How much does it cost to power that huge ball?
They’re probably gearing everyone up for the big grid shut downs this coming summer...
Screw ERCOT and the PUC
We need to get rid of ERCOT and the PUC and then let the free market distribute energy. While this crisis during the icestorm would have been much worse had we been fully regulated (we would have had long blackouts, not just brownouts) ERCOT really screwed the pooch on this one and gave the uneducated liberals a talking point on how deregulation failed, even though we’re not truly deregulated.
How much wind generation was lost due to the ice storms? That is a killer on ERCOT now. Those lignite/coal fired plants TxU was going to build are being missed now......
During the "70's oil "crisis" tankers ridin' low in the water were waiting offshore just out of sight.
Ask any old pilot who was flying low over the sea back then.
If you were a criminal that had perfected a criminal activity & you never got caught, why would you stop?
Thereby charging more for less.
Obama and Coal: Obama Admits His Policies Will “Bankrupt” Coal Industry
Obama on Coal Power:
“So if somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can. It’s just that it will bankrupt them.”
Transcript of audio of an Obama interview with the SF Chronicle:
"Let me sort of describe my overall policy.Obama Energy Secretary Promises "Massive" Coal Plant ClosuresWhat I’ve said is that we would put a cap and trade system in place that is as aggressive, if not more aggressive, than anybody else’s out there.
I was the first to call for a 100% auction on the cap and trade system, which means that every unit of carbon or greenhouse gases emitted would be charged to the polluter. That will create a market in which whatever technologies are out there that are being presented, whatever power plants that are being built, that they would have to meet the rigors of that market and the ratcheted down caps that are being placed, imposed every year.
So if somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can; it’s just that it will bankrupt them because they’re going to be charged a huge sum for all that greenhouse gas that’s being emitted.
That will also generate billions of dollars that we can invest in solar, wind, biodiesel and other alternative energy approaches.
The only thing I’ve said with respect to coal, I haven’t been some coal booster. What I have said is that for us to take coal off the table as a (sic) ideological matter as opposed to saying if technology allows us to use coal in a clean way, we should pursue it.
So if somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can.
It’s just that it will bankrupt them."
"Obama Energy Secretary Steven Chu has launched the next phase of the White House’s publicly stated agenda to bankrupt the coal industry via EPA regulations after announcing the prospect of “massive” coal plant closures even as Texas and other states suffer rolling blackouts as a result of maxed-out power plants that cannot cope with demand.The Obama administration’s strict enforcement of draconian EPA regulations has led to new clean-burning coal-fired plants being mothballed and other existing ones being shut down, which has in turn led to Texas and other states becoming energy-dependent, leading to shortages and blackouts exacerbated by freezing temperatures."
When I bought my all electric house in the early 80’s we were being promised low electric prices in the future from cheap nuclear power. Of course, only one nuclear power plant managed to get built - way late and over budget.
Texas produces a lot of wind energy, but you’re probably not going to want to operate those things during an ice storm.
Some background info. This is not a surprise.
Check out the last paragraph on the second quote (bottom of post).
Obama and Coal: Obama Admits His Policies Will “Bankrupt” Coal Industry
November 2, 2008
Obama on Coal Power:
“So if somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can. It’s just that it will bankrupt them.”
Transcript of audio of an Obama interview with the SF Chronicle:
"Let me sort of describe my overall policy.Obama Energy Secretary Promises "Massive" Coal Plant ClosuresWhat I’ve said is that we would put a cap and trade system in place that is as aggressive, if not more aggressive, than anybody else’s out there.
I was the first to call for a 100% auction on the cap and trade system, which means that every unit of carbon or greenhouse gases emitted would be charged to the polluter. That will create a market in which whatever technologies are out there that are being presented, whatever power plants that are being built, that they would have to meet the rigors of that market and the ratcheted down caps that are being placed, imposed every year.
So if somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can; it’s just that it will bankrupt them because they’re going to be charged a huge sum for all that greenhouse gas that’s being emitted.
That will also generate billions of dollars that we can invest in solar, wind, biodiesel and other alternative energy approaches.
The only thing I’ve said with respect to coal, I haven’t been some coal booster. What I have said is that for us to take coal off the table as a (sic) ideological matter as opposed to saying if technology allows us to use coal in a clean way, we should pursue it.
So if somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can.
It’s just that it will bankrupt them."
"Obama Energy Secretary Steven Chu has launched the next phase of the White House’s publicly stated agenda to bankrupt the coal industry via EPA regulations after announcing the prospect of “massive” coal plant closures even as Texas and other states suffer rolling blackouts as a result of maxed-out power plants that cannot cope with demand.The Obama administration’s strict enforcement of draconian EPA regulations has led to new clean-burning coal-fired plants being mothballed and other existing ones being shut down, which has in turn led to Texas and other states becoming energy-dependent, leading to shortages and blackouts exacerbated by freezing temperatures."
I’ve been in power outages before, but never rolling blackouts.
Do you get any warning? Do they say in advance what areas will be out? And how long do the outages last?
I’ve been in power outages before, but never rolling blackouts.
Do you get any warning? Do they say in advance what areas will be out? And how long do the outages last?
How much more electricity does Texas use keeping warm in the winter than it does keeping cool in the summer?
Will they pay us if we reduce consumption?
I expect that these blackouts will become common throughout the country come summer when the windmills can’t keep up and the EPA shuts down coal plants.
At least those in the White House won’t have to suffer. Their thermostats are being kept at 80°F all winter.
By the way, what happens in summer? I hear it gets hot in Texas? I also hear that air conditioners use electricity?
How about installing more power plants?
Save energy. Abolish ERCOT.