Homes and roads in Dallas, Texas covered in snow. The 2021 winter storm dropped temperatures as low as zero degrees. Isaac Murray / Moment / Getty Images
An independent market monitor says ERCOT, the Texas grid operator, left wholesale electricity prices at the legal maximum for two days longer than necessary, and overcharged power companies $16 billion in the process during the winter storm that caused massive grid and gas system failures and left more than 4 million Texans without electricity.
<p>Potomac Economics, the firm hired by the state to assess ERCOT's performance, recommended to regulators that the charges be reversed. The move could help alleviate stress on Texas power providers facing shortfalls, default, or bankruptcy following the massive price spikes. </p>
<p>The "error" and potential reversal could also have major implications for the Texas <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/wind">wind</a> energy industry. Due to the nature of the financial instruments used by Texas wind firms, those that were unable to produce power during the storm were forced to pay the legal maximum of $9,000 per megawatt hour (the average price in 2020 was $22.18) for four days. At that rate, wind companies could be forced into bankruptcy, owing their counterparties more than their entire wind farm is worth.</p>
<p>As reported by <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN2AW027?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=114297436&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--Lf6GquilmyjzmWP5NDaiFS7vFlRay4xhT3Tw1eKfKJJCA2BM0YzrHomC529bhrsEjK0h14PTm5SoPTMfwGJu86hULEw&utm_content=114297436&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Reuters</a>:</p><blockquote>ERCOT's disclosure of those firms behind on their bills "is perfectly fair game," said Patrick Woodson, chief executive of retail power marketer ATG Clean Energy, whose company is not on the list.</blockquote><blockquote>"I hope they will apply the same standards to identifying the market participants who made massive profits during this disaster," he said.</blockquote>
<p><strong>For a deeper dive:</strong><br/></p><p>ERCOT error: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-04/texas-watchdog-says-power-grid-operator-made-16-billion-error?sref=oUjKJw8m&utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=114297436&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-__ZWo08eT7siApBDxWei2SO5X_4Dbb9MyeahBGiA1uTHRahlo6Y5E7k-T5DJaedfDV3QcSnP8aVipwKh70KRa1_nSrOw&utm_content=114297436&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bloomberg</a>, <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2021/03/04/ercot-texas-electricity-16-billion/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=114297436&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-__w5zt0pzYPmO_go8tZ7nEA4OGTsXFBml-wM3WhvJ9wjSqwV92P00lp4_5D3gOZO7CU225jBqzfbnMo1HFSGWr13AEgA&utm_content=114297436&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Texas Tribune</a>, <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/541662-texas-grid-manager-responsible-for-16-billion-in-overcharges?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=114297436&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8yKXE5XkR2-7RNz9Y4FQO3Q2-HY_t1oVSnpfONgz_krWqfdXLIWqvoDvn840cF1TetHY1Df7uyn45n8bNo8p_6mcRaLw&utm_content=114297436&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Hill</a>, <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/ad2e7ce9-b769-4d57-b6ce-fd1d9123f87c?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=114297436&_hsenc=p2ANqtz---dbnzMgh9HYQ_9x0xkSNr4FVnXJLnCForZfX5M7bRfSzCsHGrXNJhc63cxGbRzNckfQICmY9afb2n6fhvsvzzv50sNQ&utm_content=114297436&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">FT</a>, <a href="https://login.politicopro.com/?redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fsubscriber.politicopro.com%2Farticle%2F2021%2F03%2Fwatchdog-texas-grid-operator-overcharged-16b-during-power-crisis-3987400%3Futm_campaign%3DHot%2520News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=114297436&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--z-oqFQ5PltKH46X7_AuHz-4u8es1sAhm87tDSuMgxyVQBeE1ndlCqEEOM2hNRo5hLZ4JZ70BoX_zSSq41B_wR3S9YQA&utm_content=114297436&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Politico Pro</a>; Power companies: <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN2AW027?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=114297436&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--Lf6GquilmyjzmWP5NDaiFS7vFlRay4xhT3Tw1eKfKJJCA2BM0YzrHomC529bhrsEjK0h14PTm5SoPTMfwGJu86hULEw&utm_content=114297436&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Reuters</a>; Wind industry: <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/wind-power-was-thriving-in-texas-then-came-the-freeze-11614871347?mod=hp_lista_pos1&utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=114297436&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--tLVbIB7cfcGoyUN8pThG7TtEV_yIiAC7n0d1V-LSsPY5ZCG2aYflYXZtN9osYAYgvTqrf86zvsbDiTvuFo50UcY-ORg&utm_content=114297436&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Wall Street Journal</a>; Climate Signals background: <a href="https://www.climatesignals.org/node/10081?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=114297436&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_74tp_PMuhwr-me_9SqzCg1KRZzvvq7WHb_MtcRJnihfJJcUKZBRBnAIUoY2dX0e5kd4PWXz-pBQe3UQUNq0av4ERH1Q&utm_content=114297436&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">February 2021 polar vortex breakdown and central U.S. winter storms</a></p><p><em>For more </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/climate-change-news/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>climate change</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/business/renewables/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>clean energy</em></a><em> news, you can follow Climate Nexus on </em><a href="https://twitter.com/ClimateNexus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Twitter</em></a><em> and </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ClimateNexus/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Facebook</em></a><em>, sign up for daily </em><a href="https://www.linktrack.live/hot-news-sign-up" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Hot News</em></a><em>, and visit their news site, </em><a href="https://nexusmedianews.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Nexus Media News</em></a><em>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
- Extreme Winter Storm Wreaks Havoc on Grid, Energy Markets ... ›
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A car is seen driving in the snow in Dallas in Feb. 2021. Matthew Rader / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
By Matt Casale
There were many lessons to be learned from Texas' prolonged periods of lost power during its cold snap, which saw temperatures drop into the single digits. But one many people may not recognize is that electric vehicles, or EVs, can be part of a smart resiliency plan — not only in the case of outages triggered by the cold but in other scenarios caused by extreme weather events, from fire-related blackouts in California to hurricane-hit power losses in Puerto Rico.
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTY4MzUzMC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0ODE5NDUyNX0.HsCUIOHci2bS-YOU-V6mfoODWVeCapEzr1YbNdFqnig/img.jpg?width=980" id="b6c31" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1af172a4964aad443c982a094d7c85d9" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1080" data-height="720" />
A car driving in the snow in Dallas, Feb. 2021. Matthew Rader / CC BY-SA 4.0
<p>Experts recognize that electric vehicles are a central climate solution for their role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. But EVs are also essentially batteries on wheels. You can store energy in those batteries, and if EVs are equipped with something called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle-to-grid" target="_blank">vehicle-to-grid</a> or vehicle-to-building technology, they can also be used to keep the lights on in emergencies. The technology allows the energy being stored in an EV battery to be pushed back into the grid or into buildings to provide power.</p><p>There are hurdles: The technology is still <a href="https://www.greenbiz.com/article/vehicle-grid-technology-revving" target="_blank">developing</a>, the vast majority of EVs currently on the road do not have this capability, and utilities would need regulatory approval before bringing it to scale. But done right it could be a great opportunity.</p><p>Electric car batteries can hold approximately <a href="https://www.wri.org/blog/2019/11/how-california-can-use-electric-vehicles-keep-lights" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">60 kilowatt hours (kWh)</a> of energy, enough to provide back-up power to an average U.S. household for two days. Larger electric vehicles like buses and trucks have even bigger batteries and can provide more power. The American company Proterra produces electric buses that can store <a href="https://www.proterra.com/press-release/proterra-launches-zx5-electric-bus/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">up to 660 kWh of energy</a>. Electric <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/electric-trash-trucks-are-coming-quietly-to-your-town-11602098620#:~:text=Electric%20trash%20truck%20love%20is%20in%20the%20air.&text=A's%20program%20to%20reduce%20carbon,being%20primarily%20electric%20by%202023." target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">garbage trucks</a> and even <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/19/business/electric-semi-trucks-big-rigs.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">big-rigs</a>, with bigger batteries, are becoming a reality too.</p><img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTY4MzUzNC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2NTM2MzEwNn0.KL9N8R5wSAaHQUpJVAFdUkc4DyNAV3ERQSP6vhAxj1c/img.jpg?width=980" id="a2215" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f089d78a004c8cb279189d1c3f068bf5" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="800" data-height="562" />
MTA New York City Transit / Marc A. Hermann / CC BY 2.0
<p>If equipped with vehicle-to-grid or vehicle-to-building technology, those cars, buses and trucks could prove invaluable during future blackouts. People could rely on their cars to power their houses. Municipalities, transit agencies and school districts could send out their fleets to the areas most in need. We could power homes, shelters and emergency response centers — and could keep people warm, healthy and comfortable until power could be restored.</p><p>But to add this great resiliency tool to our arsenal in times of extreme weather, we must significantly increase the number of EVs on the road. In 2019 electric cars accounted for only about <a href="https://www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/articles/fotw-1136-june-1-2020-plug-vehicle-sales-accounted-about-2-all-light-duty" target="_blank">2%</a> of all light-duty vehicle sales in the country. Electric buses and trucks are becoming more common in the United States, but still only represent a tiny fraction of the fleet. As it stands now, the EVs currently on the road, even if equipped with vehicle-to-grid technology, would do little to help a broad swath of the population in need of power.</p><img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTY4MzU0OC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzMDM3MjIxOX0.7YMrPnmM94g_wIhBA7irS7WeIeHQJQUhkZ30nEsWEFY/img.jpg?width=980" id="15537" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="abb30f1e8d614f5aa8bf4fb5c4c14f7f" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="799" data-height="533" />
A line of electric cars at charging stations. Andrew Bone / CC BY 2.0
<p>There are some signs that this is changing. <a href="https://www.gov.ca.gov/2020/09/23/governor-newsom-announces-california-will-phase-out-gasoline-powered-cars-drastically-reduce-demand-for-fossil-fuel-in-californias-fight-against-climate-change/" target="_blank">California</a> and <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/gasoline-car-sales-to-end-by-2035-in-massachusetts/" target="_blank">Massachusetts</a> have both announced intentions to explore a policy that would require all new cars after 2035 be electric. General Motors is the latest major automaker to announce an <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2021/01/28/general-motors-electric/" target="_blank">intention</a> to move toward producing only electric cars. Several major transit agencies, including in <a href="https://www.capmetro.org/electricbus#:~:text=CapMetro%20has%20purchased%20a%20total,and%20more%20riders%20per%20bus." target="_blank">Texas</a>, are starting to switch to all-electric buses.</p><p>But we must move faster. If we <a href="https://uspirg.org/feature/usp/electric-buses-america-0" target="_blank">electrified the nation's transit and school bus fleets</a> by 2030, for example, we could have more than 500,000 large mobile batteries available across the country.</p><p>To support widespread adoption of electric vehicles, we need to invest in the <a href="https://uspirg.org/reports/usp/plugging" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">charging infrastructure necessary</a> to accommodate explosive growth. We also need to make sure that as EV adoption increases, the vehicles and infrastructure are set up to use the power-transfer technology. Nissan already does this with its <a href="https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1127590_nissan-leaf-as-home-energy-device-wallbox-will-soon-enable-it-in-the-u-s" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Leaf-to-home</a> system. <a href="https://www.proterra.com/press-release/proterra-introduces-new-high-power-interoperable-ev-charging-technology/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Proterra</a> offers transit buses equipped with the technology. <a href="https://www.dominionenergy.com/our-stories/electric-school-buses" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Dominion Energy</a> in Virginia is working with school bus manufacturers to develop and operationalize a large-scale school bus vehicle-to-grid program.</p><p>To standardize the technology and make it accessible to everyone, utilities should seek regulatory approval to implement programs and invest in vehicle-to-grid capable infrastructure, and automakers should make it easy for consumers to install chargers that can send power both ways.</p><p>As that happens, governments at all levels should work to incorporate electric vehicles into their emergency response plans. Shelters, hospitals, emergency response centers and other buildings critical to crisis management should be equipped with the infrastructure necessary to pull power from EVs. Heavy-duty fleets like buses and trucks present particularly promising opportunities to provide power to people in need, but all the electric buses in the world won't do any good if we're not prepared to have them charged and ready to deploy to the areas that need them the most.</p><p>A <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/n7vyvk/texas-tesla-owners-are-drawing-power-from-their-cars-during-blackouts" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">few Tesla owners</a> in Texas were able to draw power from their cars to stay warm and keep the lights on this month, which is great. But this valuable resource shouldn't be limited to a few select people on a one-off basis. With more EVs on the road and careful planning and preparation, we could have millions of mobile batteries available to help keep the power on for <em>everyone</em> in emergencies.</p>
<p><em><a href="https://therevelator.org/author/casale/" target="_blank"><em>Matt Casale </em></a><em>is the transportation campaign director for U.S. PIRG, a nonprofit organization that advocates for the public interest and speaks out for a healthier, safer world in which we're freer to pursue our own individual well-being and the common good. Matt works on the local, state and federal levels to bring about policy changes that will reduce the need to drive, electrify buses and electrify cars — so the easiest, cheapest and most pleasant ways to travel are also the cleanest and healthiest. Matt lives in Boston with his wife and two daughters.</em></em></p><p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://therevelator.org/texas-blackouts-electric-vehicles/" target="_blank">The Revelator.</a></em></p>From Your Site Articles
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AdamRadosavljevic / Getty Images
A good backup generator can help you keep your home running smoothly, even in the event of a major power outage. And, when you choose a solar generator, you can power your home using clean, renewable energy from the sun. By contrast, gas and diesel generators burn fossil fuels, and are extremely loud and spew harmful emissions into the atmosphere. Here are the best solar power generators available today that can provide a cleaner alternative for home generators.
<h2>Our picks for the top solar generators</h2><p><em>Each product featured here has been independently selected by the writer. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.</em></p><ul class="ee-ul"><li>Best Overall - <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Inverter-Generator-Generators-Emergency/dp/B08MBDN4VK" target="_blank">Goal Zero Yeti 6000X</a></li><li>Best Portability - <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Renogy-Powerbox-Portable-Outdoor-1075WH-Generator/dp/B01N6BCDZD" target="_blank">Renogy Lycan Powerbox</a></li><li>Best for Camping - <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083KBKJ8Q/?tag=best-solar-generator-20" target="_blank">Jackery Explorer 1000</a></li><li>Most Affordable - <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Westinghouse-iGen600s-Portable-Generator-Lithium-ion/dp/B08SJ8JBBC/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&m=A2MDFVW08TGIW8&marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&qid=1614289724&s=merchant-items&sr=1-2" target="_blank">Westinghouse iGen600s</a></li><li>Fastest Charging- <a href="https://www.amazon.com/EF-ECOFLOW-Portable-Station-Generator/dp/B083FR3762" target="_blank">EcoFlow DELTA</a></li><li>Best for Larger Appliac - <a href="https://www.amazon.com/BLUETTI-Portable-Station-Generator-Emergency/dp/B08MZJW9Y5" target="_blank">MAXOAK Bluetti AC200P</a></li><li>Most Powerful - <a href="https://www.pointzeroenergy.com/product/titan-solar-generator/" target="_blank">Point Zero Energy Titan</a></li></ul><h2>How we reviewed the best solar generators</h2><p>There are a number of factors we considered when choosing which solar power generators to recommend, including:</p><ul class="ee-ul"><li><strong>Battery capacity.</strong> Battery storage capacity is an important ranking factor. A greater battery capacity means the generator can store more energy, which ultimately means it will last longer without requiring a recharge. This is measured in watt-hours (Wh).</li><li><strong>Power output. </strong>When your generator is up and running, it will put out a certain amount of energy, measured in watts. It's important to select a generator that offers enough watts for you to power your essential home appliances.</li><li><strong>Inverter rating. </strong>The <a href="https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/solar-energy-glossary#direct_current" target="_blank">inverter</a> is a critical part of any backup power generator. Basically, this is the component that turns solar energy into AC (alternating current) electricity. Inverter rating, along with battery capacity, determine how much power you can get from your home backup generator.</li><li><strong>Expandability. </strong>In order for your backup generator to function, you'll need some way of charging it. And if you plan to rely on solar energy, that means using solar panels. Expandability means that you can add solar panels to your generator as needed, making it easier to absorb more sunlight for energy.</li><li><strong>Number of outlets. </strong>How many devices or appliances do you need to charge? The functionality of your backup generator will be determined by how many outlets or ports are available.</li><li><strong>Price.</strong> Of course, as you look for the best home backup generator, one of the most crucial considerations of all is your budget. We've sought to emphasize generators that offer maximum value.</li></ul><p>Based on these criteria, we've determined the solar backup generators that offer the most consumer value.Check out our complete list of recommendations below. You can also read our complete review of the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/best-solar-energy-companies-2650809962.html" target="_blank">best solar energy companies</a> for rooftop home solar systems.</p><h2>The best solar energy generators</h2>
<h2>How does a solar generator work?</h2><p>Solar generators <a href="https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/how-does-solar-work" target="_blank">capture energy from the sun</a> using photovoltaic solar panels, and store it in a built-in battery. Note that in order to absorb the sun's energy, your portable generator will need solar panels. These are typically sold separately, or as a package with the unit, so you'll need to factor in this additional cost. Solar panels contain solar cells, which are typically made of monocrystalline or polycrystalline silicone that acts as a semiconductor.</p><p>Once the sun's energy is stored in the battery, it is converted into AC energy. This happens via a component known as an inverter. AC power is required for most of your household appliances, as well as for charging devices like your phone, laptop, or tablet that normally require a wall charger or AC outlet.</p><h2>Can a solar generator power my whole house?</h2><p>Generally speaking, a rechargeable solar generator won't be able to power your entire house if you lose power. With that said, even a smaller generator can be used to power key devices or appliances, sometimes for days at a time depending on its power consumption. For instance, you can keep your refrigerator up and running, and/or ensure plenty of sustained use for medical devices, like CPAP machines.</p><p>With an especially robust generator, you may also be able to connect to core circuits, running multiple appliances at one time.</p><p>So, while having an emergency power supply from a solar generator may not mean that you can go about your life just like you would normally, you can at least keep the lights on at home, run your air conditioner, or ensure your perishable food items remain fresh until your electricity comes back on.</p><h2>What are the benefits of a solar generator?</h2><p>There are a number of advantages you can anticipate from an emergency generator, especially when you choose to go solar. Consider:</p><p><strong>You can minimize the disruption of a power outage.</strong></p><p>Again, inclement weather can cause power outages that last for hours, sometimes even days. During that time, you can use a backup generator to keep your essential appliances and devices up and running. This level of preparedness can offer ample peace of mind.</p><p><strong>Solar generators offer a clean alternative to other energy sources.</strong></p><p>Most generators are powered by fossil fuels, which means they emit a lot of noxious emissions. If you want a clean power source and a minimal environmental footprint, these solar solutions are just the ticket. They are also much quieter than traditional gas or diesel generators.</p><p><strong>They can be very cost-effective in the long run.</strong></p><p>While the initial purchase price of a solar generator may seem steep, keep in mind that sunlight is free. You don't have to worry about buying fuel or any additional expenses associated with your solar unit.</p><h2>Find the solar generator that's best for you</h2><p>Disaster preparedness begins by identifying a reliable power source, and if you want that power source to be clean and renewable, solar generators are ideal. Take a moment to explore the options and find the generator that's right for you.</p><p><em><strong>Josh Hurst </strong></em><em>is a journalist, critic, and essayist. He lives in Knoxville, TN, with his wife and three sons. His writing on natural health, nutrition, and supplements has appeared in Health, Shape, and Remedy Review.</em></p>
Goal Zero Yeti 6000X
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTc5OTIxMS9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY3NDY0MTU0MH0.DESPf736lfPascaXVa9R6mJQNSv5sI8U8yB4gu1tDmM/img.png?width=980" id="534d0" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="832f91baeadf06dc4410b8261cf7ef4a" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="400" data-height="400" />Goal Zero
<p>The <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Inverter-Generator-Generators-Emergency/dp/B08MBDN4VK" target="_blank">Yeti 6000X</a> is actually a portable power station that can be used for off-grid camping or powering an RV. With 6,000 watt-hours and two 2000W AC charger ports, it will give you plenty of power for your home. With a home integration kit, it's easy to use the Goal Zero Yeti 6000X to power essential circuits.</p><p><strong>Why buy: </strong>Though it isn't exactly cheap, the Yeti 6000X power station is a great all-purpose backup generator, including a top-of-the-line charge controller and two robust AC outlets that make it easy for you to keep your household essentials up and running. It can even power a full-size refrigerator or microwave.</p>
$5000
Renogy Lycan Powerbox
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTc5OTIwMS9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2MTM3NjI1N30.EDSdmpiGcknKhn94YhJLnyJUEn3zxWo9vGzmT2c4Zcs/img.png?width=980" id="0cab1" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c5c9cd60d3ab98503fd3ad5e32909229" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="400" data-height="400" />Renogy
<p>Renogy produces several different power stations and chargers, but we especially like the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Renogy-Powerbox-Portable-Outdoor-1075WH-Generator/dp/B01N6BCDZD" target="_blank">Lycan Powerbox</a>, a solar power solution that's only a little bit bigger than a suitcase. It comes with an easy-grip handle and heavy-duty wheels, making it one of the most portable solar generators around while still offering 1200W of output, which is enough power for most electronic devices and some appliances.</p><p><strong>Why buy:</strong> The Lycan Powerbox can provide 1075 watt-hours of continuous power without the noise or fumes associated with gas generators. It offers great portability and includes an LCD display and easy, intuitive controls that allow you to switch between DC power and AC power as needed, as well USB ports and 12 volt car charger ports.</p>
$1300
Jackery Explorer 1000
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTc5OTE3NS9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzMTA3MDIwNX0.bTHIOQjgpXbREPl1C9qHAtcXkJ-uKXhWfNZYoD-bjjA/img.png?width=980" id="e2b71" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c5f59c32bc198c9ea57ac1c35a25ec4b" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="400" data-height="400" />Jackery
<p>The <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083KBKJ8Q/?tag=best-solar-generator-20" target="_blank">Jackery Explorer 1000 portable power station</a> is one of the best all-around options, equally suited for outdoor activities and for emergency power readiness. Though it's rated for 1,000 watts, it can actually get closer to 2,000. The lithium battery pack offers a capacity of 1,200 watt-hours, and Jackery's professional MPPT technology makes it easy to get your unit fully charged in a relatively short span of time (usually just eight hours if you have two panels going).</p><p><strong>Why buy: </strong>Jackery is one of the leading names in outdoor equipment and in clean energy products. This portable power station is a great pick for campers and can also be a very effective home backup power solution for small appliances and electronics thanks to its pure sine wave inverter AC outlets.</p>
$1000
Westinghouse iGen600s
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTc5OTE2OC9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0Nzg2OTg0Nn0.gQOrdLgsS7ZBw5ccrVoCXHqYvZ5JZIOA282ltOO8kHY/img.png?width=980" id="f5e59" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="369df3dc290b5be3708f7e424b072f4e" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="400" data-height="400" />Westinghouse Outdoor Power
<p>Westinghouse is another company that specializes in solar powered generators, most of which are more ideally suited for camping trips. Their <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Westinghouse-iGen600s-Portable-Generator-Lithium-ion/dp/B08SJ8JBBC/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&m=A2MDFVW08TGIW8&marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&qid=1614289724&s=merchant-items&sr=1-2" target="_blank">iGen600s</a> portable generator, however, offers a wattage of up to 1,200 peak watts, which can certainly function as a decent emergency backup for certain household appliances and small devices.</p><p><strong>Why buy: </strong>For a portable yet still very versatile solar generator, Westinghouse is a company to keep on your list. The iGen600 power system can run a mini fridge for up to 42 hours or a CPAP machine for up to 46 hours thanks to its lithium-ion battery that offers 592 Watt-hours of energy and a long battery life.</p>
$499
EcoFlow DELTA
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTc5OTE2MC9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY3NzYzOTAxNn0.ZFdqRPZfKPd_vOGK8FEUVY_3git-ATlmAvKSqQk47aM/img.png?width=980" id="991f2" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="e60ae1ca24865db60be46fe486c9c8a9" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="400" data-height="400" />EcoFlow
<p>The <a href="https://www.amazon.com/EF-ECOFLOW-Portable-Station-Generator/dp/B083FR3762" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">EcoFlow DELTA power station</a> is a wonderfully rugged, dependable backup generator that can help meet your power needs during a blackout. For one thing, the charging time is incredible; you can potentially go from zero to 80 percent in under an hour with a wall outlet. Should you ever find yourself facing a power outage, this is an emergency energy solution you'll be really thankful for.</p><p><strong>Why buy:</strong> The DELTA station from EcoFlow offers a lot of value and usability; in particular, it has one of the fastest recharging times of any solar generator, which may be reason enough for you to choose it over the competitors. The DELTA unit offers 13 ports, meaning it's compatible with pretty much any device or appliance you could ever need to charge.</p>
$1399
MAXOAK Bluetti AC200P
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTc5OTE1MC9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0MDEzMjAwNn0.qU0EE--tgolDhaaU-EumYLOs_jtFd9L4SWvDhP4PySk/img.png?width=980" id="aa450" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="7eb54f1dd0974c5fe4a9920bdbfe98c1" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="400" data-height="400" />Bluetti
<p>For a heavy-duty emergency power solution, look no further than to MAXOAK, and particularly to a product called the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/BLUETTI-Portable-Station-Generator-Emergency/dp/B08MZJW9Y5" target="_blank">Bluetti AC200P</a>. With a 2000 Watt-hour capacity, this is one of the most robust solar generators you'll find anywhere.</p><p><strong>Why buy:</strong> MAXOAK's Bluetti AC200P is the one you're going to want for really heavy-duty home energy backup. With massive AC inverters that offer up to 4800W surge capacity, it can provide more than enough power to fuel all your most critical home appliances, even some HVAC units. Also note the two-year warranty, a generous consumer protection.</p>
$2000
Point Zero Energy Titan Solar Generator
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTc5OTEzMi9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0NjY5NzcwMH0.urU8n-Yghr4O-LzDr_nAath6k8XMFZrCGU5JISwbwp8/img.png?width=980" id="93ad7" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8526191ca3bffa4638b69e80d61809ce" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="400" data-height="349" />Point Zero Energy
<p><a href="https://www.pointzeroenergy.com/product/titan-solar-generator/" target="_blank">Point Zero Energy</a> is one of the foremost names in disaster preparedness, and when you take a look at their product specs, you'll see why. Their Titan model solar generator offers almost twice the storage of similarly priced units with a high-capacity 2,000-watt-hour battery capacity and 3,000 watt high-efficiency inverter.</p><p><strong>Why buy: </strong>On a purely technical level, this is the beefiest generator on our list, though of course, it's also one of the priciest. The unit is made with high-efficiency components, meaning it doesn't waste a lot of energy running the system; instead, it just supplies you with plenty of functional electricity when you need it the most.</p>
$2995
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Low-income Texans, especially those of color, disproportionately bore the burdens of the state's power grid failure that left them huddling for warmth, and dying, without heat in poorly insulated homes.
<p>Authorities across the state prioritized keeping electricity on for critical facilities like hospitals, meaning that the generally wealthier, and whiter, communities that shared those facilities' circuits also had power. This meant that those with limited resources to relocate or take shelter in a hotel were those most likely to lose their power, most likely to lose income from hourly-wage jobs, and least able to pay to replenish the food that spoiled in their refrigerators and freezers, never mind the cost of repairing burst water pipes. </p>
<p>Food shortages were also most pronounced in poor Black and Hispanic communities where food deserts are common. Communities of color and poorer communities are also frequently short-changed when it comes to post-disaster aid. "We continue to be the victims of social injustice, food injustice, systemic racism — all of it," Gloria Vera-Bedolla, a Latina community organizer, told Vox. Bera-Bedolla's neighborhood on the <a href="https://twitter.com/TerriG_KVUE/status/1361505736749166594?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1361505736749166594%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2Fnation%2F2021%2F02%2F20%2Ftexas-ice-storm-blackouts-minorities-hardest-hit-recovery%2F4507638001%2F&utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112509857&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8mKpchj-pL0w3dc2sQh0XkVLdKRbZ10NToWsP0NEwqHcsbCd-yqAfBK56Xz9Hq2PyLEAhgq0ZQ857BzNd0ef4n7agm6g&utm_content=112509857&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">east sid</a><a href="https://newsletter.climatenexus.org/e2t/tc/VVmxB565Fc_gW6_XPR17VSkvWW5g6HvJ4npdmwN3hBC6D7m49QV5X_Kf7CgZG8W82cjNP2rDkpkW5QxJ5X5Y0NWrW16QdCD6kMg5mW8WhC2p4LP3c_W1gyHlH6HgJQ-W85dRC_8XznHfW3XM7DB6YvpfpW5XnPcp71czHSW6VlZzN2K215HW21ngRC87BxSdW5QhSvH3ssFVJN36fMlGXkrtGW7G1Wzz5bZ5dbW5cLrxd8LVMLhVqjwPf4GbL2VW8qdbG_70YPQRN2VFd9fX6lqpN6vV5HbvDvZTW6lc32h7qvnPPW3BfxN461YBxXN7Nbfn0K3CgDW6j6tLf1B1HD5W6jdYyq6CP98BW13gCh2803jJ2VnCd9f4LkRHNW8L9T2H2JLFQ6W76cVGQ44wH3zVBQqFw7qWG1yW2vDNsG8V9g57W4w5WmV5m1FNcW58NKs71p-GBqW5cctTw541Hh6W1dDj7K4GCbL4W5m3nNd6XCnccW6_Hzbh8hTr-9N2crqVv9r-JrW4kp9T55f9Jc-W3DMqcq3b9K-mW2trbHY1QP18VMFcj-d88sW6W7rlKwb3FHzCpW93l0Tb5PBrfrN7jxX-QxwDhmN4h4s8MgfX7JW5z4MTt1BH1r8W2SPrrL1qT6n9W63PnMZ4l1KmcW51F8-t7Z8Hw2VntSqW8M5fKFW5hz4Q_5r0-GsVTpmXR6SPTWdN8mnrmKJ_T-HN3Mpg8WbvhsZVhTd7Z2MFs2ZW54jv5P5GNkm9W6P26nJ6MGj9jVPLTQD6bbllXW2xhbZW7P3xWF3psq1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">e of I-35</a> is home to a vast share of Austin's Black and Hispanic populations. "We're fighting these systems that were not made for the success of Black and Brown people," she said. </p>
<p>As reported by the <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2021/02/19/Texas-winter-storm-suffering-inequities/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112509857&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9h_LoY4_xfQuEMDG__k6thifOJY3yXVIoX1k_ADNxzPZHOtOu4C0mCOG68RXQ3qMIpNjy3EVpz5uzMiLFJIqKCxCAzTQ&utm_content=112509857&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Texas Tribune</a>:</p><blockquote>In the days after widespread power outages roiled the state, community advocates and local leaders repeatedly drew the parallels between what they'd learned so far about the storm's toll on Texans of color and the pandemic's disproportionate devastation on mostly Black and Hispanic communities. Even as more than half of the deaths due to COVID-19 have been Black or Hispanic people, advocates have reported that these communities <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2021/01/09/texas-coronavirus-vaccine-racial-inequality/?_ga=2.160355901.1070494848.1613488591-2120297488.1589483561" target="_blank">have fallen behind in the vaccination efforts</a>.</blockquote><blockquote>"We know that historically the communities that are marginalized tend to be the ones that are hit the hardest, whether we talk about COVID-19 or power outages," said Jaime Resendez, a city council member who represents the predominantly Hispanic southeast portion of Dallas. "If history serves as a guide, these communities could also be the last ones to get the attention and service that they need.</blockquote>
<p><strong>For a deeper dive:</strong><br/></p><p><a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2021/02/19/Texas-winter-storm-suffering-inequities/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112509857&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9h_LoY4_xfQuEMDG__k6thifOJY3yXVIoX1k_ADNxzPZHOtOu4C0mCOG68RXQ3qMIpNjy3EVpz5uzMiLFJIqKCxCAzTQ&utm_content=112509857&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Texas Tribune</a>, <a href="https://www.vox.com/identities/22292513/texas-storm-freeze-minority-community-austin?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112509857&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9KaNrqrrazqvmmxli_fGPI5Yi23wQaNHARDay58TsMiNvPpGP16ssON0aH735T1HLCELlMO1bRqI_scUySzpnz3JGTDQ&utm_content=112509857&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Vox</a>, <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/02/20/texas-ice-storm-blackouts-minorities-hardest-hit-recovery/4507638001/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112509857&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9xih6USCsQSa4IXIKq8ydIQX2oEjBa8WOYMEAcgYpP-yd2mU_sXkpn_bZPsXbGgV2cgH4iiXH9Xu2OOzVNekWcjYgHHg&utm_content=112509857&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">USA Today</a>, <a href="https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/Freeze-adds-another-layer-of-woe-for-struggling-15967873.php?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112509857&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9jZHMeH-gC2pqBLSGeIPz0Dvkch_CVAh-Fwi-U4tuurCY2zM0snHRmsJ16ytq5853Q8v4x17NlXw50S2GZZapgFdM65Q&utm_content=112509857&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Houston Chronicle</a>, <a href="https://www.eenews.net/energywire/2021/02/23/stories/1063725725?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=112509857&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--XzbIxfL6aU0mOlTxOLzThOt0wOMudPbhKJBUgyrDVyVuvLLcWwJas1eN4ZwPU2dITawBAN5TVhvvzLodtpItcCYRNoA&utm_content=112509857&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">E&E</a></p><p><em>For more </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/climate-change-news/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>climate change</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/business/renewables/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>clean energy</em></a><em> news, you can follow Climate Nexus on </em><a href="https://twitter.com/ClimateNexus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Twitter</em></a><em> and </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ClimateNexus/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Facebook</em></a><em>, sign up for daily </em><a href="https://www.linktrack.live/hot-news-sign-up" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Hot News</em></a><em>, and visit their news site, </em><a href="https://nexusmedianews.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Nexus Media News</em></a><em>.</em></p>
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Icicles hang off the State Highway 195 sign on February 18, 2021 in Killeen, Texas following winter storm Uri, which has brought historic cold weather and power outages. Joe Raedle / Getty Images
By Jessica Corbett
While millions of Texans on Monday continued living without safe drinking water and many faced storm damage and massive electricity bills, youth leaders with the Sunrise Movement rallied at the state capitol in Austin, using the current conditions across the Lone Star State to bolster their demand for a Green New Deal.
<p>"Texas is the perfect example of what happens when our politicians cater to fossil fuel executives instead of the young people who have been shouting from the rooftops for years, warning of an impending climate emergency like this," said Sunrise leader Chante Davis in a statement ahead of the rally.</p><p>The Houston teenager's family moved to Texas in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.</p><p>"I've survived three once-in-a lifetime storms in my 17 years of life," Davis said. "We need change, and the Green New Deal is the obvious, urgent solution. As our communities come together to fill the void of our government, our leaders must invest in us to provide jobs that directly address the crises we face."</p><p>The group has been a key proponent of the Green New Deal resolution <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/02/07/major-party-backing-ocasio-cortez-and-markey-unveil-green-new-deal-outlining-wwii" target="_blank">introduced</a> in 2019 by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.).</p>
<div id="33fe2" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="20d635a68d8c6c0e2ee0e9ba14e3bf69"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1363901146478219266" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">[email protected] at the Texas Capitol this morning to confront state and country leaders about last week’s snow storm… https://t.co/kokBBRZoNA</div> — Hannah Falcon (@Hannah Falcon)<a href="https://twitter.com/hannahfalcon_/statuses/1363901146478219266">1614014348.0</a></blockquote></div>
<div id="5f790" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="94bf16b155a9b5ee079ce2b230981e54"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1363909975597285382" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">And the state has the fucking gall right now to put troopers with ARs out on the capitol grounds to intimidate us.… https://t.co/WFUZcKDcKl</div> — EmGe (@EmGe)<a href="https://twitter.com/em_magining/statuses/1363909975597285382">1614016453.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>Last week's <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/02/19/fossil-fuel-exec-brags-hitting-jackpot-natural-gas-prices-surge-amid-deadly-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">deadly</a> winter weather, which experts have <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/02/17/role-climate-crisis-cant-be-hand-waved-away-scientists-say-freezing-texas-linked" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">linked</a> to human-caused climate change, led to <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/02/17/he-lying-people-are-dying-calls-texas-governor-resign-he-blames-power-outages-wind" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">major power </a>outages across Texas—the only state that mostly relies on its own electricity grid. Some Republicans, including Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, tried to blame renewable energy and warn of the not-yet-implemented Green New Deal, but the outages were largely tied to fossil fuel and nuclear facilities. Though much of the state now has power again, Texans are still dealing with water and food issues.</p><p>Concerns are also <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/02/21/no-safe-amount-environmentalists-sound-alarm-over-texas-refineries-release-hundreds" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">mounting</a> over the hundreds of thousands of pounds of pollutants—including benzene, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, and sulfur dioxide—that Texas oil refineries released while scrambling to shut down during the storm.</p><p>Climate campaigners within and beyond Texas have responded to the state's cascading crises by <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/02/18/forget-ted-cruz-whats-really-missing-texas-green-new-deal" target="_blank">ramping up</a> their calls for a Green New Deal, which would create millions of jobs by transitioning the nation to 100% clean power while launching a WWII-style mobilization to build "resiliency against climate change-related disasters."</p>
<div id="580d0" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="87ca15ef9a8a31b909d0919db56fa761"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1362528807073234948" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">We know that when our lights go out, there are neighborhoods like @GovAbbott’s whose don’t. The rest of us? We com… https://t.co/EwTZ4kA2Zh</div> — Sunrise Movement 🌅 (@Sunrise Movement 🌅)<a href="https://twitter.com/sunrisemvmt/statuses/1362528807073234948">1613687156.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>In a <a href="https://secure.everyaction.com/8GnCQBZjI0S6EweMDre84A2" target="_blank">petition</a> open for signatures from Texas residents, Sunrise lays out four key demands—including the resignation of Abbott and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who came <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/ted-cruz-accused-flying-cancun-texas-power-outages-photo-goes-viral-1570118" target="_blank">under fire</a> last week for fleeing to Cancún for a vacation as his constituents <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/02/18/blood-abbotts-hands-anger-gop-leaders-surges-food-water-shortages-compound-texas" target="_blank">endured</a> the fallout from the storm during the coronavirus pandemic:</p><ul><li>Direct, Immediate Relief: We need cancelled utility bills, direct cash assistance of $2,000/month, a rent freeze, and specific support for our most marginalized community members.</li><li>A 100% Renewable, Resilient Energy System and Good Jobs to Build It: A public, well-regulated power system to make our state and country more resilient to future disasters and create good union jobs for our communities.</li><li>Joe Biden must come to Texas. Where Texas' leaders have failed us, the president of the United States has an opportunity to lead. He must come to Texas and help the suffering, and use this moment to take urgent action on the climate crisis and build the resilient power system of the future.</li><li>The resignation of Greg Abbott and Ted Cruz. Gov. Abbott and Sen. Cruz have neglected their duty as public servants in the midst of this humanitarian crisis and must step down immediately. They are unfit to serve.</li></ul><p>Journalist and environmentalist Naomi Klein on Monday noted Cruz's attempted defense of the trip in a tweet promoting the Sunrise rally:</p>
<div id="8bcef" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c7186a458462e9d1332cd150cf23d73e"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1363902295344226304" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Ted Cruz says he went to Mexico to be a "good parent." That was BS, as we all know. The way to be a good parent (or… https://t.co/uWZWdCgsbe</div> — Naomi Klein (@Naomi Klein)<a href="https://twitter.com/NaomiAKlein/statuses/1363902295344226304">1614014621.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Klein—author of <a href="https://inthesetimes.com/article/this-changes-everything-naomi-klein-lessons" target="_blank"><em>This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs the Climate</em></a> and other books—<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/02/22/republicans-fear-green-new-deal-argues-naomi-klein-because-its-viable-alternative" target="_blank">argued</a> in a Sunday column for the <em>New York Times</em> that Republicans "fear" the Green New Deal because it offers a viable alternative to "the collapse of a 40-year experiment in free-market fundamentalism" that Texans are now enduring.</p><p>"The horrors currently unfolding in Texas expose both the reality of the climate crisis and the extreme vulnerability of fossil fuel infrastructure in the face of that crisis," Klein wrote. "So of course the Green New Deal finds itself under fierce attack. Because for the first time in a long time, Republicans face the very thing that they claim to revere but never actually wanted: competition—in the battle of ideas."</p>
<div id="d2af4" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="07057c3270fc8f809f160c8a4aeff329"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1363531126426398721" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">I wrote about why Texas Republicans are terrified of the #GreenNewDeal for @nytimes. Their ideas are no longer "l… https://t.co/RWDDJhCeua</div> — Naomi Klein (@Naomi Klein)<a href="https://twitter.com/NaomiAKlein/statuses/1363531126426398721">1613926128.0</a></blockquote></div><p> In a statement last week <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/02/17/demanding-gov-abbotts-resignation-sunrise-movement-says-texas-crisis-shows-urgent" target="_blank">calling on</a> Abbott to resign over his handling of the storm and his lies about the power outages on <em>Fox News</em>, Sunrise digital director Paris Moran declared that "we deserve a government that addresses our basic needs and protects all of us in moments of crisis."</p><p>"Despite the lies you'll hear from Gov. Abbott on <em>Fox News</em>, that's truly what the Green New Deal is all about," said Moran, whose family in Texas lost electricity, had food go bad, and lacked consistent running water. "We must come together and rebuild an era of prosperity through the Decade of the Green New Deal."</p>
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How the Texas Electricity System Produced Low-Cost Power but Left Residents Out in the Cold
19 February
Insights + Opinion
A homeless camp under a bridge on I-35 in Austin, Texas on Feb. 17, 2021 as millions of Texans were still without water and electric during winter storms. Montinique Monroe / Getty Images
By Theodore J. Kury
Americans often take electricity for granted – until the lights go out. The recent cold wave and storm in Texas have placed considerable focus on the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT, the nonprofit corporation that manages the flow of electricity to more than 26 million Texans. Together, ERCOT and similar organizations manage about 60% of the U.S. power supply.
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<p>From my research on the <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=yxN_35oAAAAJ&hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">structure of the U.S. electricity industry</a>, I know that rules set by entities like ERCOT have major effects on Americans' energy choices. The current power crunch in Texas and other affected states highlights the delicate balancing act that's involved in providing safe, reliable electricity service at fair, reasonable rates. It also shows how arcane features of energy markets can have big effects at critical moments.</p>
<h3>Let There Be Light</h3><p>The <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/88630/empires-of-light-by-jill-jonnes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">electric age</a> began in 1882 when the Edison Illuminating Company sent power over wires to 59 customers in lower Manhattan from its Pearl Street Generating Station. Edison was America's first investor-owned electric utility – a company that generated electricity, moved it over transmission lines and delivered it to individual customers.</p><p>The scope and scale of electric utilities grew rapidly from those humble beginnings, but this underlying, vertically integrated structure remained intact for more than 100 years. Each utility had a monopoly on serving customers in its area and reported to a <a href="https://www.naruc.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">public utility commission</a>, which told the company what rates it could charge.</p><p>Since the utilities knew more about their costs and abilities than anyone else, the burden was on regulators to decide whether the utility was operating efficiently. <a href="https://www.raponline.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/rap-lazar-electricityregulationintheus-guide-2011-03.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Regulators also determined</a> whether the costs that utilities proposed to pass on to customers – such as building new generating plants – were just and reasonable.</p>
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<h3>The Lines Get Tangled</h3><p>Things grew complicated in 1996 when the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued <a href="https://www.ferc.gov/industries-data/electric/industry-activities/open-access-transmission-tariff-oatt-reform/history-oatt-reform/order-no-888" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Order 888</a>, allowing states to restructure their electric power industries to promote more competition. Through the actions, or inaction, of individual state legislatures, the U.S. electricity market fractured.</p><p>Some states, primarily in the Southeast and the West, maintained the vertically integrated structure. The rest of the nation moved to a market structure in which generators compete to sell their electricity.</p><p>Regions created new independent organizations – known as independent system operators or regional transmission organizations – to regulate the flow of power on the grid. In these regions, generators compete to sell their electricity, and organizations called <a href="https://www.potomaceconomics.com/markets-monitored/ercot/" target="_blank">market monitors</a> make sure that generators follow the rules. This approach created power markets that prioritize generating electricity at the lowest possible price.</p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTY2NTQ0NS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1MDgzNjE1NH0.ewtJ5ZlBhPR9htZ8Y5ivm5EBFFe6atMMNFbRDOzPrbI/img.jpg?width=980" id="9b6b6" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6c8949c447265034b8a9829f1f89c403" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1200" data-height="774" />
In the Southeast, Southwest and Northwest U.S., traditional utilities generate electricity and deliver it to customers. Other regions, including Texas, have moved to competitive power markets run by Independent System Operators, or ISOs. FERC
<h3>An Imperative to Keep Prices Low</h3><p>What do these changes mean for electricity customers in regions with competitive power markets? The companies that deliver power over wires to homes and businesses still have to get their prices approved by regulators, but the system works differently for the businesses that generate that power.</p><p>Generators offer their electricity, typically at a particular price each hour, on exchanges run by market operators like ERCOT. Those operators figure out how much electricity is needed across the regions they serve and choose the lowest-cost bidders to supply it.</p><p>If a generating company is not selected, it loses the opportunity to sell its electricity during that hour. And selling power is how generators create revenue to pay for things like workers, power plants and fuel. This means that generators have an incentive to bid as low as possible and sell as much electricity as possible.</p><p>Generators in Texas are facing criticism now that they <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/02/16/ercot-texas-electric-grid-failure/" target="_blank">weren't prepared to operate in extremely cold temperatures</a>. But consider the challenges facing two Texas generators that are identical in every way, except that one decides to invest in winterization. That company will have higher costs than its competitor and may be forced to submit higher-priced offers in the market, potentially losing out on opportunities to sell its electricity.</p>
<div id="c2792" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="0322eb9acedc7416dc04356f6be3da2a"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1361346284230234112" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">ERCOT expected to get low capacity factors from wind and solar during winter peak demand. What it didn't expect is… https://t.co/WTn1btQgVx</div> — Daniel Cohan (@Daniel Cohan)<a href="https://twitter.com/cohan_ds/statuses/1361346284230234112">1613405221.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>In the long run, the company that winterizes may have a more difficult time staying in business. It would be better prepared for the conditions affecting Texas now, but it would operate at a competitive disadvantage under more normal conditions.</p><p>An international nonprofit regulator called the <a href="https://www.nerc.com/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">North American Reliability Corporation</a> conducts semi-annual reliability assessments for each North American region, but those assessments are only as good as the assumptions they're based on. If the assessment doesn't consider extreme events, then the regulator can't determine whether a power system is ready for them.</p><p>After an earlier cold wave in 2011 that led to power shortages, federal regulators identified options for winterizing the Texas power system – but ERCOT <a href="https://www.kxan.com/investigations/winter-preparedness-not-mandatory-at-texas-power-plants-and-generators-despite-2011-report/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">did not require energy companies to carry them out</a>. Other regions might value resilience differently. For example, ISO-New England launched a program in 2018 that compensates generators for <a href="https://vimeo.com/257500308" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">providing extra capacity when the system is strained</a>.</p><p>The power of a competitive generation market is that each generator gets to decide for itself what makes it sustainable in the long run. That's also a weakness of the market.</p>
<h3>What's Next for Texas?</h3><p>Once power is restored across Texas, state and federal policymakers will have to address several tough questions in order to make failures like this less likely.</p><p>First, does preparing the power system for severe storms represent value for electricity customers? What types of events should people be protected from? Who determines the scenarios that go into reliability assessments? Since consumers will pay the costs, they should also benefit.</p>
<p>Second, how should people pay for this resiliency? Costs could be assessed based on the number of kilowatt hours each household uses or charged as a flat fee per customer – an approach that could benefit heavy electricity users. Or they could be covered through new taxes. How will decision-makers respond a year from now, when the crisis has passed and people ask, "The weather is great and the system is doing fine, so why am I paying more for my electricity?"</p><p>Third, how does that money that consumers pay to improve the system translate into projects? Should it go directly to generators or into a fund that generating companies can draw on? Who would administer the fund? Who is ultimately responsible for implementing changes to the system and accountable if things don't improve?</p><p>Finally, how will these changes affect the market's central goal: inducing energy companies to provide power at the lowest cost?</p><p>Ultimately, <a href="https://theconversation.com/delinquent-electric-bills-from-the-pandemic-are-coming-due-who-will-pay-them-147970" target="_blank">the public pays the costs of electricity service</a>, either through higher rates or service interruptions during events like this week's Texas freeze. In my view, utilities, regulators, government officials and people like me who study them have a responsibility to ensure that people get the best value for their money.</p>
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<em>Theodore J. Kury is the director of energy studies at the University of Florida.<br/>
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<em>Disclosure statement: </em><em>Theodore Kury is the director of energy studies at the University of Florida's Public Utility Research Center, which is sponsored in part by the Florida electric and gas utilities and the Florida Public Service Commission, none of which has editorial control of any of the content the Center produces.</em>
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<em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-the-texas-electricity-system-produced-low-cost-power-but-left-residents-out-in-the-cold-155527" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.</em>
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People wait in long lines at an H-E-B grocery store in Austin, Texas on February 17, 2021 as millions of Texans are still without water and power as winter storms continue. Montinique Monroe / Getty Images
As the death toll mounts, secondary effects of the Texas grid failure, driven primarily by the failure of gas, coal, and nuclear plants to handle the cold, are becoming apparent.
<p>At least 16 people are dead and 2.6 million Texas customers were without power as of Wednesday evening. </p><p>Gov. Greg Abbott said he did not know when power would be restored and state regulators said as much generation was falling off the grid as was being added on. Food is also becoming scarce as the storm disrupted food distribution systems. </p><p>Meanwhile nearly 12 million Texans, approximately 40% of the state's population and more than the entire population of Michigan, live in one of the state's 590 public water systems that have reported service disruptions. </p><p>That includes St. David's South Austin Medical Center, which as of Thursday morning still lacked heat because of low water pressure, an issue affecting "a number of other hospitals in the area," according to its CEO. </p><p>Houston residents were expected to be required to boil their water even after pressure is restored — hopefully late Thursday, though more bad weather is expected — and burst pipes caused flooding in Dallas.</p>
<p><strong>For a deeper dive:</strong></p><p>Death toll and outages: <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2021/02/17/greg-abbott-winter-storm/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=111754930&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8UiAUqPyWUX5ZM5wiD4PsxKekCmxF0hCRvmx9PQMMEIPSCQlweQN6XjWy-zTsvt-k84gJ7LX7WKCqF2T1ui4bBo0hwHIdDLGKzOMzShXxw5yGdiXM&utm_content=111754930&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Washington Post</a>; Thermal plant failures: <a href="https://www.dallasnews.com/news/weather/2021/02/17/no-frozen-wind-turbines-arent-the-main-culprit-for-texas-power-outages/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=111754930&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_GY8hfWwMfS5xr2kFVb5zDFrjZaRkGfif_2txK2sa95r9ETjGAZocmzAVuVNKFVT5C6yogHwoqzFglkXiCB1aaX4iZoUkSe1Q0ds5cpQqzZN34bLg&utm_content=111754930&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Dallas Morning News</a>, <a href="https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/energy/article/Perfect-storm-Energy-supply-chain-slashed-by-15955484.php?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=111754930&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9qVDFM54M-aBiF_ftCTdlfMgDp_cpayPqRR0rBBDNZZ4SLr9yBFqJxgdajJ_yxfn0lUE38u84y3WhcCECE1rUhyZ-G8IC-onCpAn0FQJvBVmHWsNs&utm_content=111754930&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Houston Chronicle</a>, <a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/02/17/968577281/what-went-wrong-with-the-electric-grid-in-texas?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=111754930&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8j1qRUxf7dI8FPjfhTutgL_1z8qawyJcP68GQYGQ6V_ht24cCsm3yVNgbOxnQzy_EtuE4qbDV7hvjFN305eV43QGrqqk02tsGZwKLqTeR9WoVlGlw&utm_content=111754930&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">NPR;</a> Unknown restoration timeline: <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2021/02/17/greg-abbott-winter-storm/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=111754930&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_ecfMndAEs9U6XfKtXV8JRu-xoppBQlac0SyEPfKIBzthQWCsPRWECVY817h_m3MpblLbrKMssYfbkLz7d3GWgxOFDsKNQorxTsdBMq7rbKxRx1TA&utm_content=111754930&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Texas Tribune</a>, <a href="https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/energy/article/ERCOT-Texas-weather-houses-without-power-winter-st-15956295.php?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=111754930&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_HbR2N7Pv8Cuh_PgiAbchrKxu0ef5LDPvKpfwY6pmXGc1PRfAzJ6gAZOlx7ypXllX5jTJhOJs6sA9pxJdIWYR9tlq8fwY9tFKUzAkYzp_HrAeECC0&utm_content=111754930&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Houston Chronicle</a>, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/100-million-americans-more-ice-snow-404012f8d8885259968b8d37b13899d6?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=111754930&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9JQxK71_klWStbztWkZ6JhyfPtr1L-la6JexWkNMqaKtYnLmym1dWj3ZCV7-JPWOzPFHWserT77mK8My9KtAfv7dmEBUyqPXbWAfImQwHWD4OcwTI&utm_content=111754930&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">AP</a>; Food shortages: <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2021/02/17/texas-food-supply-power-outage/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=111754930&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--7S8oDNkZ7Yll879mPcDFZB0wf4AA2aem7Ykxd-LqK7xiuiuv_MqsEs8cF0_w6eXuuTN2be6_rb6J77J3B9a7Il4_SGQSHOAWcmp55roBKpPZx15E&utm_content=111754930&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Texas Tribune</a>; Statewide water disruptions: <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2021/02/17/texas-water-boil-notices/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=111754930&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9VGjAX-ID1k2pwITAnm-YK_e7ldE_AV3sIjj2xCFzJsHEQ1ZCUkreiYk947zqM0gJ0bUuYiQM7Rkr-QF7TVJ4dP3lF2YTqpFHu-IP80WGhSTXuwWU&utm_content=111754930&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Texas Tribune</a>; Hospitals: <a href="https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2021/02/17/winter-weather-texas-st-davids-medical-center-austin-without-water-heat/6791735002/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=111754930&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9eJJvbYBR8vL9aLfTkaA_zg0-fg0Zm5YWn8hfUxN_p5qcc8Qthusa2lIyHEb5Ate_zpHUysFwtlgYbJDprHDs1nePS4Ow3Lk_462tW_gvAXL5RdYo&utm_content=111754930&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Austin American-Statesman</a>; Houston: <a href="https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-weather/article/Houston-under-boil-water-notice-due-to-dangerous-15956449.php?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=111754930&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8GAakIZjz-uP7bDGKBosvqb5UQsoeejR_cZTwZPnb2heMbeZ6Xb2YZrEL8HQIvA4W7_rpAiPCcGJl5UmcI2wrcFLlSRWPCsoTFIz3BsbkGpgefZbs&utm_content=111754930&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Houston Chronicle</a>; Dallas: <a href="https://www.dallasnews.com/news/weather/2021/02/18/dallas-fair-park-sees-flooding-significant-water-damage-after-frozen-pipe-bursts/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=111754930&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9oSBWeCwTKtEckf6zgkTruB7aFPG3SIpUrhWYNr_tML0dSV3-1PvBOKNn54VHLKCYVUJJdU56hy63Q_uEJpikTSqnmO9IWo2f4iKdAyZtGTuIELMQ&utm_content=111754930&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Dallas Morning News</a><br/></p><p><em>For more </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/climate-change-news/" target="_blank"><em>climate change</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/business/renewables/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>clean energy</em></a><em> news, you can follow Climate Nexus on </em><a href="https://twitter.com/ClimateNexus" target="_blank"><em>Twitter</em></a><em> and </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ClimateNexus/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Facebook</em></a><em>, sign up for daily </em><a href="https://www.linktrack.live/hot-news-sign-up" target="_blank"><em>Hot News</em></a><em>, and visit their news site, </em><a href="https://nexusmedianews.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Nexus Media News</em></a><em>. </em></p>From Your Site Articles
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Cold-stunned turtles on South Padre Island in Texas are being rescued during an extreme cold spell. Markus Masataka / Getty Images
The dramatic cold snap that devastated Texas's power grid also had a major impact on the state's nonhuman inhabitants.
<p>In particular, the freezing temperatures are <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/cold-stunned-endangered-sea-turtles-2649223286.html" target="_self">cold stunning</a> <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/endangered-species" target="_self">endangered</a> <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/sea-turtles" target="_self">sea turtles</a> — making them so cold that they lose the ability to swim or feed.</p><p>"You could put a cold-stunned turtle in a half an inch of water and they'd drown," Wendy Knight, executive director of <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/conservation" target="_self">conservation</a> nonprofit Sea Turtle Inc., told <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/17/us/sea-turtles-texas.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>.</p><p>Turtles can become cold stunned when temperatures fall below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, according to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/02/17/animals-texas-winter-storm-turtles/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>. But that is unusual for South Padre Island, a beach town at the southern tip of Texas where Sea Turtle Inc. is located. Usually, volunteers might rescue dozens to hundreds of cold-stunned turtles. But by Tuesday, the group wrote on Facebook that they were caring for more than 2,500 turtles. By late Tuesday, more than 3,500 turtles had been rescued and brought to the town's convention center, where they were being warmed in kiddie pools and tarps, The Washington Post reported.</p>
<div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c87ecbcf4da4d0862b45da74bd59aea0"><div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/SeaTurtleConservation/posts/5368924459814606"></div></div><p>The rescue involved a collective effort. Social media posts showed a retiree hauling turtles in the back of her car and Texas Game Wardens lining the deck of their ship with turtles.</p>
<div id="3d490" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8f68413eccafac89ed421ca127f450ca"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1361460058530308096" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">My mom is retired, & she spends her winters volunteering at a sea turtle rescue center in south Texas. The cold sna… https://t.co/91yz3BNAY6</div> — Lara (@Lara)<a href="https://twitter.com/lara_hand/statuses/1361460058530308096">1613432347.0</a></blockquote></div>
<div id="73055" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1f26ef4bafb29456ed9d70ec5f4edafe"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1361843910453063682" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Texas Game Wardens assigned to Cameron county rescued 141 sea turtles from the frigid waters of the Brownsville Shi… https://t.co/I9IFZwTqnl</div> — Texas Game Warden (@Texas Game Warden)<a href="https://twitter.com/TexasGameWarden/statuses/1361843910453063682">1613523864.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>"It is a huge, huge community effort," Gina McLellan, a 71-year-old retired professor and volunteer, told The Washington Post. "We very often don't even think about the [cold's] impact on <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/animals/" target="_self">animals</a>, because we're so worried about our own electricity and water. With this kind of event, it's a classic display of humanity toward animals."</p><p>However, the turtles currently face the same problem as people: a lack of power. Knight said that Sea Turtle Inc. is still in the dark. The convention center they are using as an overflow space has generators, but sick or injured animals need the heated tanks only their fully powered hospital can provide.</p><p>"All of these efforts will be in vain if we do not soon get power restored," Knight said in a Facebook video, reported <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/sea-turtles-rescued-texas_n_602ca837c5b66dfc101af66e" target="_blank">HuffPost</a>. "We need our power back on."</p><p>It is also unclear how many of the rescued turtles will ultimately recover, volunteers told The Washington Post. Knight told The New York Times that the cold-stunning event could impact the turtles' overall population. Five Texas sea turtle species are listed as threatened or endangered, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service.</p>
<p>The turtles aren't the only ones harmed by the cold spell. At least 23 people have died in the winter storm that froze the south and central U.S., <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/02/16/us/winter-storm-weather-live#winter-snow-storm-death-toll" target="_blank">The New York Times reported</a>. More than a dozen dogs were rescued from the cold near Houston, while one was found dead, according to The Washington Post. A chimpanzee, several lemurs and monkeys and many tropical birds died at an animal sanctuary near San Antonio after the facility lost power Monday morning, <a href="https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/Chimpanzee-monkeys-and-lemurs-are-dead-after-15954528.php" target="_blank">The San Antonio Express-News reported</a>.</p><p>The sanctuary, Primarily Primates, evacuated some of the animals Monday night, but could not save them all.</p><p>"I've never faced a decision like this," Executive Director Brooke Chavez told The San Antonio Express-News. "Having to decide who we can save, depending on the predictability of which animals we can catch."</p>
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Winter Storm Leaves Texans in the Cold and Dark, Sparking Political Debate on Renewable Energy
17 February
Politics
Some conservatives are blaming wind turbines for Texas' power grid failure following a severe winter storm. Orjan F. Ellingvag / Corbis / Getty Images
While Texans suffer from freezing temperatures and extensive power outages, frozen wind turbines are being used as a ploy to spread skepticism on the reliability of renewable energy.
<p>This week, a relentless <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/?s=extreme+weather" target="_blank">winter storm</a> pummeled through parts of the southern and central U.S., causing people to crank their electric heating systems. In Texas, the energy demand became too high for its electric grid, forcing the state to begin rolling blackouts on Monday, leaving more than four million Texans in the cold and dark, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/16/climate/texas-power-grid-failures.html" target="_blank">The New York Times reported</a>.</p><p>So far, analysts say the grid system failed due to high electricity demand, pushing grid operators into worst-case scenarios, The New York Times reported. Other causes for the failed grid included fuel shortages as gas-fired power plants went offline while demand increased, and frozen wind turbines.</p><p>Yet while some experts used the dire conditions to urge the state to adopt more climate-resilient energy systems, a few conservative commentators used the example of frozen wind turbines to encourage distrust of renewable energy systems in a state largely dependent on natural <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/oil-and-gas" target="_blank">gas</a>. </p><p>"Texas is frozen solid as folks are left w/ no power to stay safe & warm," Steve Daines, a Republican U.S. Senator from Montana, <a href="https://twitter.com/SteveDaines/status/1361711788493074432" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">tweeted Tuesday</a>. "This is a perfect example of the need for reliable energy sources like natural gas & coal." </p>
<div id="9b820" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="cdbcb237d30bb9f384ddd01ee0f0c9e0"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1361711788493074432" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Texas is frozen solid as folks are left w/ no power to stay safe & warm. This is a perfect example of the need fo… https://t.co/Tktn0F89t4</div> — Steve Daines (@Steve Daines)<a href="https://twitter.com/SteveDaines/statuses/1361711788493074432">1613492364.0</a></blockquote></div><p>According to The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which represents 90 percent of the state's electric load, wind turbine outages were responsible for less than 13 percent of Texas' lost generation. The majority of the power outages can instead be attributed to <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/coal" target="_blank">coal</a> and gas, a local news outlet <a href="https://www.kxan.com/news/texas/are-frozen-wind-turbines-to-blame-for-texas-power-outages/" target="_blank">reported</a>.</p><p>The Montana senator's tweet included a viral image of a helicopter spraying liquid to defrost a frozen wind turbine. According to the image's caption, fossil fuels powered the helicopter while the liquid it sprayed contained them. "Keep that in mind when thinking how 'green' windmills are," <a href="https://twitter.com/laurenboebert/status/1361664647661780992" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Rep. Lauren Boebert</a> from Colorado tweeted, gaining thousands of retweets, <a href="https://earther.gizmodo.com/viral-image-claiming-to-show-a-helicopter-de-icing-texa-1846279287" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Earther reported</a>. This same image has been <a href="https://twitter.com/lukelegate/status/1361149723072208896" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">shared</a> by Luke Legate, a prominent oil and gas consultant, Earther added, although it is misleading. </p><p>While helicopters are used to defrost wind turbines, the image is from Sweden in 2014, not present-day Texas, said Brian Kahn, managing editor of Earther. The photo is originally from a Swedish study on de-icing wind turbines using hot water. Now the image is being used "to argue against clean energy in the U.S," Kahn wrote. "It's a rather silly claim."</p><p>Wind turbines in Texas did indeed fail during the frigid winter temperatures, losing about 4.5 gigawatts of capacity according to The New York Times. But as of Monday afternoon, 26 of the 34 gigawatts of ERCOT's grid that went offline were from thermal sources such as gas and coal, <a href="https://newrepublic.com/article/161386/conservatives-wind-turbines-killing-people-texas-blackouts" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The New Republic reported</a>. </p>
<p>Cold temperatures are becoming less common due to<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/climate-change" target="_blank"> climate change.</a> But research suggests that as the Arctic warms, the jet stream will weaken, sending cold temperatures farther south, The New York Times reported. As a result, Texans are asking how their energy system can be more resilient to a changing climate.</p><p>Solutions include heaters that can help turbines operate in winter storms, on-site oil storage for gas plants and backup power plants for emergencies. These strategies could make Texas' electric grid more resilient to severe weather caused by climate change, The New York Times reported. But baseless skepticism toward renewable energy will not make the transition any easier. </p><p>"That type of work and serious conversations about how to end our grids' reliance on <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/fossil-fuels" target="_blank">fossil fuels </a>— which, just to be clear, are severely underperforming during the Texas blackout — are vital moving forward," Kahn wrote in Earther. "Misinformation and whataboutism to score lazy political points as a humanitarian emergency unfolds are not."</p>
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Polar Vortex Power Outages: 6 Things to Know About Supply, Demand, and Our Electricity Future
17 February
Climate
Pike Electric service trucks line up after a snow storm on February 16 in Fort Worth, Texas. Ron Jenkins /Getty Images
By John Rogers
The Polar Vortex hitting much of the US has wreaked havoc not just on roadways and airports, but also on our electricity systems, as plenty are experiencing first-hand right now. Households, institutions, and communities across the region — and friends and family members — have been hit by power outages, and all that comes with them.
<p>Here are six things to keep in mind as we make it through this.</p>
1. Restoring power (safely) is Job 1.
<p>First: Some things about all this we won't know until we have the benefit of a few days — or months — of hindsight, and data. But one thing we do know right now is that electricity, which we so often take for granted, is crucial to so many aspects of our lives.</p><p>For some, power outages are an inconvenience. For others, they're <a href="https://blog.ucsusa.org/julie-mcnamara/hurricane-irma-power-outage" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">life-threatening</a>. So keeping the power flowing, or getting it back up as quickly as possible, is key. Grid operators need to avoid affecting vulnerable populations and critical infrastructure as much as possible when they're implementing rolling blackouts, and need to prioritize them when they're restoring service.</p><p>While all confronting power outages or near misses are indebted to those working around the clock to keep things from getting worse, keeping crews safe is also key. Weather like this, combined with the ongoing pandemic, sure doesn't make for the easiest working conditions, so utilities and grid operators will need to use really solid judgement about where they can safely focus people, and when, for any needed repairs.</p>2. The power outages are about both supply and demand.
<p>Utilities and grid operators have been hit by the double whammies of unprecedented demand and big challenges on the supply side. On the demand side, for example, Texas on Valentine's Day <a href="https://twitter.com/ERCOT_ISO/status/1361142665140711427" target="_blank">shattered</a> its previous winter peak record by almost 5%. The peak was 11,000 MW above what ERCOT, Texas's electric grid operator, was projecting and planning for as of November — some 15-20 good-sized power plants' worth.</p><p>And on the supply side, power lines taken out by the weather are a piece of it, as you'd expect. But it also turns out that all kinds of power plants have gone offline, for a range of reasons. Take natural gas, for example:</p>3. Natural gas plants have been hit hard.
<p>Gas plants suffer from their own supply-and-demand issues. One piece of it is the fact that the same gas that supplies them is also needed for heating homes and businesses. And if a power plant doesn't have firm contracts to get gas when it needs it, the way gas utilities would, the power plant loses out. The laws of physics may also be coming into play, as any moisture in the gas lines succumbs to the extreme cold and gums up the works—valves, for instance.</p><p>And indeed, initial indications are that a lot of the lost capacity is natural gas-fired. Data from Southwest Power Pool (SPP), the grid operator for much of the Great Plains, <a href="https://marketplace.spp.org/pages/capacity-of-generation-on-outage#%2F2021%2F02" target="_blank">show</a> that 70% of its "outaged" megawatts (MW) were natural gas plants.</p><p>ERCOT, which is powered primarily by natural gas and wind, was <a href="http://www.ercot.com/news/releases/show/225210" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">warning</a> yesterday that "Extreme weather conditions caused many generating units — across fuel types — to trip offline and become unavailable." It <a href="https://twitter.com/Sonalcpatel/status/1361365934204674053" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">clarified</a> elsewhere, though, that the majority of the capacity it had lost overnight was "thermal generators, like generation fueled by gas, coal, or nuclear". In all, Texas was out <a href="https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/energy/article/Wholesale-power-prices-spiking-across-Texas-15951684.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">more than a third</a> of its total capacity.</p>4. Don’t think an “all of the above” strategy would have saved the day.
<p>As ERCOT's messages suggests, this isn't just a gas issue, and these last few days should in no way be fodder for the type of fact-free "all of the above" pushes <a href="https://blog.ucsusa.org/jeremy-richardson/rick-perry-rejects-facts-in-favor-of-coal-and-nuclear-bailouts" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">favored</a> by the prior administration.</p><p>For example, many power plants, including all nuclear plants, virtually all coal plants, and a lot of natural gas plants, depend on <a href="https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/water-power-plant-cooling" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">water to cool the steam</a> that drives the electricity-producing turbines. Any power plant dependent on cooling water will run into trouble if that cooling water is actually frozen solid. And they can have their own troubles with fuel availability during extreme cold.</p><p>(While we're on the subject of fossil fuels: Note that the extreme weather has also <a href="https://www.eenews.net/energywire/2021/02/16/stories/1063725119" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">hit oil production</a>, with the Permian basin, for example, down an estimated 1 million barrels a day.)</p>5. Wind turbines can be winterized (but Texas…?).
<p>Wind turbines aren't immune to extreme cold, and initial reports show that they, too, have been hit by this wave. In SPP, wind was the <a href="https://spp.org/newsroom/press-releases/spp-becomes-first-regional-grid-operator-with-wind-as-no-1-annual-fuel-source-considers-electric-storage-participation-in-markets-approves-2021-transmission-plan/" target="_blank">#1 source</a> of electricity last year, and initial data from yesterday suggested it accounted for almost a fifth of the capacity taken offline.</p><p>ERCOT also mentions wind turbines going offline; one source <a href="https://twitter.com/Sonalcpatel/status/1361357248988143620" target="_blank">suggests</a> 4,000 MW of wind was offline yesterday morning, compared with 26,000 MW of downed thermal capacity (mostly gas). Wind is ERCOT's second-largest supplier of power, accounting for 23% of its electricity last year (from a nation-leading <a href="https://cleanpower.org/resources/american-clean-power-market-report-q4-2020/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">33,000 MW</a>).</p><p>But wind farms going offline appears to be a <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/frozen-wind-farms-just-small-002954294.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">much smaller piece</a> of the picture than detractors will suggest. And wind power has played an important role in keeping the lights on in past extreme cold events (remember the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/wind-power-bomb-cyclone-2554824592.html" target="_self">Bomb Cyclone</a>?). They can also be at least partially winter-proofed — by hardening the control systems, using the right fluids, and de-icing the blades. But if you don't see weather like this coming…</p>6. We need to be ready for more extreme weather.
<p>And that's one of the lessons to learn from this episode, once we get beyond the immediacy of it all: Past performance is no indication of what's going to be coming at us. We know that climate change is bringing not just overall warming, but also <a href="https://ucsusa.org/resources/does-cold-weather-disprove-climate-change" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">more extremes at <em>both</em> ends</a>. We also know that there are all kinds of ways that <a href="https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/power-failure" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">climate change affects our ability to keep the lights on</a>.</p><p>So we need to be ready, or readier, for situations like this. And it turns out that there are <a href="https://blog.ucsusa.org/julie-mcnamara/noreaster-power-grid" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">a lot of ways</a> we can be. Stronger transmission links can <a href="https://mailchi.mp/acore/acore-statement-on-heartland-power-outages?e=a4ae549508" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">allow regions to back each other up</a> when they aren't all facing the same challenges at the same time. A diversity of (clean) power options can mean some might be available even when others aren't. (ERCOT anticipated yesterday morning being able to reconnect customers later that day in part because of "additional wind & solar output".)</p><p>We also <a href="https://blog.ucsusa.org/julie-mcnamara/one-way-to-boost-renewables-let-flexible-demand-lend-a-helping-hand" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">don't have to take electricity demand</a> as a fixed, can't-do-anything-about-it quantity. Utilities (including mine, a few days ago) called on customers to <a href="http://www.ercot.com/news/releases/show/225151" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">be as efficient as possible</a> to get us past the latest crunches. Programs put in place ahead of time can reward customers for delaying or shifting their electricity use.</p><p>And energy storage can be an important middleperson between supply and demand, from the large scale all the way down to battery packs in our garages and basements.</p>Getting through this, and beyond
<p>Right now, the task is getting the power back on. Longer term, the goal shouldn't be about ensuring 100% reliability (because of the prohibitive cost of removing that last fraction of a fraction of a possibility of a blackout), but to make them as infrequent and as limited in duration as possible. It should, though, be about making sure we make <a href="https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/lights-out" target="_blank">decisions</a> that serve us well in the short term and, in the face of climate change, in the long term.</p><p>Blackouts will happen; that doesn't mean we're powerless against them. The need is there, but so are the tools.</p><p><em><a href="https://blog.ucsusa.org/author/john-rogers" target="_blank">John Rogers</a> is a senior energy analyst with expertise in renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies and policies.</em></p><p><em>Reposted with permission from the <a href="https://blog.ucsusa.org/john-rogers/polar-vortex-power-outages-6-things-to-know-about-supply-demand-and-our-electricity-future" target="_blank">Union of Concerned Scientists</a>. </em></p>
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The growing Texas solar industry is offering jobs to unemployed oil and gas professionals. King Lawrence / Getty Images
The growing Texas solar industry is offering a safe harbor to unemployed oil and gas professionals amidst the latest oil and gas industry bust, this one brought on by the novel coronavirus pandemic, the Houston Chronicle reports.
<p>With the fracking sector in turmoil, many workers are looking to apply their skills — from construction to negotiating land use agreements — to the solar industry. </p><p>"No question, we are getting workers moving over from oil and gas," Kevin Smith, Lighthouse BP's CEO in the Americas, said. "A lot of the oil and gas skills are applicable to solar." </p><p>Renewables are the fastest-growing energy sector in the country and Texas' topography, climate, and grid make it an attractive market for solar energy. </p><p>"Clean energy is growing and growing fast in Texas... This is where the jobs are going to be and where the economy is heading," Raj Prahbu, CEO of the Austin-based research firm Mercom Capital Group, told the Chronicle. </p><p>"If you're not going to make the shift, you're going to be left behind."</p>
<p><strong>For a deeper dive:</strong><br/></p><p><a href="https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/energy/article/Solar-offered-out-of-work-oil-landmen-place-to-15886138.php?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=107659709&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--jGRDk_B6Ji8TgYYD-MiYVUNnHjTwLHlnNpLk6rmBmQFRGCUHSVTG82fadaE-2OlB8gfDMBmrml1xmlhwOKVNfEzz38NIXpkL088Kq9hB3TbYdl-E&utm_content=107659709&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Houston Chronicle</a><br/></p><p><em>For more </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/climate-change-news/" target="_blank"><em>climate change</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/business/renewables/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>clean energy</em></a><em> news, you can follow Climate Nexus on </em><a href="https://twitter.com/ClimateNexus" target="_blank"><em>Twitter</em></a><em> and </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ClimateNexus/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Facebook</em></a><em>, sign up for daily </em><a href="https://www.linktrack.live/hot-news-sign-up" target="_blank"><em>Hot News</em></a><em>, and visit their news site, </em><a href="https://nexusmedianews.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Nexus Media News</em></a><em>. </em></p>
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The Robert L.B. Tobin Land Bridge now connects Phil Hardberger Park across a six-lane highway in San Antonio, Texas. Phil Hardberger Park Conservancy
As the coronavirus pandemic has kept many people apart, two sides of a Texas park have finally come together.
<p>The Robert L.B. Tobin Land Bridge, which connects San Antonio's Phil Hardberger Park across a six-lane highway, opened Friday afternoon for people and <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/animals/https://www.ecowatch.com/animals/" target="_self">animals</a> alike. A project ten years in the making, the bridge is now the largest completed <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/wildlife" target="_self">wildlife</a> crossing of its kind in the U.S.</p><p>"For many years, the Robert L.B. Tobin Land Bridge was only a dream. Thanks to overwhelming community support of the 2017 Bond, the generosity of donors from across the city and the hard work and dedication of so many, the vision is now a reality," former San Antonio Mayor Phil Hardberger said in a City of San Antonio Parks and Recreation <a href="https://www.sanantonio.gov/ParksAndRec/News-Events/News-Press-Releases/Detail-Page/ArtMID/16253/ArticleID/19874/FORMER-SAN-ANTONIO-MAYOR-PHIL-HARDBERGER-INVITES-COMMUNITY-TO-ROBERT-LB-TOBIN-LAND-BRIDGE%E2%80%99S-OPENING-WEEKEND?Park=&Facility=" target="_blank">press release</a>. "I am honored to invite San Antonians to come experience the Land Bridge and hope it will offer them an escape from the stresses of this year — a place where they may spend time with family and friends and connect with the natural world."</p>
<div id="b951c" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="088c766b0e0286453ac231f3637b314e"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1337473525737787394" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">The Robert L.B. Tobin Land Bridge is united! The trail over the Land Bridge is now open! You are invited to come e… https://t.co/Stl7q6zgF0</div> — Phil Hardberger Park Conservancy (@Phil Hardberger Park Conservancy)<a href="https://twitter.com/hardbergerpark/statuses/1337473525737787394">1607713512.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p><br>The idea for the bridge first emerged in 2010, before the park had even opened, <a href="https://www.ksat.com/features/2020/12/10/hardberger-park-land-bridge-set-to-open-to-public-on-friday-afternoon/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">KSAT reported</a>. Park planners knew that the park would be bisected by Wurzbach Parkway, interrupting park goers' experience and putting animals at risk.<br></p><p>Hardberger, who was the leading official behind the idea for the bridge, said that animals would often try to cross the highway.</p><p>"Even though you do put up barriers, they'll get across or start to get across. Right now, it's six lanes, TxDOT says it will eventually be eight lanes," Hardberger told KSAT. "We've had some accidents between cars and deer especially, and some of the smaller animals as well."</p><p>The problem of animal and vehicle collisions is bigger than one park in Texas.</p>
<p>"Over the most recently reported 15-year period, wildlife-vehicle collisions have increased by 50 percent, with an estimated one to two million large animals killed by motorists every year," Rob Ament, Western Transportation Institute road ecology program manager, told <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2019/04/wildlife-overpasses-underpasses-make-animals-people-safer/" target="_blank">National Geographic in 2019</a>.</p><p>In the U.S., 21 threatened and endangered species face extinction partly because of traffic accidents, among them Florida's Key deer and Alabama's red-bellied turtles.</p><p>Wildlife crossings — either above or below roadways — have emerged as an effective solution to this problem ever since France constructed the first one in the 1950s.</p><p>"You can get reductions of 85 to 95 percent with crossings and fencing that guide animals under or over highways," Ament told National Geographic.</p>
<p>The San Antonio bridge is notable for its size and the fact that it accommodates people as well.</p><p>"The land bridge is 150 feet wide and approximately the same distance across," a parks department spokesperson told <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/wildlife-crossing-land-bridge-san-antonio-texas_n_5fcba979c5b6787f2a98517f" target="_blank">HuffPost</a>. "It's designed at that size to accommodate both people and animals, and we believe it is both the only and the largest built for this dual purpose."</p><p>Animals in the 330-acre park who could benefit from the bridge include ringtails, squirrels, coyotes, lizards, raccoons and deer. Construction crews already observed some of them making use of the bridge before its official opening, KSAT reported.</p><p>As of 1 p.m. Friday, people were able to enjoy it as well. It is now open sunrise to sunset, in keeping with park hours. In addition to safeguarding animals and providing new recreation opportunities, the bridge will serve as a habitat for native plants.</p>
<p>"The Land Bridge connects people with nature in the heart of San Antonio. I look forward to watching the landscape grow and mature with native trees and plants and observing wildlife through viewing blinds designed by local artists. The bridge is an amazing achievement," current San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said in the parks department press release.</p><p>Private donations and a 2017-2022 bond program approved by San Antonio voters helped fund the bridge, which cost $23 million, KSAT reported.</p><p>"The words that come to mind are unity, understanding, caring and a little bit of mystery to wonder what's on the other side of that bridge,' I think I'll walk across there, find out what's going on,'" Hardberger told KSAT. "I like all of those words that describe a bridge because it helps unite San Antonio, this is a common gathering place."</p>
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Soybean crops affected by a drought near Navasota, Texas on August 21, 2013. Bob Nichols / USDA / Smith Collection / Gado / Getty Images
By Keith Schneider
In many ways, the story of Texas over the last century is the state's devout allegiance to the principle that mankind has dominion over nature.
<p>The COVID-19 pandemic shut down that idea in 2020. By 11 October, nearly 800,000 people had been infected in Texas and over 16,000 died.</p><p>The sharp and irrepressible rise in virus cases and mortality adds to the intensifying view among Texans that far from living in a place distant from the vagaries of nature, Texas has become a national and global epicenter of natural calamity.</p><p>More people and businesses in Texas are in the way, as booming population and economic growth this century have written a much different story of vulnerability – to nature's bullying and to government's uncertain capacity to adjust. The state's principal <a href="https://texasstatewaterplan.org/statewide" target="_blank">water research agency projects that demand for fresh water</a> will increase dramatically by mid-century as supplies steadily drop, precipitating what looks like an inevitable supply crisis. In short, the second- largest American state and one of the world's largest economies looks a lot like China, India, Australia, South Africa and every other place in the world contending with the confrontation between diminishing water supply and increasing demand.</p><p><span></span>"Texas does not understand shortages," said Dr. Larry McKinney, one of the state's top water researchers and the former director of the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, a unit of Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi. "It's the Texas mentality. Texas is so big we've had a hard time coming to grips that resources are finite. We really never had to deal with that. Frankly, we're reaching that point."</p>
Rising Demand Confronts Lower Supplies
<p>There are a couple of ways to examine the coming hardship. The first is in numbers. The <a href="https://www.twdb.texas.gov/waterplanning/data/projections/index.asp" target="_blank">Texas Water Development Board found</a> that by 2070 the state's population will grow to 51 million people, 22 million more than today. The state's annual demand for water, the State Water Board projects, will climb to 21.6 million acre-feet (27 trillion liters), up from 18.4 million.</p><p>At the same time, a severe drought will bring increasing constraint. <a href="https://texasstatewaterplan.org/statewide" target="_blank">State authorities project</a> that in a drought comparable to the most severe on record, water supplies will fall over the next 50 years from 15.2 million acre-feet to 13.6 million acre-feet (17 trillion liters). During the driest periods, more people will have considerably less water.</p><p>Here's how that confrontation is playing out in the Hill Country, a region of rapid population growth and uncertain water supply west of Austin, Texas' capital city.</p><p>Two generations ago, about 40,000 people made their homes in Hays County, an epic, rural, rolling masterpiece of space and sky close to Austin and San Antonio. Authorities in Hays counted 14,000 homes that were supplied with water from the Trinity Aquifer, a giant freshwater reserve that lay below. <a href="https://www.circleofblue.org/2020/world/when-it-rains-texas-forgets-drought-and-worsening-water-scarcity/" target="_blank">In both wet years and dry, water was readily available</a>.</p><p>Four decades later, Hays County has grown to 222,000 residents and 75,000 housing units. The Trinity Aquifer is tapped out. Since 2003, a pipeline from Lake Travis, a reservoir near Austin, has provided developers with sufficient water to continue building big subdivisions.<br></p><p>But <a href="https://gato-docs.its.txstate.edu/jcr:04bd3fbb-54df-4be7-bd27-265778ff134f/Mitchell2014%20-%20updated.pdf" target="_blank">a study</a> by the Hill Country Alliance and the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University in San Marcos found that the piped water encouraged more drilling fo water wells into the aquifer. In one area, they found that pumping jumped from just over 3 million gallons annually to 90 million gallons (409 million liters).</p><p>The idea of the sanctity of economic expansion produces all manner of conflict and turmoil about water throughout Texas. The annual <a href="https://www.forbes.com/places/tx/" target="_blank">$1.89 trillion Texas economy,</a> the second-largest state economy and <a href="https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD?most_recent_value_desc=true" target="_blank">ninth-largest in the world</a>, is entirely dependent on access to adequate supplies of water.</p><p>The 2011 drought <a href="https://agrilifetoday.tamu.edu/2012/03/21/updated-2011-texas-agricultural-drought-losses-total-7-62-billion/#:~:text=Updated%202011%20Texas%20agricultural%20drought%20losses%20total%20%247.62%20billion,-March%2021%2C%202012&text=COLLEGE%20STATION%20%E2%80%93%20Texas%20agricultural%20losses,Texas%20AgriLife%20Extension%20Service%20economists." target="_blank">caused more than $7 billion in agricultural losses</a>, and indirect costs of $16.9 billion. From 1980 to 2018, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Texas also led all states, by far, in losses from severe storms and flooding. In 2017 alone, Hurricane Harvey, a Category 4 storm that stalled near Houston, caused <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2018/01/08/hurricane-harvey-was-years-costliest-us-disaster-125-billion-damages/" target="_blank">$125 billion in damages</a>.</p>
<p>"Water is the economy in Texas," said McKinney. "It drives everything, particularly as you get less of it."</p><p>Sound familiar? It should. Struggles over water occurring across Texas are essentially the same as those unfolding in places where growth is highest and water resources are under the most stress. In the United States that means California, the Southwest and the Rocky Mountain West.</p><p>The same two trends are unfolding around the planet, most notably in China and India. In 2011, China discovered that its program of energy development, grain production, and construction of new cities was using so much water that <a href="http://en.pkulaw.cn/display.aspx?cgid=3256f00ff8d269babdfb&lib=law" target="_blank">by 2020 it would be 20 to 25 trillion liters</a> in deficit, a shortage so dire it could wreck China's booming economy.</p><p>A command-and-control society, China aggressively set out to shrink the deficit by quickly acting on three big initiatives. It moved much of its grain production from the dry Yellow River Basin to the wet northeast provinces. It closed water-thirsty coal mines, coal-washing stations, and water-cooled coal-fired power stations. And it<a href="https://www.circleofblue.org/2011/world/choke-point-chinaconfronting-water-scarcity-and-energy-demand-in-the-worlds-largest-country/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> built the largest water-conserving solar and wind electrical generating industry on Earth</a>.</p>
<p>India is having less success. Groundwater levels are steadily declining in the northwest states that produce much of country's rice, wheat, and sugarcane. But the state and national governments encourage the trend. In a nation that has known pervasive hunger, food production is a paramount cultural objective. Keeping the 700 million Indians who are involved in agriculture happy is another prime objective. That's why farmers pay nothing for water. They can use what they like. And they <a href="https://www.circleofblue.org/2013/world/choke-point-india-the-leopard-in-the-well/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">pay nothing for electricity to run ever-more powerful pumps needed to pull water to the surface that lies ever-deeper below ground</a>.</p><p>Texas is Texas. Texas is big, rich, growing, impulsive and impressive. The significant question Texas hasn't answered is where it will find enough water by 2070 – 10 trillion liters, according to the Texas Water Development Board, or about half the Chinese water deficit – to keep over 50 million people safe, satisfied and thriving during deepening droughts.</p><p>There are two ways to look at the challenge. The most optimistic view is so Texas. The Water Board, with its process of reviewing and revising the State Water Plan every five years, lays out steps that are meant to give Texas guidance and time to figure it out. The more realistic and accurate assessment is that as Texas pursues its steep growth vector, the hardships of serious droughts will grow worse.</p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/10/texas-water-supplies-running-dry/" target="_blank">World Economic Forum</a>.</em><br/></p>From Your Site Articles
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