Source: Solar helps Texas carry energy load as heatwave puts power grid to test | Environment | The Guardian As a deadly, record-breaking heatwave puts Texas’ grid to the test, renewable power sources are helping the state maintain energy reliability, contrary to some of the state’s lawmakers claims that clean energy is less reliable. Texas has for more than two weeks been blanketed by an oppressive heat dome, and federal forecasters say there is “no end in sight”. The sweltering temperatures have forced people to stay in their homes with their air conditioners cranked, causing energy demand to soar to record levels. An atypically large number of the state’s ageing, run-down coal and gas-fired power plants have failed amid the spikes. That’s especially troubling because as the only state in the continental US with its own grid – a decision made to avoid federal regulation – Texas can access very little power from other states. But even amid three-digit temperatures, the state has still managed to avoid rolling blackouts this month. A key reason, energy analysts say, is the state’s supply of solar power, which has doubled since early 2022. . . . It’s a fact that clashes with the narrative pushed by some Texas lawmakers who insist on blaming renewable energy for the grid’s vulnerability to outages. “There is a group of elected officials,” said Lewin, “that routinely trash renewables.” Bob Wilson
One would think that that Texas solar is no more or less reliable than the amount of battery storage used to capture surplus when surplus is created. Ironically, as much solar generatio as Texas has, it's less than 1/5 the amount compared to California. Best and worst states for solar industry growth | Choose Energy Yet CA is frequently in the news regarding their brownouts. .
Some of us suspect the California and Northeastern utilities have exceptionally poor engineering and management. Bob Wilson
More likely the bean counters are in charge. Idk how other states avoid them, but mass politics have a long history of criminal elements, our utility regulator is a joke
Enron always puzzled me. Couldn’t there have been a way to correct their accounting fraud without shutting down the whole company?
I don’t think so. Their whole business was passing power across grid boundaries and charging a toll. I don’t think they ever built a power line or gas pipe. Bob Wilson
Not when hidden debt comes to light and exceeds total assets. Also, at least back in the Enron days, Callifornia's half-"nice-person"-ed half-deregulation scheme was not at all conducive of good management practices to plan for supply to fully cover demand.
My understanding is false financial reports and officers using the company as their piggy bank was illegal. Just their business model attracted such grifters, Bob Wilson
It wasn't just some boring accounting fraud. Let's not forget the deliberate "maintenance" shutdowns of generating plants scheduled during peak loads, to cause shortages, wholesale price spikes, and blackouts (in which, if I remember right, there were fatalities).
Exactly. California's rolling blackouts started with Enron's poor plant management and deliberate manipulations. They folded due to "white collar crime". They also stole their employees 401 plans leaving most penniless while the executives were allowed to cash out.
I agree with all the above. It's like certain companies don't want the public to know just how much energy the sun gives out. I can tell you first hand that it gives out a hell of a lot. With my solar roof and back up batteries, I have lived off the energy that the sun provides for 2 years! The way our energy companies are currently structured, they would soon be out of business if most households and businesses did what I did. The initial cost per person is high, but the long term benefits are higher. I'm not knowledgeable about all the rules and regulations to go solar, but I can say in California, the rules for a while were favorable for communities to subscribe to solar. They changed them last year giving less benefits to the consumer. Its like no one wants to do the right thing. With the right backing, the solar industry could create thousands of new jobs while creating a benefit to our environment. Now while all locations on the earth aren't ideal for solar panels, why can't we build solar panel systems that orbit the earth and relay the energy to a station on the ground? I'm just thinking outside the box, but I tell you, it nearly floored me to see how much energy I get from the sun per day for free and how much my monthly utility bill used to be!
