ERCOT acknowledges wind and solar power insufficient for Texans in extreme cold

ERCOT Urges ‌Texans to Conserve Power Amid Record-Breaking Arctic Blast

Green Energy Sources Struggle to Meet⁢ Demand

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) issued a conservation appeal ‍on Sunday night demanding⁣ Texans, who are enduring a record-breaking arctic blast ‌this week, reduce their power usage and turn down their thermostats‌ on Monday morning. The goal ​of the appeal, ERCOT claimed, is ⁢to lessen the strain on the state’s ‌“tight” grid and caution Texans ‍that their electricity reserves are dwindling.

According to the ‍latest ERCOT‌ press release, the grid’s green energy sources ‍are to blame for the stress.​ The subsidized wind and solar power ERCOT relies⁢ on to meet Texans’ power needs can hardly keep up with customers’ electricity⁢ demands in the 100-plus ‍degrees Fahrenheit heat waves, much less‍ the​ winter.

“Solar generation isn’t⁢ available in the early morning hours, which is a peak demand time during winter, and‌ slowly ramps up as the sun rises,” ERCOT admitted. “Wind generation is forecasted to ‍be‌ lower than ‌seasonally⁤ expected in the early‌ morning hours.”

Monday’s statewide electricity usage forecast of 83,000 megawatts far surpasses the‌ December 2022 “all-time winter peak demand record of 74,525 MW” and sits dangerously near ERCOT’s “all-time peak electricity demand” of 85,508 MW in August 2023.

The electricity operator emphasized that the call to conserve energy “does ⁢not indicate ERCOT is experiencing ​emergency conditions at this⁢ time” and still sits one level below a statewide energy emergency alert.

For the millions of Texans who ‍ERCOT stranded without⁤ power during record-low temperatures at the beginning of 2021, ⁢the request to reduce electricity usage⁢ amid hazardous sub-zero⁢ temperatures and wind chill conditions ⁤looks like ‌a dire warning sign of another potential power grid collapse.

Already, ⁢ERCOT noted that the conservation appeal issued⁣ for Monday morning could easily extend to Tuesday when the operator is “expecting ⁣similar ⁣conditions” and grid exertion due to “continued freezing temperatures ​and very high demand in the morning hours.”

The threat of more conservation demands contradicts ERCOT and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s claims that the grid is “much more⁤ prepared” to handle winter weather now than it‍ was in 2021.

Texans, unlike ‌residents in⁣ colder,‌ northern states, are severely underprepared to handle long ⁢spurts of cold and icy conditions. ‌Their panic over being sentenced‌ to their homes in low temperatures without power caused chaos at local grocery stores, which were​ cleaned‌ out of‌ essentials over ⁣the weekend.

During Winter Storm Uri⁤ in 2021, Texans’ unpreparedness, combined with ERCOT failures, led to damages like frozen and burst pipes, resulting in ⁤ $11.2 billion⁢ in insured losses ‍throughout ⁢the state.

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Jordan Boyd is a staff writer at The Federalist and co-producer of⁣ The Federalist Radio Hour. Her ⁢work has also been featured in The Daily Wire, Fox News, and ‌RealClearPolitics. Jordan graduated from Baylor University​ where she majored in political science ⁣and ⁤minored​ in journalism. Follow her on Twitter @jordanboydtx.

What is the aim‌ of ERCOT’s conservation appeal and why is it necessary?

​ ERCOT, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, has issued a conservation ⁣appeal to ‍Texans in the midst of a record-breaking arctic blast. The aim of this ⁤appeal is to reduce power usage and lower demands on the state’s “tight” grid, as electricity reserves are dwindling.

According to the latest ERCOT press release, the strain on the grid is due‌ to ⁢the difficulty green energy sources have in meeting the demands of customers. The subsidized ⁢wind and solar power that ERCOT relies on are struggling to keep up, ‍particularly during extreme heat waves and now,⁣ during freezing temperatures.

ERCOT has admitted that solar generation is not available ⁣in the early morning⁣ hours, which is a peak demand time⁣ during winter, and wind generation is forecasted to ‍be lower than expected. This creates a significant ‌challenge in ‌meeting the electricity demands of Texans.

The forecast for Monday’s statewide electricity usage is 83,000 megawatts, surpassing the previous peak demand record. The situation is becoming increasingly precarious as it edges closer to ERCOT’s all-time peak electricity demand. However, ERCOT emphasizes that the call to ​conserve energy does not indicate‌ emergency conditions at this time, as they ⁤still sit below a statewide energy emergency alert​ level.

For many Texans who experienced power outages during the extreme cold temperatures in 2021, this conservation appeal triggers concerns of another potential power grid collapse. The request to reduce electricity usage during hazardous sub-zero temperatures is seen as a dire warning⁣ sign.

ERCOT has already acknowledged that the conservation appeal could extend to Tuesday due to similar conditions and high⁢ demand⁤ in the morning hours. This threat of continued conservation demands contradicts previous claims by ERCOT and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott that the grid is well-prepared for winter weather events.

The current situation highlights the challenges faced by the⁣ Texas power grid and raises questions about the reliability⁤ of‌ green energy sources. With extreme weather events becoming more frequent, it is⁤ imperative to reassess and‌ strengthen the state’s‌ power infrastructure to ensure the resilience⁤ and stability of the grid.

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