Texas Big Freeze: New Reports Show Clear Need For Policymakers To Act
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidblackmon/2021/04/07/texas-big-freeze-new-reports-show-clear-need-for-policymakers-to-act/?sh=2392763c3b80Apr 7, 2021
A set of recent reports related to February’s “big freeze†in Texas point up the pressing need for policymakers to act decisively to mandate key fixes in the state’s power grid. The reports also provide support for innovative proposals for emergency power generating capacity, like the one suggested by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway in March.
The first report, issued last week by the Houston Chronicle, finds that the actual number of Texas deaths directly attributable to the weather event and resulting power blackouts that impacted millions is almost double the official state tally. The Chronicle finds that almost 200 Texans died as a result of the freezing weather, ranking February’s freeze among the worst natural Texas natural disasters since the Great Galveston Hurricane killed 8,000 in 1900.
A second new report, from the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), the manager of the Texas electricity grid, finds that 54% of the power outages that led to massive blackouts during the arctic freeze were the result of “weather-related issues†at power plants. Contrary to the ongoing narrative being pushed by Texas power generators and many in the news media, the report further finds that just 12% of the outages were caused by a lack of fuel, such as natural gas.
“The fuel limitation number is less than what legislative testimony and press coverage led me to expect,†said Pat Wood, the former chairman of the Texas Public Utility Commission. "It looks to me the largest category is a (power) plant weatherization issue. That's got to be addressed.â€...
