How does the largest oil producing state (Texas) fail to provide electricity to millions of its citizens during a massive winter storm?

Question

And blame windmills in 3....2....1.........

Answer 1

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There were many different factors involved but the bottom line is this,, it is extremely rare that something of this magnitude affecting the entire state happens, they simply weren't prepared for it. Most of the time Texas winters are rather mild and the grid is more than adequate to handle it,, on the occasion when temps do get below freezing it's only in one part of the state or only for a brief time,, usually overnight and they go back up as soon as the sun comes out. When it does get below freezing in the panhandle it will be 70 in Houston and power can be pulled from one part of the state to provide for another,, since our peak demand is usually in the summer when AC units are blasting the winter is when plants shut down for maintenance. That's the status quo, and for the most part the status quo works fine, so people become complacent, they don't see the need to rush into preparing for something that only happens once every ten years,,, until it happens,,, and then it's too little too late.

Answer 2

Customarily the media has not obtained the full and also right story. The lack of power originated from numerous variables. Downed power lines, absence of appropriate internalization of some nuclear power plant as well as windmills, a lack of natural gas as the gas companies drawn away gas to domestic usage as opposed to the power business. Some of the all-natural gas producers did not have internalization for defense down to absolutely no degrees.

Answer 3

Because someone thought that it would be a great idea to replace energy rich and reliable coal and oil with patchy technology that can’t produce anything in the wrong type of weather.

Answer 4

They have incompetent Qpublicans in charge.  It was BOUND to fail!

Answer 5

Liberals are so dumb.

Answer 6

Americans are thicker than a bucket of pig$hit.

Answer 7

As usual the media has not gotten the full and correct story. The lack of power came from many factors.  Downed power lines, lack of adequate winterization of some power plants and windmills, a shortage of natural gas as the gas companies diverted gas to domestic use rather than to the power companies. Finally some of the natural gas producers did not have winterization for protection down to zero degrees F. 

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By the way, the loss of any refinery production had no effect on the lack of electric power. It did however, cause a shortage of gasoline.

Answer 8

It was a combination of factors, but mostly the ability to generate power was limited because the refineries were not winterized.