Texas Electricity Generation in Crises

From Dan Soloman at Texas Monthly:

On Monday the good people of Texas, many still suffering from lingering trauma as a result of the February 2021 failure of the state’s power grid, braced for bad news. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, the much-maligned entity that manages Texas’s famously independent grid, warned that the situation was dire because of “a projected reserve capacity shortage with no market solution available.” If things got worse, rolling blackouts might be needed. Not great!

Fortunately, the worst didn’t happen. There are a few reasons why. To reduce demand, many Texans turned up the thermostat by a few degrees to help save power, and ERCOT’s emergency response program paid some large energy customers to scale back usage during peak times. And significantly, solar power, which has been the star of the Texas grid so far during this interminable summer, continued to set records for energy production. If your air conditioner has been steadily running all summer long, you can thank the mighty power of the sun.

“We’ve got twice the solar we had last summer, and something like three times what we had eighteen months ago,” energy consultant Doug Lewin told me on Monday. “We actually set another solar record today, and we set one yesterday. Renewables throughout most of May and June, as we’ve been experiencing extreme heat, really were the difference between [having] a whole lot of conservation calls and potential rolling outages and not having them.”

The two key renewable energy sources contributing to the Texas power grid are solar and wind power; solar accounts for roughly 25 percent of the renewable resources on the grid, while wind represents the other three quarters, according to Andrew Dessler, director of the Texas Center for Climate Studies at Texas A&M.

Here is a graph depicting the share of Texas power supplied from various sources, through 2020.

Source: Dallas Fed.

As for assertions that renewables were the cause of the disaster of 2020, from the NYT:

The bulk of the power loss in Texas came from natural gas suppliers, according to regulators, as pipelines froze, making it difficult for plants to get the fuel they needed. Production from coal and nuclear plants dropped as well. A similar phenomenon played out in Kansas and other states.

Or per Busby et al. “Cascading risks: Understanding the 2021 winter blackout in Texas,” Energy Research & Social Science Volume 77, July 2021, 102106.

At its depth, gas production declined by nearly 50% [7], which lowered pressure in the pipelines, making it harder for power plants fueled by natural gas to operate. Overall, the state faced outages of 30 GW of electricity as demand reached unprecedented highs [8]. Other sources of electricity – nuclear, coal, and wind – also suffered from supply disruptions but these were smaller than the loss of generating capacity from gas power plants.

This point is illustrated in this figure.

Source: Busby et al. (2021).

 

60 thoughts on “Texas Electricity Generation in Crises

  1. Not Trampis

    We have found out downuinder coal fired power station do have more breakdowns in summer when it is stinking hot.

    On a related topic it appears that windmills that can still power even in a wind drought are commercially feasible now.

    Hey Menzie why are all my comments put into moderation.

    1. Ivan

      We all have a delay (moderation) on our comments before they are posted. You submit and then next time Menzie look at the blog he will publish that comment (unless it is really really bad, or advertisement). That way he can avoid having a system with registration and locking out after the fact.

  2. ltr

    Really excellent presentation and excellent for Texas, while showing the need for multiple energy sources as renewable energy sources build and showing as well the need for an ultra-high voltage electricity transmission system from energy source to use points. The point of ultra-high voltage transmission is the capability of very-long-distance electricity transmission with very little loss of power.

    1. ltr

      https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-07-04/World-s-2nd-largest-hydro-plant-completes-sectional-power-transmission-1bobg6GVOHS/index.html

      July 4, 2022

      World’s 2nd largest hydro-plant completes sectional power transmission

      The Zhejiang section of China’s Baihetan-Zhejiang ultra-high-voltage direct current (UHVDC) power transmission project was completed in east China on July 2.

      The transmission line begins with the Baihetan hydropower station, a 16 gigawatt (GW) hydroelectric facility, the world’s second-largest power station after the 22.5GW Three Gorges Dam, also in China.

      Located on the Jinsha River, the upper section of the Yangtze River which runs through the provinces of Sichuan and Yunnan in southwest China, the Baihetan hydropower station transmits electricity from the resource-rich west to energy-hungery regions in east China, marking a major step in the country’s utilization of clean energy.

      The line, which is part of China’s “East Powered by the West” project, covers a total length of 2,140.2 kilometers with a transmission capacity of 8,000 megawatts….

  3. ltr

    As with wind power that can be drawn even when the wind is not blowing sufficiently, there are increasingly viable backups for and means of storing renewal energy sources:

    https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-07-07/Two-new-pumped-storage-power-stations-help-boost-clean-energy-in-GBA-1btmYP4790Q/index.html

    July 7, 2022

    Two new pumped storage power stations help boost clean energy in GBA *
    By Cao Chufeng

    At the end of May, two pumped-storage power stations with a capacity of a million kilowatts was put into operation in south China’s Guangdong Province, one located in Meizhou city, and the other in Yangjiang city. Officials said they would promote clean energy and help ensure steady supplies of electricity.

    Pumped storage power station functions like a power bank. When the demand for electricity is low, the station uses excess electricity to pump up water into the upper reservoir and store it. When the demand for electricity is at its peak, stored water is released to generate electricity.

    It took just four years to build the Meizhou station, the shortest construction period for this kind of project in China, and the Yangjiang station has the largest single unit capacity of generators in China.

    “The Yangjiang Pumped Storage Power Station has three 400,000 KW generating units, the largest single unit capacity in China. When the main spindle of the generator rotates clockwise, it is generating electricity. When it rotates counterclockwise, it is pumping water,” said Peng Qian, the Executive Director of Yangjiang Pumped Storage Power Station, which is under CSG (China Southern Power Grid) Power Generation….

    * Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macau

    1. ltr

      https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-05-30/China-s-first-solar-tidal-photovoltaic-power-plant-fully-operational-1asqPv0xC2k/index.html

      May 30, 2022

      China’s first solar-tidal photovoltaic power plant fully operational

      China’s first hybrid energy power station utilizing solar and tidal power to generate electricity became fully operational on Monday in Wenling City of east China’s Zhejiang Province.

      The project marks the country’s latest approach toward harnessing two green energy sources in a complementary manner for power generation.

      With an installed capacity of 100 megawatts, the power plant ensures more stability for the utilization of renewable energy. Since solar energy supply is intermittent and unavailable when the sun goes down, tidal waves could replace it by supplying power during the night. Moon’s gravity causes tides in the oceans….

    2. Ivan

      This sounds like something that could be downsized and used on a rural farm or village with a big water-tower.

      1. ltr

        “[Pumped storage power stations] sounds like something that could be downsized and used on a rural farm or village with a big water-tower.”

        What an interesting energy storage-backup idea, from either a small wind or solar complex in a relatively isolated setting.

  4. Macroduck

    “…solar power, which has been the star of the Texas grid so far during this interminable summer, continued to set records for energy production.”

    So blame alternative energy or blame Biden? Please, it’s hard for me to know what conclusion to draw unless somebody tells me.

  5. pgl

    “Fortunately, the worst didn’t happen. There are a few reasons why. To reduce demand, many Texans turned up the thermostat by a few degrees to help save power, and ERCOT’s emergency response program paid some large energy customers to scale back usage during peak times. And significantly, solar power, which has been the star of the Texas grid so far during this interminable summer, continued to set records for energy production. If your air conditioner has been steadily running all summer long, you can thank the mighty power of the sun.”

    Solar! Peak load pricing! Two things CoRev insists are communist plots.

    1. CoRev

      Barking Bierka – the Disgusting NYC Jerk claims: “Solar! Peak load pricing! Two things CoRev insists are communist plots.” Why the psychotic need to lie? Please show us where I ever said this.

      Your mother and your grade school teachers are disappointed in your reading comprehension.

      1. pgl

        “Please show us where I ever said this.”

        Back to your deny, deny, deny dodge. You are indeed the Weasel in Chief!

  6. CoRev

    MD repeats from the article: “…solar power, which has been the star of the Texas grid so far during this interminable summer, continued to set records for energy production.” How could it not continue to set records? Starting from near zero any increase is a new record.

    The real question will solar ever be viable to cover peak demand periods? On a daily basis that period is in the late afternoon to early evening, ~4:00PM to ~8:00PM, the very same period when the Sun goes down causing solar to wane. On an annual basis peak periods often occur during extreme temperature and weather stresses. Both solar and wind are often negatively effected during these same periods. As happened during Storm URI: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/75/ERCOT_generation_2021_power_crisis_US_Energy_Information_Administration.jpg

    So during these periods if the backup sources to wind and solar also are affected, then grid source failures can be dangerous, as happened during URI. What happens then is the wind and solar advocates blame the back up sources as the cause while ignoring the failure of wind and solar causing the original stress.

    Never will they accept and admit the original cause was that ole Green policy, War on Fossil Fuels, push to implement even more intermittent/unreliable clean & renewable energy sources. All are bad policies that are a major cause of the electricity disruptions and inflation today.

    Due to denial of the above policies’ impacts, n this you are absolutely correct: “…it’s hard for me to know what conclusion to draw unless somebody tells me.”

    1. pgl

      “How could it not continue to set records? Starting from near zero any increase is a new record.”

      Near zero is a blatant lie. How can one tell – look at the post’s graph.

      “The real question will solar ever be viable to cover peak demand periods?”

      ltr got this right with her “showing the need for multiple energy sources”

      BTW old liar moron – sundown during the summer is not 4PM but closer to 8PM.

      Now if you are trying to set the record for the most dishonest troll ever – relax. You won.

  7. CoRev

    This statement is included in the origianl document from which the chart was drawn: https://www.dallasfed.org/research/economics/2021/0817
    “…With little investment taking place in new thermal generation, does the design of Texas’ electricity market provide enough incentive to develop capacity for future power needs? Increased use of battery storage and demand-response programs—incentives utilities pay customers for voluntary, scheduled reductions in energy consumption—as well as new gas power generation may all be required for Texas consumers to enjoy reliable electricity in the future.”

    Please read and understand the below quoted paragraph, which immediately follows the above quote in the article.
    More Use of Renewables Poses Challenge for Grid Management

    With daily wind and solar generation variable due to changes in weather and time of day, balancing power supply with demand becomes more challenging each year for Texas’ grid operator—the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT). This increases the need for “dispatchable” power—quickly summoned electricity, primarily from natural gas power plants—that can fill the gap when renewable power generation dips.”

    Solar can never supply the power needed during peak demand. Peak demand occurs as the Sun diminishes.

    1. pgl

      Garrett Golding’s discussion is quite good. Now if people bother to read the whole thing and not just paragraph 3 – they would realize your spin is about as dumb and dishonest as it gets. BTW – sundown is not around 4PM during the summer as you keep suggesting.

    2. CoRev

      This chart is also in the above reference: https://www.dallasfed.org/research/economics/2021/~/media/Images/research/economics/2021/0817/dfe0817c2.png If you squint real hard you can see that that ERCOT planned for meeting peak load required nearly 1/2 of wind/solar output. During times of 2021 weather stress, when they were not available gas was not PLANNED to fully back up their loss.

      The impact of this stress is highlighted by the blue line (wind & solar) in this chart in the article: https://econbrowser.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/1-s2.0-S2214629621001997-gr2.jpg On the 14th thermal source failures appear to occur as they are further stressed by fast falling wind & solar outputs. They eventually fell toi near zero.

      If the ERCOT reserve was based upon 1/2 wind & solar outputs, even including anticipated planned and unexpected outages, then how does the blame only fall on gas?

      Yet it was a failure of gas? Why is it whenever we see a gas failure it is accompanied by a renewables failure?

      1. pgl

        If the ERCOT reserve was based upon 1/2 wind & solar outputs, even including anticipated planned and unexpected outages, then how does the blame only fall on gas?

        ERCOT has already completely phased out fossil fuels? Come on dude – look at the damn graph. And not – sunset occurs around 8:20PM not 4PM.

      2. baffling

        “Why is it whenever we see a gas failure it is accompanied by a renewables failure?”
        according to corev, fossil fuels such as natural gas do not fail. so no backup should be needed for natural gas. and yet it was needed.

        1. CoRev

          Someone else who can not read and comprehend. “Why is it whenever we see a gas failure it is accompanied by a renewables failure?” And yet Baffled showing the truth of the chosen name says: “according to corev, fossil fuels such as natural gas do not fail.”

          Scary ignorance in action there, Baffled.

    3. pgl

      “Solar can never supply the power needed during peak demand. Peak demand occurs as the Sun diminishes.”

      It seems this disinformation has prompted our host to write a new post calling you out again!!!!!

      1. ltr

        “Solar can never supply the power needed during peak demand. Peak demand occurs as the Sun diminishes.”

        That is the point of multiple energy sources, energy storage and a transmission system with little power loss from source to application.

        1. pgl

          Thanks for reminding us that you made this point. We should get a large chalk board and have CoRev write this 500 times so maybe he might remember this basic point.

    4. Baffling

      Many renewables are found in west texas, where sun sets almost an hour later than east texas, the population base. Your timing argument becomes diminished with this knowledge. And offshore wind becomes more reliable as well.

      1. pgl

        CoRev keeps telling us that the sun sets around 4PM during the summer months. Now he might actually believe this as he never learned how to use a watch.

      2. CoRev

        Baffled claims: “Many renewables are found in west texas, where sun sets almost an hour later than east texas, the population base. Your timing argument becomes diminished with this knowledge.” Except when sunset changes to earlier and earlier than the extended daylight period in which you rely.

        You seem to not realize that solar output drop to near zero at sunset, and that sunset will be well before peak demand on many, many days of the year. I won’t even ask the many embarrassing questions your ignorance generates.

        That is the level of logic in which your blind belief results.

        1. Baffling

          That 7pm high demand is in the summer, due to air conditioning demands when people come home. That demand does not exist in the winter when the sun sets earlier. Just how stoopid are you corev?

          1. CoRev

            Baffled how confused you are! Claiming this: “That 7pm high demand is in the summer, due to air conditioning demands when people come home. That demand does not exist in the winter when the sun sets earlier. ”

            Which demand? AC or people coming home from work? When they do demand daily does go up. You also seem not to realize that an earlier sunset means less or even zero solar output to fulfill peak demand.

            Just how stoopid are you Baffled?

          2. baffling

            demand goes up in the evening down south because people come home and turn up their air conditioner. they do not let it run on high during the day when nobody is home. this is why there is high demand during summer evenings. they do not run the air conditioner during the winter months, when days are short. and most homes in texas are heated by natural gas. corev, you are one of the most illogical people i have ever come across. and your belief in ghosts simply makes you a bigger fool. every comment you make simply displays more of your ignorance.

    5. 2slugbaits

      CoRev Solar can never supply the power needed during peak demand.

      Never? Or did you mean never in the few years left in your lifetime? There’s a difference.

      1. CoRev

        Never ever. Not even in your life time, whipper snapper.

        No body has caught on that his example is for days near the longest day light. Even then in Texas, it will not suffice as solar is well down the output curve. On shorter days it won’t over lap with peak demand.

        Maybe you can show us how to get peak demand coverage out of near zero solar output. Remember were only talking about solar her.

  8. Bruce Hall

    Still ignoring the elephant in the room.

    https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/no-power-technology-can-replace-or-do-the-job-of-nuclear-energy-today-says-duke-energy-ceo/ar-AAZxVPL

    • Duke Energy CEO Lynn Good tells the CNBC Evolve Global Summit that energy transition is happening, but there is no technology that exists today that can do the job of nuclear energy in its key markets.
    • Nuclear power provides 50% of Duke’s electricity generation in the Carolinas.
    • While often the subject of controversy, the Duke Energy CEO says meeting energy transition goals with affordability and reliability will require nuclear, and potentially use of smaller modular reactors in the future, a technology backed by Bill Gates.

    https://energy.mit.edu/research/future-nuclear-power/

    >An interdisciplinary MIT faculty group decided to study the future of nuclear power because of a belief that this technology is an important option for the United States and the world to meet future energy needs without emitting carbon dioxide and other atmospheric pollutants. Other options include increased efficiency, renewables, and carbon sequestration, and all may be needed for a successful greenhouse gas management strategy. This study, addressed to government, industry, and academic leaders, discusses the interrelated technical, economic, environmental, and political challenges facing a significant increase in global nuclear power utilization over the next half century and what might be done to overcome those challenges.

    1. pgl

      Nuclear power is an elephant now? OK, I would prefer a safe reliable nuclear plant over the sector that asks you to lie to us on a routine basis – fossil fuels.

      1. Bruce Hall

        pgl is in such a hurry to make a snide remark that he misses the point I was making: nuclear power is not only necessary, but preferable to all other sources of electricity except maybe natural gas because it is reliable and scalable without taking vast areas of land like solar or creating vast seas of eyesores like wind turbines.. But I’m glad he agrees that nuclear power is preferable..

      2. Bruce Hall

        Your Chinese friends and bankers are making US efforts to move to clean natural gas and nuclear energy moot with their propaganda about “clean” wind and solar energy (they make a handsome profit selling those monstrosities to the US) while China goes about undermining everything the US is sacrificing for
        https://www.realclearenergy.org/articles/2022/06/26/soaring_global_coal_use_is_obliterating_emission_reductions_achieved_in_the_us_since_2005_839166.html

    2. pgl

      Wow Brucie boy could not even get to the 3rd and 4th paragraphs of his latest link:

      “Fossil fuel-based electricity is projected to account for more than 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions by 2020,” said Deutch. “In the U.S. 90% of the carbon emissions from electricity generation come from coal-fired generation, even though this accounts for only 52% of the electricity produced. Taking nuclear power off the table as a viable alternative will prevent the global community from achieving long-term gains in the control of carbon dioxide emissions.”

      But the prospects for nuclear energy as an option are limited, the report finds, by four unresolved problems: high relative costs; perceived adverse safety, environmental, and health effects; potential security risks stemming from proliferation; and unresolved challenges in long-term management of nuclear wastes.

      Weening off of fossil fuels is a laudable goal even if CoRev and his twin idiot Bruce Hall decry the “war” on fossil fuels. It is going to be a shame when the Koch Brothers fire Brucie for this. And yes safety health and enviromental issues are a serious concern. As is proliferation such as how Putin’s pigs might be doing in Ukraine. Oh wait – Bruce Hall works for Putin. Shhhh!

      1. Bruce Hall

        Any comment about Germany firing up those coal-fired power plants?

        https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy/opinion/germany-leads-europe-with-target-to-reach-100-clean-power-by-2035/

        When bad policies are faced with reality, what do bad policies do? They fold. Germany will not reach 100% “renewables” by 2035 or 2100. Wind and solar power are supplemental power sources and will not take the place of non-intermittent sources. Germany, of course, made a pact with the devil (Russia) in order to signal its virtue, but that hasn’t worked too well.

        So-called environmentalists point to 40-year old nuclear technology and say there are risks. How about the latest designs? Oh, can’t talk about that. Wouldn’t fit the narrative. Enjoy your hot air.

        CV?

    3. Macroduck

      Brucey? Do you have a point to make? Elephants and Bill Gates could be the set-up for a joke, but putting them together doesn’t amount to a clear point. I know you liked to maintain deniability, but you can afford to crawl a wee bit closer to a declarative statement without cutting off all escape.

      1. pgl

        His link was a useful discussion. Of course as usual Brucie never bothered to actually READ it.

        1. Bruce Hall

          You were already writing a snide comment before you read my comment. But come on, man. CV?

      2. Bruce Hall

        Sure, the point is quite obvious: nuclear power is vastly preferable to intermittent wind and solar power. Glad to be of assistance.

        1. Baffling

          Its upfront cost is too high. And its decommissioning cost is even worse. Economically it is simply hard to justify. I grew up in the shadow of a nuke plant. Would rather it had not existed.

  9. pgl

    In the comment section under similar posts, we get this constant thread of disinformation from CoRev that there is no such thing as climate change as it is all about the “weather”. Of course none of these lectures from CoRev bothers to explain WTF he means but let’s try this:

    https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-difference-between-weather-and-climate-change

    What is the difference between weather and climate change? Weather refers to short term atmospheric conditions while climate is the weather of a specific region averaged over a long period of time. Climate change refers to long-term changes.

    Now CoRev might try to argue that these long term changes are zero. But of course that statement is nothing more than one of his usual lies. Yea – this reliable cite has a lot of useful discussions so check them out before the next disinformation parade ala CoRev.

  10. pgl

    Remember that 18 minutes gap in the Watergate tapes? Well check this out:

    https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/secret-service-members-erased-jan-5-6-text-messages-watchdog-says/ar-AAZAllz?ocid=DE_20220715_ENUS__1&cvid=07f7914895c24c67997bb195fc59f2f5

    Members of the U.S. Secret Service erased text messages from Jan. 5 and Jan. 6, 2021, shortly after the Department of Homeland Security inspector general requested them as part of an investigation into the agency’s response to the assault on the U.S. Capitol, according to a letter written by the inspector general to congressional leaders and obtained by CBS News. In a letter sent to the House and Senate Homeland Security Committees, DHS Inspector General Joseph Cuffari wrote that although his office had been notified that texts were erased as part of a device replacement program, the wiping of the devices occurred after a request for electronic communications.

    I wonder if Apple has the ability to retrieve these texts even after the erasures. Who ordered this blatant obstruction of justice?

  11. pgl

    Good news on gasoline prices:

    https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/US-Gasoline-Prices-Set-To-Fall-Below-4.html

    Gasoline prices in the United States fell to a national average of $4.605 on Thursday, with GasBuddy’s Patrick de Haan saying we should see that drop below $4 per gallon by mid-August. “Americans will spend $165 million LESS today on gasoline than a month ago,” according to de Haan. “We’re on target for the national average to drop to $3.99 by Aug 14,” he added. On Twitter, de Haan said Thursday that “we have a shot at setting the largest single day decline … in the last decade”, noting that the national average “rarely” moves down this much per day. Thursday’s national average of $4.605, based on AAA prices, was down from Wednesday’s $4.631.
    A month ago, the national average at the pump was $5.016. Since then, prices have dropped some 9.8%. Thursday’s gasoline national average represents the lowest price since mid-May.

    I guess we will see the Three Stooges scrambling to discount this good news.

    First up will likely be Bruce Hall noting this is a forecast from a questionable source – oh wait Gasbuddy is his go to source. Never mind!

    CoRev will be angry that I noted recent market data so he is going to go off like a barking dog chasing his own tail.

    Then again we have Princeton “oil shocK” Steve babbling about recessions v. suppressions even though he has no clue what any of these terms mean.

    1. Bruce Hall

      Aw, pgl, Gasbuddy? No, I’ve been linking to AAA. But hey, they’re both pretty reliable for real time information.

      Meanwhile, Japan doesn’t seem to be in a big rush to rely on intermittent electrical power. They’ve recognized that the elephant in the room is the way to go.
      https://asiatimes.com/2022/07/japan-plans-to-revive-idle-nuke-plants-by-winter/

      I know that will upset you because… virtue signaling and all that. But the Japanese seem to have a sense of reality that doesn’t permeate California in any way. Of course, they’ve learned from Fukushima that you don’t site a nuclear power plant on geologically unstable ground. Naturally, there are some who prefer energy starvation to accepting nuclear power plants, but they tend to be those who think lithium mining and processing and cobalt and nickel mining with children is environmentally preferable.

      1. Baffling

        Japan is investigating in tidal and sea current electricity generation. It is quite plentiful in japan.

  12. Ivan.

    The one thing that hydrocarbons supposedly have for them is stability in power generation even when the sun doesn’t shine and the wind doesn’t blow. Texas has given us an epic demonstration of the foolishness of that presumption. They have also shown us the stupidity of having private companies with no connections to outside power suppliers run your electricity system. The one thing you would never expect predatory capitalism to deliver is to have profit be subjugated to stability and security.

    I hope that Texas eventually will give us a demonstration of the future – where massive numbers of individual costumers detach from the grid. There are so many advantages of not being dependent on electric service from large companies. A number of upscale rural California costumers have already taken that step. It still carries a substantial upfront cost and some inconveniences (periodic needs to reduce use and/or supplement with gas generators). However, the cost of connecting a isolated new rural home to the grid can also be very high. A good home energy system can often be much more reliable than he big corporate system. That is even before we talk about the political gains/statements from going off grid (self reliance for the right, and green sustainability for the left).

    Individualized energy storage systems are getting better and cheeper. With good long term storage you simply need to calculate the annual energy consumption of the house, then install enough solar panels to have a projected annual production of that amount. Depending on how much “inconvenience” you are willing to risk, you can add excess solar panels or have propane fireplaces or generators that can pitch in those few times a year when the weather gets ahead of you.

  13. pgl

    This was funny:

    “You could be forgiven for not realizing the extent to which renewables have bailed Texans out these past few months. In a state where the oil and gas industry carries as much weight as it does in Texas, politicians (including the ERCOT board of directors, who are political appointees) tend to downplay the contributions of renewable energy. In February 2021 Texas leaders were keen to blame renewables for the blackouts—despite the fact that natural gas was the main culprit in the failure, supplying fewer gigawatts of energy than even ERCOT’s lowest projections. Monday’s ERCOT press release also blamed wind. “It would be nice to be able to read a press release from ERCOT and just trust that it’s down-the-middle information,” Lewin told me.”

    Was CoRev writing those ERCOT press releases back in Feb. 2021?

    1. pgl

      Careful there – Joe Friday. One of your charts has just appeared in a post calling out your fellow liar CoRev.

  14. baffling

    nice post prof. chinn. it becomes frustrating when we have so many voices trying to deny the reality of this episode, and others when it comes to renewables. we are involved in a war, in part, because of the continued use of fossil fuels. we have rampant inflation that is driven directly by the increased cost in fossil fuels. it is time that we accept the fact that fossil fuels induce a cost beyond just climate change, but also in cost of military action and deaths from both the middle east and ukraine.

    but back to the point of the post, which i certainly do appreciate. natural gas failed texas tremendously during the feb 2001 freeze. and if it were not for the continued increase in both solar and wind sources, this summer in texas would have had regular rolling blackouts or forced conservation because thermal units have continued to go off line at levels beyond expected. and i must give credit to the republicans (and perry) who built the high voltage transmission lines from the renewable producing fields to the urban centers. they ushered in the renewable revolution in texas. and the state continues to embrace their use today. despite what some commenters want to say on this site. renewables are the future of an electric world.

    1. pgl

      “it becomes frustrating when we have so many voices trying to deny the reality of this episode, and others when it comes to renewables. we are involved in a war, in part, because of the continued use of fossil fuels. we have rampant inflation that is driven directly by the increased cost in fossil fuels.”

      Oh – people like CoRev and Bruce Hall. Dr. Chinn has coined an excellent new expression:

      ‘utter failures of fact peddled by purveyors of disinformation’

      Let’s remember this one!!!

  15. pgl

    Roger Stone is not proud to be a member of the Proud Boys? Why not Roger – we all know you’re a racist:

    https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/the-proud-boys-initiation-creed-roger-stone-recited-has-roots-in-white-supremacy-according-to-experts/ar-AAZzLYN?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=5ba71aca95b5463a90fcebf16e5a90e0

    The J6 committee on Tuesday aired video of Roger Stone reciting the Proud Boys’ initiation oath. The 14-word oath was inspired by a popular white supremacist slogan, some experts told Insider. Stone, who denies being a Proud Boy, recited it at a 2017 ‘Cinco de Milo’ event honoring Milo Yiannopoulos.

    Tuesday’s public hearing of the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 Capitol siege gave many viewers their first look at a disturbing video clip of longtime Donald Trump adviser Roger Stone. It showed Stone brashly reciting the Proud Boys’ so-called “fraternity creed.” Recording oneself reciting the creed is the first of four initiation steps for joining the violent, right-wing extremist group. “Hi, I’m Roger Stone,” he says in the brief black and white clip. “I’m a Western chauvinist, and I refuse to apologize for the creation of the modern world.” Extremism experts know the creed well and say its recitation made Stone a first-degree honorary member. Stone has denied being a Proud Boy. Many experts say the creed is a thinly-disguised homage to white nationalism.

Comments are closed.