4 ms·

Texas is not the largest or the most populous or the most climatically challenged state. For a place that loves superlatives, it doesn't have those justificatio

by vonnik 9y ago

Texas is not the largest or the most populous or the most climatically challenged state. For a place that loves superlatives, it doesn't have those justifications for its energy use. They're sucking all the oxygen out of the room in more ways than one.

iakh 9y ago
Texas is not only a net exporter of energy [1], it is the top energy producing state and 6th in consumption per capita [2]. It produces 41% more energy than it consumes. Is that justification enough? [1] https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=32272 https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=32272 [2] https://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=TX https://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=TX
- oculusthrift 9y ago
  no because that energy is fossil fuel based
  - iakh 9y ago
    "Texas accounted for the largest total amount of wind and solar generation in the United States in 2016" [1] [1] https://thinkprogress.org/renewable-energy-just-passed-a-major-milestone-in-the-united-states-d237530d8c06/ https://thinkprogress.org/renewable-energy-just-passed-a-maj...
- am1988 9y ago
  No. How are they producing it?
lightedman 9y ago
"For a place that loves superlatives, it doesn't have those justifications for its energy use." Native Texan here, that's a load if one was ever spouted. We have plenty of climate challenges, from huge droughts just like what California recently broke out of (we broke out of our own three years earlier) to nasty winters (I've had snow on my birthday in summer) to we're sitting smack on the tail end of Tornado Alley, we've got the largest Gulf Coast area which has had hellaciously bad storms (1900 Galveston Cat 4 anyone) even with massive jettys and breaks. Houston is one of the worst-polluted area in the country as far as air quality goes, Los Angeles air is cleaner! Oh, then we've got wildfires much like California! The energy expenditure alone on rebuilding places hit by tornadoes is one you aren't ever seeing come out of New York. Did you know in Texas that they fly helicopters over your property in order to assess tax value? Imagine the energy expenditure there. I can tell you don't live in Texas.
rayiner 9y ago
It's the second most populous state and unlike the first most populous state, is very climatically challenged.
thaumasiotes 9y ago
The largest and most climatically challenged state is Alaska. But their population of 742,000 people (more than _one_ per square mile!) can only burn so much energy. It all interacts. Being top of a single metric (I wouldn't be at all surprised if the inhabited part of Texas is larger than the inhabited part of Alaska) is pretty meaningless.
EpicEng 9y ago
But it is the largest and most populated state which is also "climatically challenged".
jhayward 9y ago
If we use some less "straw" metric than yours we can get meaningful comparisons. Let's try something like degree days * population and do the comparison. Let's try industrial output per BTU or KW-H. Let's try energy produced vs energy consumed. Point is, conversation is more informatve if one isn't trying to make some kind of political shot just because one doesn't like Texas or Texans. > They're sucking all the oxygen out of the room in more ways than one. That's rude, please stop it.
MR4D 9y ago
That's a moronic statement. Texas is the second largest state by land mass. Texas is the second largest state by population. Texas has 3 of the most populous cities in the country. Texas has the 2nd largest port in the country. Texas is the 4th hottest state. Texas has the 2 largest refineries in the US (refineries use tons of energy to process their feedstock liquids). Come to Houston and live thru June, July, August, September, or even October without your AC running almost constantly. Seriously. You'll be better educated from the experience.

by vonnik 9y ago

iakh 9y ago

Texas is not only a net exporter of energy [1], it is the top energy producing state and 6th in consumption per capita [2]. It produces 41% more energy than it consumes. Is that justification enough? [1] https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=32272 https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=32272 [2] https://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=TX https://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=TX

oculusthrift 9y ago
no because that energy is fossil fuel based
- iakh 9y ago
  "Texas accounted for the largest total amount of wind and solar generation in the United States in 2016" [1] [1] https://thinkprogress.org/renewable-energy-just-passed-a-major-milestone-in-the-united-states-d237530d8c06/ https://thinkprogress.org/renewable-energy-just-passed-a-maj...
am1988 9y ago
No. How are they producing it?

lightedman 9y ago

"For a place that loves superlatives, it doesn't have those justifications for its energy use." Native Texan here, that's a load if one was ever spouted. We have plenty of climate challenges, from huge droughts just like what California recently broke out of (we broke out of our own three years earlier) to nasty winters (I've had snow on my birthday in summer) to we're sitting smack on the tail end of Tornado Alley, we've got the largest Gulf Coast area which has had hellaciously bad storms (1900 Galveston Cat 4 anyone) even with massive jettys and breaks. Houston is one of the worst-polluted area in the country as far as air quality goes, Los Angeles air is cleaner! Oh, then we've got wildfires much like California! The energy expenditure alone on rebuilding places hit by tornadoes is one you aren't ever seeing come out of New York. Did you know in Texas that they fly helicopters over your property in order to assess tax value? Imagine the energy expenditure there. I can tell you don't live in Texas.

rayiner 9y ago

It's the second most populous state and unlike the first most populous state, is very climatically challenged.

thaumasiotes 9y ago

The largest and most climatically challenged state is Alaska. But their population of 742,000 people (more than _one_ per square mile!) can only burn so much energy. It all interacts. Being top of a single metric (I wouldn't be at all surprised if the inhabited part of Texas is larger than the inhabited part of Alaska) is pretty meaningless.

EpicEng 9y ago

But it is the largest and most populated state which is also "climatically challenged".

jhayward 9y ago

If we use some less "straw" metric than yours we can get meaningful comparisons. Let's try something like degree days * population and do the comparison. Let's try industrial output per BTU or KW-H. Let's try energy produced vs energy consumed. Point is, conversation is more informatve if one isn't trying to make some kind of political shot just because one doesn't like Texas or Texans. > They're sucking all the oxygen out of the room in more ways than one. That's rude, please stop it.

MR4D 9y ago

That's a moronic statement. Texas is the second largest state by land mass. Texas is the second largest state by population. Texas has 3 of the most populous cities in the country. Texas has the 2nd largest port in the country. Texas is the 4th hottest state. Texas has the 2 largest refineries in the US (refineries use tons of energy to process their feedstock liquids). Come to Houston and live thru June, July, August, September, or even October without your AC running almost constantly. Seriously. You'll be better educated from the experience.