C'mon, Texas...what the heck???

originally posted by: butcherguy
Green had a hand in this, such as solar panels not being functional when covered in snow, and windmills that were iced up, but the blame still goes to the bureaucrats that did not plan effectively for an eventuality that could be expected.

Ha well complaining solar panels not working if there's no sun is the same kind of stupid like trying to drive a car on the ocean.
It's even in the name: solar = relating to or determined by the sun.

The problem is a centralised power grid. If I may armchair that. Not really any need for anybody planing if you'd have community supply and sell the surplus to the free market.

But oh no Texas as we learned went #ing isolated communism with their 'reliability' crap.
Another case where claim and reality apparently never met.

a reply to: Observationalist

Sorry for makin' ya' mad, my friend. Just calling a spade a spade. If water is the problem, then water is what people should be screaming from every rooftop about! That should be the ONLY thing we hear about, but it's not. Not ever. Water would be a completely understandable thing to bitch about, ESPECIALLY public water supplies!

Cold? Not so much! Snow and ice? Hey, this is North America; I'm sorry, but no excuses. Power? No sympathy at all!! Texas has the least excuse of any state for losing power!

Also, understand my OP was not directed at any one person personally, but rather the larger picture of "Texas" and all of its greatness.

All due respect, but you've only lived there for 6 months, so I don't consider you a "Texan". Get back to me in about 19 years, but until then I will consider you a Kalifornian. Sorry.

Well you clearly are speaking out of your ass. If you were to tune into livestreaming, you would see two Texas streamers and the struggle they had with the water situation. No drinking water and no running water for toilet, sink etc. The dude asked some lady if she had water and she said yes but only because her in laws brought bottled water. I don't live in Texas but if it wasn't for livestreaming, I'd be as ignorant on the situation as you right now.

a reply to: Peeple

But oh no Texas as we learned went #ing isolated communism with their 'reliability' crap. Another case where claim and reality apparently never met.

You don’t see this as a failure in planning?

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

I’ve been here 47 years. Water is the problem for a lot of people, my parents included. I took them coolers full of water tired as I’ve ever been getting off shift. They couldn’t cook, shower, or flush toilets. I took them fire wood which kept the house in the 50’s. She didn’t stock up on food either.

Spade a spade? Or just taking a free poke at a proud state while it’s down. Make you feel better right? You seem to have some bitterness toward Texas.

It’s great your so well adjusted to your climate. This week was far from a average for us. 39f is the average low in FortWorth for February. We had a week of temperatures from -2f to high of 30f. The snow was no big deal. It’s was the persistence of the freezing temperatures. Yes in your world that’s T-shirt weather for you, haha. You win, you get a cookie for being the coldest. Pipes still freeze at 32f. Frozen pipes are can do damage at 32f

The power going out was not necessary and very unfortunate. We should get a better explanation than the wind power was frozen.

I never claimed to be a Texan, I wouldn’t mind considering the kindness and hospitality shown to me since I have been here. However, I can still speak to my real time observations since I’m actually living in Texas. We don’t need more “Northerners” playing armchair quarterback.

If you want, you can get you as$ down here and help out, that would be great. Your experience might be helpful. But I have a feeling your enjoying watching Texas struggle.

ETA: If you or anyone wants to be helpful. Do some research into Biden’s First Executive Order to give China access to the US power grid.
Rolling blackouts may becoming to your state soon. Be prepared.

My relatives in Texas are convinced the bad weather is because of Obama's and Hillarys sins against God. They read it in Revelations.

a reply to: butcherguy

Yes I do, but I went one level above.

The problem is a centralised power grid. If I may armchair that. Not really any need for anybody planing if you'd have community supply and sell the surplus to the free market.

Did you miss that?

originally posted by: Peeple
a reply to: butcherguy

Yes I do, but I went one level above.

The problem is a centralised power grid. If I may armchair that. Not really any need for anybody planing if you'd have community supply and sell the surplus to the free market.

Did you miss that?

No, I read your entire post.
Even a 'decentralized' grid requires planning.
You mention community supply and say that there is no need for planning. If you expect a community supply to function, there had better be a plan.
You mentioned solar power requiring sunlight as a given. When the sun is out and you aren't generating power because the panels are covered with snow, that is a problem. It is a problem that would not exist if there was planning ahead of time. Solar panels in colder climates are mounted at a steeper angle to keep snow from accumulating on them. It is less efficient for generating power, but it means that you will have some power vs none at all when you need it most.

a reply to: butcherguy

Since I answered to your post where you said 'covered in snow' I thought it was quite obvious no sun is short for 'no sun reaching the panels'.

I know a decentralised grid requires even more planning, so ...
To your question

You don’t see this as a failure in planning?

I answered yes. And I really don't know what else to say?

originally posted by: olaru12
My relatives in Texas are convinced the bad weather is because of Obama's and Hillarys sins against God. They read it in Revelations.

You are partially right even though you were being sarcastic.
We are in the end times and things are going to get worse.The
best prepping anyone can do is by starting to read the Bible,
store food,water,seeds and items to defend yourself with.

originally posted by: mamabeth

originally posted by: olaru12
My relatives in Texas are convinced the bad weather is because of Obama's and Hillarys sins against God. They read it in Revelations.

You are partially right even though you were being sarcastic.
We are in the end times and things are going to get worse.The
best prepping anyone can do is by starting to read the Bible,
store food,water,seeds and items to defend yourself with.

What can the Bible do to save humanity? Humanity is what can save humanity...not a book written by egotistical maniacs calling for the demise of humanity.

a reply to: Edumakated

You'd be amazed at the number of people who don't know where our food comes from or what the animal even looks or sounds like...

You mean like the cashier that I had to tell the weird round fruit was a cantaloupe?

you know most of texas has their own separate power grid.......the republicans deregulated...and went cheap did not winterize their equipment putting lots of money in ted cruz's and other republicans pockets.....and at least 80% is coal and gas but there was the republcans claiming the new green deal is at fault and it hasn't even been voted on........ REPUBLICAN cruz tried to run to mexico abandoning his state of texas......while new york democrat alexandria ocasio ortez raised 2 million in a day for texas and she is there helping out.....and yet some how according to republicans we are hateful and don't care......this sure flies in the face of THAT LIE

originally posted by: autopat51
a reply to: xuenchen
the "greenies" did it!

Well, after reading all the replies, I'd like to offer my theory about what went wrong in Texas, why (I think) it went wrong, and how it can be prevented in the future. Be advised, my response here may not be what you expect...at all!

Before I start though, I'd like to say I am more than a little surprised at many of the responses. Very few of them were what I expected. No need to go into detail about what I did expect as it will only distract from what I'm about to say now. Many people touched all around the edges of the real problem, but no one responder actually called it outright. And, how do I know what I'm about to say? Because I've seen it happen, right before my eyes in another state, my home state of Wyoming. Alaska as well. And, it's happening again too!

Here's what I think the problem was/is...and it should be a lesson to all of us, not just Texans. I certainly hope Texans are a little humbled by it, but then again we all should be.

The people of Texas fell into a trap. The trap? Politics. That, and ever thinking you can win against establishment bureaucracy in Washington DC. Texan bravado may have contributed, but any state is just as exposed. Oil is gold, and Texas is oil. It's not only about oil though; no, it's about any valuable commodity, service or industry in any given state. In any case, we'll use oil and Texas here. I think you'll quickly see how this could apply anywhere. So, let's dive in.

Oil is gold, and Texas is oil. The petroleum industry is the principle business in Texas...it's where the money is. And, when there's money the DC establishment crooks are not far behind. When they can't get their fingers into everyone's pie, they become obstructionists and throw roadblocks. When this happens major industries placate those obstructionists by caving in to some of their demands to make them go away and stay out of their hair. In Texas, as it relates to power, it was things like solar, wind and other green initiatives. So, while everyone was out working on the rigs, no one was watching the company store. In other words, while everyone was happily out working in a booming industry, no one was paying enough attention to things like the DC bureaucrats (through environmental threats, etc.) completely destabilizing the power distribution grid. The establishment bureaucrats didn't do this intentionally, they did it because THEY'RE A BUNCH OF BUMBLING, CROOKED, IDIOTS! Period.

With alternate sources of energy people became complacent, even utility companies. Power plants fell into disrepair, but there was no urgency because there were...alternate energy sources. What's one of the biggest risks associated with green energy like solar and wind? Extended weather events just like what has happened recently. BOOM...instant catastrophe! So, while there may have been alternate sources of energy, those sources aren't really considered reliable alternate sources (not from a utility perspective).

Imagine for a moment how much less of a disaster this whole event would have been in Texas if it were not for the power outage issue. Power would have stayed on and people would have had heat, and more importantly...water! Sure, it would have been cold, and the roads still would have sucked, but so what?

I could write a book on issues like this. I've seen it in Wyoming, Alaska, and more recently North Dakota. We all saw it in New Orleans, LA. When the big industries cave in to the greenies and allow the establishment bureaucrats to undermine their infrastructure, that infrastructure eventually fails. But who is to blame, is it just the industries? NO! No, it's not. Everyone is to blame. Why? Because they let it happen right under their noses, on their watch. Sure the petroleum industry is responsible, but so is are the power plants, and so are the planners, engineers and municiple managers. Ultimately, it's "the people" who allow these things to happen, the voters.

Texas is not unique. They were just in the wrong place at the right time. And every state, to a lesser or greater degree, is in exactly the same boat. Smokey the bear used to say..."Only YOU can prevent forest fires!" And what happened in Texas was akin to a forest fire, what should have been a minor brush fire event conflated itself into a massive catastrophe.

Just a final note...

I'd love to say we can point fingers at democrats for this problem, but unfortunately I can't. This problem is shared by ALL political parties of any power, and certainly BOTH blue and red. Only the people can prevent these things from happening in the future.

Need examples?

The Bush family dynasty (Texas)
Dick Cheney (Wyoming)
Obama
The Clintons
Al "Internet" Gore
...and too many others to list.

Multiple systems failed in different ways.

Up north pipes are buried 4ft deep for a reason. Houses are insulated for a reason. Pipes are NEVER in exterior walls for a reason. I'm now going to blame shoddy building codes for at least a portion of the misery.

Would like to rack off on people oblivious to where their water main shut off is but unfortunately too many nimrods up here are just as clueless about that one.
"a Texas" was bound to happen eventually. Next time it'll just be a different state.

a reply to: TortoiseKweek

Nope lol!
Or how we can find -20 C as a nice day when the suns out and no wind lol.

originally posted by: Flyingclaydisk
a reply to: KKLOCO

I could understand if people were bitchin' about not having water, but this doesn't seem to be what all the hullaballoo is about. In fact, I haven't seen one major report about that.

Besides, you figure out the water situation pretty quick.

I'm honestly floored that people are getting $10K+ electric bills for a few days usage. That should not be allowed and should not be legal.