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Feb 21, 20235 min read

Last week’s ice storm stirred the taxpayer-funded renewable energy debate.


Summary: This issue has a direct effect on your electric bill. While last week’s ice storm kept most of Texas frozen - and the Austin area without power - it heated the taxpayer-funded renewable energy debate. While renewable energy contributes a small amount to the Texas electrical grid, and even less during inclement weather, the taxpayer is subsidizing renewable energy.

Latest Update: Thursday, 02 February, 2023

Select #Tags for additional articles: #Electricity


 

Last week’s ice storm stirred the taxpayer-funded renewable energy debate.

Editorial Comment. While some “conservatives” blame renewable energy (wind and solar) for failing during power outages and “liberals” blame “conservatives” for blaming renewable energy, both parties agree the tax-payer should not be footing the bill to support renewable energy with the state’s controversial Chapter 313 corporate subsidies program. “Both the Republican Party of Texas and the Democrat Party of Texas call for the abolition of Chapter 313 abatements in their party platforms”

• As Texas hit with freezing temps, natural gas drives Texas energy grid, The Center Square, 02 February 2023, Excerpts. As Texas continues to grapple with winter conditions and about 1% of Texans lost power due to icy conditions, statewide, the power, heat, lights and water are on, largely fueled by the Texas natural gas industry.


According to ERCOT, the state’s regulatory agency that manages the power grid, natural gas is keeping the power on in Texas. It’s Fuel Mix report, which breaks down energy generation by resource type, shows the majority of energy produced comes from natural gas. At midnight Feb. 1, for example, solar and hydro accounted for 0% of energy generated. Wind generated 7%, coal and lignate accounted for 19%; nuclear, 9%. The majority of electricity generated came from natural gas: 66%.


• 'Renewable' Energy Fails Texans, Again, Texas Scorecard, 01 February 2023, Excerpts. While most of Texas experienced freezing temperatures this week, the underperformance of unreliable energy sources like wind and solar are again raising questions about the state’s dependence on them. ... at mid-morning yesterday, solar accounted for just 1 percent of the state's power supply, while wind accounted for 3 percent. Meanwhile, natural gas, coal, and lignite made up 87 percent of the power supply, with nuclear energy adding 8 percent of the total. As energy expert Tom Slocum explained on social media, "windfarms in Texas are frozen over."

Yet, Texas taxpayers have been forced to subsidize these failing energy generators. Texas wind and solar generators obtained $19.4 billion in taxpayer-funded benefits and subsidies between 2006 and 2019 alone. According to Bill Peacock, an energy policy analyst, 28 percent of renewable generators’ income came from subsidies in 2018.


• Hundreds of thousands of Texans still don’t have heat, and some Austin-area outages could last until Friday, The Texas Tribune. 01 February 2023, Excerpts. More than 350,000 businesses and households across Central and East Texas lost power Wednesday as a winter storm immobilized much of the state with localized outages. The causes of electricity outages differed from what Texans experienced two years ago when the state’s power grid nearly collapsed and 246 Texans died. This year’s storm is not as cold, prolonged or widespread [and] the incidents involved damaged infrastructure and lines downed by falling tree limbs covered in ice. The state’s power grid has largely remained stable, and officials said the grid had sufficient reserves to remain online throughout the weather event.


• No, frozen wind turbines aren't to blame for Texas' power outages ... The Texas Tribune ›16 February 2021, Excerpts. Lost wind power was expected to be a fraction of winter generation. All sources — from natural gas, to nuclear, to coal, to solar — have struggled to generate power during the storm that has left millions of Texans in the dark.


Willow Park Civics Research

 

This week's weather and the electrical grid, posted 30 January 2023

• How to know the difference between a local power outage and rolling blackouts, The Texas Tribune, 30 January 2023, Excerpts. When ERCOT calls for a rotating outage, the information will be available through several sources, a spokesperson said. This can include reports in local media, on ERCOT’s Facebook and Twitter, through the ERCOTapp and through emergency email alerts that residents can sign up for here.


Many Texans could see freezing temperatures and ice this week. The National Weather Service has forecast freezing rain, sleet or ice on roads in much of Central, North and West Texas from Monday through Wednesday morning. Other parts of the state, including the Panhandle and Coastal Plains, are expected to see freezing or below-freezing temperatures.


Each severe weather crisis might bring panic of losing power, recalling the February 2021 grid failure that killed hundreds and left millions without electricity and water for days. So far, the state’s grid leaders say they are monitoring the weather and expect to meet power demand. However, local power outages may still be possible due to local weather.


It’s easy for Texans to confuse local outages with statewide issues with the grid. But local outages and rotating outages called for by ERCOT are different. They have different causes and may last for a different amount of time.


So how do you know the difference?



• The 2021 winter storm caught Texans by surprise. Here’s how to prepare this year. The Texas Tribune, 10 January 2022, Excerpts. With the height of the winter season approaching, here are some tips to prepare an emergency kit, protect your home and stay informed.

Here’s what you need to know

• Have a winter kit on hand

• Prepare your home

• Beware of carbon monoxide poisoning

• Sign up for emergency alerts: Major phone providers participate in the federal wireless emergency alert system, which enables federal, state and local authorities to broadcast alerts to mobile devices. Checking the settings on your phone can ensure you have these alerts turned on. They are often labeled “Government Alerts” or “Emergency Alert Messages.”


Willow Park Civics Research

  • WPC Blog > Electricity and ERCOT, updated, 20 January 2023

  • WPC Blog > Texas Power Grid Still Vulnerable, 09 November 2023

  • WPC Blog > TX Power Grid Reports Forecast Fall Expectations, 09 September 2022

  • WPC Blog > Texas Power Grid Passes Summer Tests, 05 October 2022

  • Winter Storm URI, Texas A&M > The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM). Winter Storm Uri dumped record amounts of snow on Texas, with the frigid temperatures and severe weather impacting all 254 counties in the state in February 2021. Millions of Texans lost power. Snow and ice paired with ultra-low temperatures caused widespread road closures and dangerous travel conditions. State emergency management leaders activated warming centers in communities across Texas and numerous personnel were deployed to assist stranded motorists and conduct welfare checks. Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for all 254 counties in the state.


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