Current Events > Texas heat wave: US Energy Department declares power emergency.

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/08/energy/texas-power-emergency-heat-wave/index.html

The US Energy Department has issued an emergency order aimed at keeping the lights on in Texas as the states power grid grapples with surging demand amid record-high temperatures.

The order, issued Thursday night, could allow Texas power plants to surpass pollution limits through Friday night to meet abnormally high demand for electricity.

Jennifer Granholm, US secretary of energy, determined in the order that an emergency exists in Texas due to a shortage of electric energy, a shortage of facilities for the generation of electric energy and other causes.

As the heat wave continues to shatter records across the country, including in Texas, energy demand for things like air conditioning have frequently taxed the states delicate power grid with wind and solar energy helping to prop it up.

Dallas hit 107 degrees on Thursday, breaking the prior record of 104 set in 2012. That marked the fifth consecutive day of triple-digit temperatures.
San Antonio has hit or exceeded 100 degrees every day so far this month. The city has experienced 17 days above 105 degrees this year, blowing past the prior record of three set in 2011.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which oversees the electric grid serving 90% of the states customers, filed a request for the emergency order Wednesday.

ERCOT warned that power outages could become necessary if demand isnt lowered or additional supply cant be added.

Although rolling blackouts have been avoided so far, ERCOT asked Texans to conserve electricity on Thursday due to tight grid conditions.

I'd like to point out that the commerce clause, and Texas leveraging the commerce clause for "we'll make own own damn power grid!", means the federal government should stay out of this.

"Electric Reliability Council of Texas"

"Reliability"

*coughing fit of laughter"

Fuck Ercot. Fuck Texas. Fuck abbot

destroying the environment so billionaires can make a few thousand more

Questionmarktarius posted...

I'd like to point out that the commerce clause, and Texas leveraging the commerce clause for "we'll make own own damn power grid!", means the federal government should stay out of this.

Texas is a shithole with terrible leadership, so they fucked up so bad they need federal help

Do bitcoin miners get a pass though?

BunkerBoy posted...

Texas is a shithole with terrible leadership, so they fucked up so bad they need federal help

Text of the order is basically "okay, you can pollute a shitton, but just this once!", which means ERCOT failed at its purpose of avoiding federal meddling anyway
https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2023-09/ERCOT%20202(c)%20Order.pdf

The takeaway here is that Texas can meet power demand at any given moment, but it's likely to be dirty as hell.

name_unknown posted...

Do bitcoin miners get a pass though?

they keep on running.

dollar bills yall

while everyone else risks getting no electric and no air conditioning.

name_unknown posted...

Do bitcoin miners get a pass though?

I suppose according to that one topic.

kingdrake2 posted...

they keep on running.

dollar bills yall

while everyone else risks getting no electric and no air conditioning.

People will die.

name_unknown posted...

Do bitcoin miners get a pass though?

more than a pass they get rewarded

Texas is a textbook example of why services like like power should be government owned and operated.

"But I'll pay more in taxes!" not even remotely as close as you're spending on fucking power bills.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

Wasn't only like that.

wackyteen posted...

Texas is a textbook example of why services like like power should be government owned and operated.

"But I'll pay more in taxes!" not even remotely as close as you're spending on fucking power bills.

https://www.electricchoice.com/electricity-prices-by-state/

Texas is actually one of the cheaper states for electricity

I really feel bad for the Texans having to deal with this bullshit. I don't miss the extreme weather I had to endure when I used to live in the south.

wackyteen posted...

Texas is a textbook example of why services like like power should be government owned and operated.

Strange how that government owned and operated water bill is almost always the most expensive one.

Prestoff posted...

I really feel bad for the Texans having to deal with this bullshit. I don't miss the extreme weather I had to endure when I used to live in the south.

Thanks. Yeah it sucks.

kingdrake2 posted...

they keep on running.

The state of Texas actually pays them tens of millions of dollars to shut down during periods of high demand. Shutting down their operations is more lucrative than mining bitcoins.

The Texas Democratic Party is the Glass Joe of political parties. It shouldn't be that hard to beat Abbott and Cruz.

It's been beautiful in Missouri over the last couple weeks

VGAddict90 posted...

The Texas Democratic Party is the Glass Joe of political parties. It shouldn't be that hard to beat Abbott and Cruz.

/dismissive wank

Dat_Cracka_Jax posted...

It's been beautiful in Missouri over the last couple weeks

Does it snow there?

VGAddict90 posted...

The Texas Democratic Party is the Glass Joe of political parties. It shouldn't be that hard to beat Abbott and Cruz.

so do you just ignore all the responses about how they engage in voter suppression and election rigging every time you post this?

Dat_Cracka_Jax posted...

It's been beautiful in Missouri over the last couple weeks

bruh, living in MO does not sound beautiful from the get go

Weezy_Tha_Don posted...

bruh, living in MO does not sound beautiful from the get go

home distillation is technically legal here, though.

thronedfire2 posted...

so do you just ignore all the responses about how they engage in voter suppression and election rigging every time you post this?

Yes.

thronedfire2 posted...

so do you just ignore all the responses about how they engage in voter suppression and election rigging every time you post this?

So... Gabby Jay, then.

thronedfire2 posted...

so do you just ignore all the responses about how they engage in voter suppression and election rigging every time you post this?

No, he routinely brings that up too, but that it's also the democrats fault just like this. No matter what horrid shit republicans in Texas do, it's always the democrats fault for not stopping them somehow. Don't ask him how, it's just their job to do it no matter what.

It's like day 9 of getting these ERCOT emails while absolutely nothing changes in the thousands of corporate buildings that make up the downtowns of 4 of the biggest cities in the country.

What a fucking joke.

VGAddict90 posted...

The Texas Democratic Party is the Glass Joe of political parties. It shouldn't be that hard to beat Abbott and Cruz.

Run someone other than Beto for once. He's lost to everyone at this point.

BuzzKilljoy posted...

It's like day 9 of getting these ERCOT emails while absolutely nothing changes in the thousands of corporate buildings that make up the downtowns of 4 of the biggest cities in the country.

What a fucking joke.

True, but they're saying something different now. The feds had to come in and give them a pass on pollution to make it work.