FROM GAB ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN TEXAS !!!

Just sharing so everyone gets a better picture of why we are in the predicament!! ⬇️⬇️⬇️

For everyone wondering why we’re having forced outages in Texas. Here’s a simple breakdown of the situation we are in.

Electrical service is broken down into the following components: generators (the ones making electricity), wires companies (the ones that own the transmission lines, substations and distribution infrastructure), energy providers (they sell the electricity to consumer and who you get your monthly bill from) and lastly ERCOT (they own and operate the statewide electric grid in Texas).

Recent government initiatives in the past few years have called for the promotion of “green” energy. This means that people want more renewable sources such as solar or wind generators, while urging for the shutdown of our traditional nuclear, coal and natural gas plants. Every year we’re seeing more of the latter type of generators being forced to shutdown their production/plants.

What does this mean during extreme weather events? During cold temperatures like the ones experienced today people draw more load onto the system from electric heaters, ovens, stoves, etc. being run overtime. This additional load required extra generation (electricity being produced) to supply the power needs. The green energy we’re promoting doesn’t work during this type of weather. Windmills are currently frozen in place and solar plants aren’t producing enough with the lack of sunlight. Our traditional plants (coal, nuclear, natural gas) we used to rely on have been shutdown due to the environmental efforts. They can’t give us the supply that was once covered by them.

So what now? The grid operator (ERCOT) can’t let the demand (load) get higher than the supply (generation) since it could lead to a statewide outage. That’s why they have now issued the forced outages to areas with high loads to try to keep the grid stable. Now the utilities (owners of the transmission lines, substations and distribution lines) are being forced to cut power. This will keep occurring until load needs can match what the generators can supply.

This is why it’s important to understand the full effect of the legislature that is being pushed at a state and federal level. Next time a green initiative is being completely pushed by any politicians it is good to take a step back to think of the full picture. I’m not saying green energy is bad, but it’s also not the only solution. Before pushing to shut off generators again, let’s make sure we won’t end up in a deficient.

Just trying to explain it as an Electrical guy with utility/power background. Happy to try and clarify anything y’all might have questions to.

Shared from Mark Janota