Comments by "Xyz Same" (@xyzsame4081) on "WFAA"
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Cowardly, big donor serving TX politicians, blaming everyone but themselves * for their brazen disregard of common sense, their criminal negligence, the greedy refusal to LEARN form the past. 1989, 2011 and NOW again. They were WARNED by the federal commission (and their report) in 2011. But unlike in all other states the fes have no authority over TX.
TX politicians set up their own independent grid in Texas in order to evade federal regulation. (which also means the providers now cannot buy energy from other states). Even IF they would supply under emergency provisions, it is likely that TX has not invested into importing from other states. There will be some powerlines crossing state's lines but in the large scheme of things they have never planned to import (independent grid to evade regulation) so the infrastructure is not set up to cope with a large influx of energy.
Federal regulation would force them to be prepared that every few years cold snap or heat waves that will require more than usual power and put more strain on equipment might happen. So they would need to have reserves (that costs some money, but all would operate under the same conditions, they would just pass on the costs. That does not have to be that much. Arkansas and Mississippi likely do not have a great grid or system but they are under fed regulations, they have the same cold, but cope, and it is not like they would have super high prices for electricity).
But Tx politicians wanted super low energy prices for their buddies from big biz, trying to attract industries that use a lot of energy (donors !). Along with very low state income tax - so big biz does not pay at the federal OR the state level.
Which also means that TX has less money for INVESTMENTS. (for instance for subsidies for wind and other renewable energy, so they can easily finance the batteries or the de-icing equipment if their rotor blades are hit by freezing rain. With the windchill factor and movement it is even colder and ice can built up. The rotor blades have sensors that warn them if the weight is distributed unevenly, that could ruin the rotor fast.
Could be the rotor out of whack or a build up of ice, that is not going to be even.
Under federal regulation the providers would also have to ramp up the equipment so that the conditions that trigger much more demand are not also the conditions that make them malfunction just at the time of peak demand. Valves and controls that still work reliably after a longer heat wave for instance.
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we can safely assume those cold snaps and extreme heat waves will become MORE FREQUENT. If listening to experts on Global Warming. In a weird twist - the Arctic (ocean) being much warmer than it should be (also in winter) weakens air currents higher up in the atmosphere that circle fast around the poles (same situation at both poles). Those currents used to fence off the very cold air and kept it in the polar region.
Those air currents are strong and stable if the temperature differences are high between the polar region and the other regions.
Sometimes a front of cold air could escape. That was a freak event. Rarely in the Arctic and unheard of in the Antarctic. NOW they become more frequent (even a very few coming from the Antarctic).
Polar Vortex. Sometimes now there is a BULGE in the circle were a cold front can advance into unusual territory. This cold snap was worse, a much larger front, it was ready to move - and in North America there is not much in the way (not many mountain ranges like in Europe). It can travel fast and far.
Rememer 2 or 3 years ago when for one or two days FLORIDA was colder than some areas of the Arctic ? In WINTER (around freezing point + 32 degree F resp. 0 degree Celsius).
The Arctic should have - 22 degree F = - 30 degree C in winter.
The cold air stayed at the poles in the past, especially in winter, when the more pronounced temp differences stabilized the air currents higher up - when cold fronts can escape now more often they will create storms, unusual precipitation (like snow and ice rain in Texas), the cold air meets much warmer fronts that contain much more moisture that will fall out, rain, freezing rain, hail, snow.
Global warming does not mean that there will not be any cold regions, seasons or snow. (more humidity in the air from globally ! higher temps helps with snow and it does not have to be super cold to snow).
GW means the AVERAGE GLOBAL annual temperature will be higher, there is more energy and heat in the system and also in the atmosphere. The North or South pole do not have sunshine for a long time, it is not going to be cozy even while they "warm" up. 32 degree F is a heat wave in the Antarctic during the height of summer.
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The government of Texas also allowed not winterized infrastructure for natural gas. So many households that heat with gas were shut off, the valves, controls, pump stations did not function. And power plants running on gas were out, too. - Same for coal plants, oil wells and effing nuclear power plants that had instruments, valves, controls, components that did not work because of the cold and the whole plant had to be shut down.
it was not only power lines and this was NOT a hurricane (which at least means that people do not freeze to death, if the house is still standing they will not have pipes bursting later, and can leave the area as soon as the storm is over).
The most important power lines for the large cities could have been fixed within a day, they do that just fine in other nations and states. Then people would have had some electricity and their furnaces could work some of the time (if they really do "rolling" blackouts and not only use the term to gloss over the fact that some areas always had power and some haven't had it for days.
Citizens could then prepare simple but hot meals and hot beverages. Charge phones etc.
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