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>gas pipeline companies that own electrical pumping stations Only a problem because EPA no longer permits self sufficient gas turbine compressor stations. >Na

>gas pipeline companies that own electrical pumping stations Only a problem because EPA no longer permits self sufficient gas turbine compressor stations. >Nat gas well heads could be retrofitted with equipment that keeps them freezing due to water production from the well. Pressure drop is a bigger factor than ambient temp and insulation. Increasing capacity by increasing # of wells and pipe size does more than defrosting equipment. Being overly reliant on NG to pick up the slack when renewables go offline causes avoidable pressure drops. >Long term planning could be put in place to connect ERCOT into neighboring power grids. The neighboring grids were also under emergency reductions and had no surplus power. OK and LA were extremely close to also implementing blackouts. LA was able to use its peaker plants and reduce industry demand to avoid this, in part due to a lower reliance on renewables (and not needing to waste peaker plant or transmission capacity to make up for wind turbines shut-in and solar panels covered in snow). A connected grid just would have further spread a cascading grid failure. >Wind turbines are available with an optional 'cold weather package' that lets them run more reliably in the sort of weather that Texas experienced last February. Wind turbines shutting off caused Texas to use peaker power prematurely to replace renewable power instead of in its proper role as a buffer for surges in demand. Once the front passed through, there was little to no wind for the remaining ~week of cold weather (high pressure system). >Large coal plants went offline due to frozen coal piles. The state just lost over 20% of its coal capacity due to increased EPA regulations. But I have not heard of any plant in Texas shutting down due to "frozen coal piles". >The state could make an ernest effort to bring in political leadership that does not try to boil down all of the above to "Green New Deal Bad". $1500/MWh DOE floor "market" prices to generate under conditions permissible 10 years ago is bad policy. Over reliance on intermittent renewables without sufficient backup is bad policy. Regulations reducing the number of NG wells is bad policy. Regulations reducing coal capacity by 20% without on-demand replacement capacity is bad policy. None of those are state leadership. They're federal "green" friendly regulations and mandates.

cloverich 5y ago
> Regulations reducing coal capacity by 20% without on-demand replacement capacity is bad policy. Why didn't they have this excess capacity before the 20% reduction rule went into effect? When will they have it now that is has gone in to effect? I get the gist, although if the goal is to encourage green alternatives and planning, a policy that requires a reduction is simpler than one that requires reduction and a plan. I would rather have the latter, but if the alternative to the former is no green policy, then that's not a real option. So what could that policy have been to improve the situation?
- beerandt 5y ago
  There's a huge amount of uncertainty, mainly. The EPA is trying to act on its own, and despite losing lawsuits, cost of regulatory compliance and lawsuits goes up. Investors don't want to risk entering the "new market" in case the "old market" isn't actually shut down or run out of town and remains competitive. Uncertain indirect subsidies via govt driving up your competitors costs is less enticing than guaranteed subsidies for building more wind and solar. The best solution is not allowing arbitraty administrative agencies to take the place of legislative certainty. But that's been deemed unacceptable by those demanding change at all costs despite lacking popular or legislative support.
mschaef 5y ago
> Wind turbines shutting off caused Texas to use peaker power prematurely to replace renewable power instead of in its proper role as a buffer for surges in demand. Blaming wind for the problems seems a bit disingenuous, when wind outages were 3,000MW and thermal outages were over 30,000MW. I don't deny that wind failed too, but this was a holistic failure. > The neighboring grids were also under emergency reductions and had no surplus power. OK and LA were extremely close to also implementing blackouts. You missed a chance here to point out that SPP actually did have blackouts, although only for a few hours. They did better outside of Texas because they had more options and better preparedness. > But I have not heard of any plant in Texas shutting down due to "frozen coal piles". I heard about it at the time through connections in the industry, but it's gotten some press too. https://acee.princeton.edu/acee-news/andlinger-center-speaks-the-texas-freeze-and-widespread-energy-system-failures/ https://acee.princeton.edu/acee-news/andlinger-center-speaks... > Over reliance on intermittent renewables without sufficient backup i In 1989, I sat in a cold dark house in Houston, due to power shortages and forced blackouts much like those in 2021. You're concerned about an overeliance on wind power in 2021? There was 'no' wind power in 1989. You're concerned about shut down coal plants in 2021? They were running in 1989. You're concerned about electrical NG pipeline pumps in 2021? They were self-powered in 1989. Most of my suggestions are really about ensuring sufficient backup and addressing problems that range far beyond just the number of wind turbines and solar panels in the state. What are your suggestions?

cloverich 5y ago

> Regulations reducing coal capacity by 20% without on-demand replacement capacity is bad policy. Why didn't they have this excess capacity before the 20% reduction rule went into effect? When will they have it now that is has gone in to effect? I get the gist, although if the goal is to encourage green alternatives and planning, a policy that requires a reduction is simpler than one that requires reduction and a plan. I would rather have the latter, but if the alternative to the former is no green policy, then that's not a real option. So what could that policy have been to improve the situation?

beerandt 5y ago
There's a huge amount of uncertainty, mainly. The EPA is trying to act on its own, and despite losing lawsuits, cost of regulatory compliance and lawsuits goes up. Investors don't want to risk entering the "new market" in case the "old market" isn't actually shut down or run out of town and remains competitive. Uncertain indirect subsidies via govt driving up your competitors costs is less enticing than guaranteed subsidies for building more wind and solar. The best solution is not allowing arbitraty administrative agencies to take the place of legislative certainty. But that's been deemed unacceptable by those demanding change at all costs despite lacking popular or legislative support.

mschaef 5y ago

> Wind turbines shutting off caused Texas to use peaker power prematurely to replace renewable power instead of in its proper role as a buffer for surges in demand. Blaming wind for the problems seems a bit disingenuous, when wind outages were 3,000MW and thermal outages were over 30,000MW. I don't deny that wind failed too, but this was a holistic failure. > The neighboring grids were also under emergency reductions and had no surplus power. OK and LA were extremely close to also implementing blackouts. You missed a chance here to point out that SPP actually did have blackouts, although only for a few hours. They did better outside of Texas because they had more options and better preparedness. > But I have not heard of any plant in Texas shutting down due to "frozen coal piles". I heard about it at the time through connections in the industry, but it's gotten some press too. https://acee.princeton.edu/acee-news/andlinger-center-speaks-the-texas-freeze-and-widespread-energy-system-failures/ https://acee.princeton.edu/acee-news/andlinger-center-speaks... > Over reliance on intermittent renewables without sufficient backup i In 1989, I sat in a cold dark house in Houston, due to power shortages and forced blackouts much like those in 2021. You're concerned about an overeliance on wind power in 2021? There was 'no' wind power in 1989. You're concerned about shut down coal plants in 2021? They were running in 1989. You're concerned about electrical NG pipeline pumps in 2021? They were self-powered in 1989. Most of my suggestions are really about ensuring sufficient backup and addressing problems that range far beyond just the number of wind turbines and solar panels in the state. What are your suggestions?