Thread by @l___kent

(THREAD) As a Power Engineering student, I am appalled at what is happening right now with the #TexasPowerGrid. This is, quite literally, a catastrophic failure at ever single level—an Ice Storm of 1998 level of catastrophe.

Let me explain. /1

First off, lets talk about how the #TexasPowerGrid works. They’re the only state not part of the two national interconnections. This is because in 1935, The Federal Power Act came to be. The law gave the federal government authority to regulate power companies that engaged in /2

interstate commerce. Texas power companies (representing ~90% of modern day TX) agreed not to sell power outside of the state. That allowed them the ability to avoid federal regulation—regulations specifically designed to avoid current power issues. /2

cms.ferc.gov/sites/default/…

Next, we need to understand why the generators cannot generate power. Texas uses a combination of Natural Gas, Coal, Nuclear, Hydro, Wind and Solar. Due to the extreme cold, coal is freezing and they don't have the equipment to unfreeze the piles./4

Natural Gas lines are unable to keep pressurized due to lack of insulation & winterization. Nuclear Power plants are shutting down b/c the cooling ponds are freezing & don't have heaters, nor do the pipes that move the water have insulation tape. /5

bit.ly/37ohP5h

Wind Turbines in #Texas are freezing because they don't have "cold weather protection like antifreeze and heating elements within the turbine blades" that are required in places like Iowa and Denmark. /6

msn.com/en-us/news/us/…

Now you may ask, "Why can't Texas just get excess power from another state?"

Well b/c of the lack of major transmission lines (i.e. interstate interconnections), Texas is unable to do that.

This is the most frustrating part, because /7

The #TexasPowerGrid is 90% self-contained, they can't simply get power from other states. This is why all the states are connected, so the demand of the grid can be met.

Right now, acc to @ERCOT_ISO, Texas's electricity demand is FAR exceeding current generation capacity. /8

The #TexasPowerGrid is at a breaking point, & could collapse entirely. If it was simply a part of a national interconnection, w/ @FERC regulation, none of these problems would be occurring. But b/c the power companies prioritized profit over safety, people lives are at stake. /9

Here are the other sources referenced in the making of this thread:
ercot.com
bit.ly/2ZrbZvO
eia.gov/state/?sid=TX#…
bit.ly/2ZpwJE1
reut.rs/3dlYBkP

10/10