Re: Texas ERCOT power shortages (again) April 13

[Tom Beecher <beecher () beecher cc>]

Brian-

I am aware. That's also not relevant at all to the point.

On Wed, Apr 14, 2021 at 9:22 AM Brian Johnson <brian.johnson () netgeek us>
wrote:

> Tom,
>
> You do realize that ERCOT is a non-profit organization….
>
> On Apr 14, 2021, at 8:04 AM, Tom Beecher <beecher () beecher cc> wrote:
>
> > Funny how this obsession with a green grid has made the grid
> > unreliable, resulting in sales of gas-burning generators and
> > perishable fuel.  Dare I say it's not been worth it?
>
> Yes, desire for renewable power sources is totally the reason that power
> generators neglect proper preventative maintenance and adoption of lessons
> learned during past problem periods. It absolutely has nothing to do with
> profit being the most important thing ever. Right?
>
> On Wed, Apr 14, 2021 at 8:48 AM Mark Tinka <mark@tinka.africa> wrote:
>
> > On 4/14/21 13:35, Billy Croan wrote:
> >
> > > Sounds like we all need to start keeping a few days reserve of energy
> > > on hand at home now because the utilities can't be trusted to keep
> > > their system online in 2021.
> >
> > It just makes sense to plan along those lines, really. Despite popular
> > belief, power companies are preferring energy conservation from their
> > customers more than they do sales, because they just can't keep throwing
> > up new coal-fired or nuclear power stations a la the days of old (anyone
> > remember the 1973 and 1979 oil crises?)
> >
> > Most people would assume that power companies want to sell more
> > electricity so they can make more money, but they dread the days when
> > the network is brought to its knees, even if the revenue will climb. So
> > between asking customers to save more on energy + being able to rely
> > less on fossil fuels for generation, one needs to consider their
> > personal energy security over the long term, fully or partially
> > independent of the traditional grid.
> >
> >
> > > Funny how this obsession with a green grid has made the grid
> > > unreliable, resulting in sales of gas-burning generators and
> > > perishable fuel.  Dare I say it's not been worth it?
> >
> > I wouldn't say that the obsession is without merit. It's just that
> > regular folk are only seeking the solution from one perspective - that
> > of the power generators. If folk (and that includes the gubbermints) met
> > the power companies half way, renewables would make a lot more sense,
> > more quickly. But as I said before, when we flick the switch, it must
> > turn on. End of. And then we revert to demanding power companies to
> > embrace the additional revenue, or fulfill their mandate to deliver a
> > basic, life-sustaining utility, no matter what.
> >
> > Unfortunately, there really hasn't been sufficient education to regular
> > folk about what it takes to generate electricity reliably, no matter the
> > season. And yet, there is far more education out there about the
> > benefits of conserving it, and preserving the earth. So the view is not
> > balanced, and power companies as well as oil producers will knee-jerk to
> > either justify or distance themselves, rather than encourage a fair,
> > practical engagement. In the end, he that feels the most pressure,
> > caves... and this can go either way depending on which side of the
> > economic development curve you are sitting.
> >
> >
> > > Nuclear and hydro were the only reasonable obvious choices and
> > > ecological paralysis hamstrings those as well.
> >
> > Ultimately, no target toward zero emissions is complete without some
> > kind of nuclear and/or hydro. Especially as a solution for peak demand,
> > (pumped) hydro will continue to be the most efficient option, if folk
> > are interested in keeping the lights on at 7:45PM on a wintery Tuesday
> > night.
> >
> >
> > > Now is the time to speak the message.  Write your elected
> > > representatives. Talk to your families and friends about energy.
> > > Change minds.
> >
> > There is room for co-existence, I think. But the honest discussions need
> > to be had, and not the glossy wish list that should be fixed by someone
> > else, because we are just citizens minding our own business.
> >
> > Mark.