sounds about right. I’ve long known that the Texas grid is some what separate from the rest of the U.S. thus significantly limiting their ability to draw power from plants more resistant to the cold.
It is also logical that a lot of the Texas power plants on the Texas grid would not necessarily be as harden against extremely cold weather condition that happy maybe only once every 50-40 years.(not cost effective) Of course due to the EPA Texas is also compromised their ability to cost-effectively building more.
Anther issue of course is the unreliability of wind-power that in itself also suppresses the development of reliable generator capacity.
So the problems with The Texas grid are due to the extraordinarily weather conditions, a long obsolete(50+ years old) and heavily overburdens distribution network, in-adequately secure generating capacity, as well as relative isolation(Which is a 2 edge sword as it also helps protect Texas from the mistakes made elsewhere.)
Were I in Texas I’d simply buy a generators to be prepared for other natural deasters and be done with the matter.
The problem with Texas investing in improvement to its grid is eventually the Federal Government will do the same and at that point Texans will be left high and dry. forced to pay for everyone else’s upgrades as well as their own(twice over).
If Texas could secure a commitment by congress Never to spend Texas Tax dollars on the power distribution network again, then Texas could go ahead and upgrade her grid.
Good point why would the people of Texas want to pay the surge costs of getting a reliable grid for that 0.001% of the time?
If power is that important to any particular business(and/or individual) they can just as easily invest in their own backup capacity.
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