Texas in Crisis

[Loren Pechtel]

And I highly doubt water mains never break in Russia.

Not on such supposedly massive scale

Water mains break quite frequently in the Los Angeles area. They are long overdue for replacement but not many seem to get replaced prior to failure. No money apparently but somehow California managed to raise and squander billions of dollars on a "high speed rail" project that few people wanted and even fewer will actually use. We were told to restrict our showers to two minutes, not flush the toilet for number ones, not to water our lawns, not to wash our cars and turn the tap off when brushing your teeth. Priorities eh ?

Once again, you fail to understand. The restrictions you are talking about are due to water supply, not water delivery. The number of people using water goes up, what nature delivers does not. Actually, it's a bit worse than that as the Colorado river water allocation was based on some rather optimistic estimates--the river is not delivering as much as the agreements say it will.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

Texas Tribune on Twitter: "Texas’ power grid was “seconds and minutes” away from a catastrophic failure that could have left Texans in the dark for months, officials with the entity that operates the grid said Thursday. (link)" / Twitter

Yup, you do not want to draw more from the grid than it can deliver. You slash load regardless of consequences to keep it in balance--if you don't the whole thing goes down hard and you have major headaches restarting it piece by little piece.

 

[Angra Mainyu]

I'm a proponent of nuclear power. I don't think there's any future where nuclear is not in the energy generation mix. Sparing the discovery of entirely novel ideas in physics, the math simply does not let us maintain something near the current quality of life, diet, consumption, and family planning privileges we enjoy now purely with renewable energy.

Good, that is true except for the distant future.

The thing that I'm specifically concerned about is groups like the North Korean regime, Islamic terrorists, or Texas Republicans having any control of, or access to nuclear facilities.

Not good. The Texan administration is not bent on making nuclear weapons (the US already makes them), and certainly not on killing civilians with them (as Islamic terrorists would). Moreover, Texas does not have a bad track record of nuclear safety.

In addition to that, you have to consider that if it's not nuclear energy, it will be some other kind of energy - which data shows is more polluting and more dangerous.

And, I'm sure, some folks might disagree with the assessment. In either case, the specifics of the energy mix we use in the future is not the concern of this thread - it's the particular incompetence of Texas, their government, and the people who have voting power to elect that government. So are you trying to address my point, or are you trying to straw man me?

You're the one not addressing some of the points I've been making. Two of them are:

1. Texas does not have a bad track record of nuclear safety.
2. Nuclear energy is better than the alternatives, in terms of safety and environmental impact. There is no particular reason to think that that will change in Texas. One can tell that just by looking at the record in Texas.

 

[lpetrich]

More on the Senator from Cancun:
Ted Cruz's family soaks up Cancun sun as Texas shivers

Cruz’s wife, Heidi, was seen on the sand wearing a red bikini under blue beach umbrellas, video and photos obtained by The Post show.

Cruz cut his trip short by two days and returned to Houston Thursday night after receiving backlash from constituents and colleagues for leaving his state while millions of Texans remained in the dark.

Ted Cruz's explanation for his Cancun trip made things worse - CNNPolitics

"Wanting to be a good dad, I flew down with them last night and am flying back this afternoon."

Except we know that Cruz changed plans after the firestorm over him leaving Texas amid a power disaster began. Why? Because he told Fox News' Sean Hannity this on Thursday night:

"I had initially planned to stay through the weekend and to work remotely there, but as I -- as I was heading down there, you know, I started to have second thoughts almost immediately because the crisis here in Texas, you need to be here on the ground."

Fundraisers For Texas—From AOC, Beyoncé, Reese Witherspoon And More—Net Millions
Also former Baltimore Ravens cornerback Pierre Desir, and politician Beto O'Rourke.

The contributions received by Ocasio-Cortez will be split among five organizations across the state of Texas, including the Bridge Homeless Recovery Center in Dallas, Ending Community Homelessness Coalition in Austin, the Houston Food Bank and Feeding Texas, a statewide hunger-relief charity.

 

[lpetrich]

AOC in Texas:

Adrienne Bell on Twitter: "My friend @aoc came to Houston, bringing over $3 million with her for hurting Texans. It’s what you do, cause that’s who we are - Americans. #TexasRebuilds (pic link)" / Twitter
Adrienne Bell ran for a House seat in Texas, without success.

Kelly O'Donnell on Twitter: "New York’s progressive voice @AOC is in Houston today announcing more than $3 million raised to assist 10 organizations for Texans in crisis. “That’s the New York spirit, that’s the Texas spirit that’s the American spirit” https://t.co/CfwmqU27qT" / Twitter
then
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "I can’t believe we’ve surged past $3 million for Texas!
Houston Food Bank is using resources like these to try to get 30,000 meal boxes out in the next TWO days.
They’re just 1 of 12 Texas orgs were now partnering with.
Let’s keep going!
Give here: (link)" / Twitter


Someone complained about her visit that AOC = Always On Camera, and someone else that
ltmcdies on Twitter: "@KellyO @sr78 @AOC can we stop acting like this the only one... but I notice some of the others don't feel the need to jump in front of camera. https://t.co/NSL1jvtyZP" / Twitter

Mary Busby on Twitter: "@ltmcdies @KellyO @sr78 @AOC You realize to raise money, you need to raise awareness for your cause? Of course she’s talking about it! This is an obtuse argument and only seeded in your hatred for her. " / Twitter

Norio on Twitter: "@ltmcdies @KellyO @sr78 @AOC What AOC is doing, in front of a camera, is raising awareness in fundraising aid for Texas. But you’d rather see Trump in front of the camera touting a Bible, in front of church, instigating hate. Maybe he & you can open up the Bible to 2 Chronicles 7:14." / Twitter

 

[lpetrich]

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "We just hit $4 million!

Reps. Sylvia Garcia, Sheila Jackson Lee & Al Green of Houston are doing incredible work w/ local relief organizations to get emergency relief to Texans.

Today we went to food distributions, water delivery sites, and home tours of impacted Texans. (pix link)" / Twitter

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee on Instagram: “Sistas, Hermanas, SHEROES! @aoc @repsylviagarcia”
showing Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, AOC, Rep. Sylvia Garcia

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee on Instagram: “Volunteer at Houston Food Bank after 3 million dollar donation announcement”
Cong. Jackson Lee, Cong. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, and Cong. Garcia - they joined the volunteers in packing food donations into boxes at the Houston Food Bank.


Zuberslightning on Twitter: "@AOC I would have a lot more respect for you if you didn’t feel like it was about you. This is just as bad as Ted Cruz." / Twitter
and
ali eren on Twitter: "@KCPat412 @AOC ????? What do you even mean? Should she not be posting on social media that SHE is holding a fundraiser? Then how are people supposed to know about it? Hell, even if this was pure publicity, how is “fake” helping people AS BAD AS fleeing the state after you let it get fucked up?" / Twitter

 

[TomC]

"This is just as bad as Ted Cruz."?

Seriously?!?!
Wtf

Tom

 

[TomC]

This is going to make me look old and petty, but I don't care.

I remember an episode from the winter of 1973. The OPEC oil embargo was hammering US power supplies. Massive shortages were combined with skyrocketing prices. Home heating was particularly a disaster across the northern states. People were being permanently forced out of their homes. This hit older folks especially hard, because they tended to be "house rich, but cash poor" as they often lived on fixed incomes.

But it was a boon to energy producers like many Texans. When there was a proposal for federal regulations on prices and distribution, some Texan high muckety muck(Governor, IIRC) announced
"Those damn Yankees can freeze in the dark!"

Tom

 

[TomC]

Cong. Jackson Lee, Cong. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, and Cong. Garcia - they joined the volunteers in packing food donations into boxes at the Houston Food Bank.

I'd bet a good deal that their presence at the food bank was a net loss for Houstonians in need. This photo op, with all the staff and security necessary, probably caused more disruption than Lee, AOC, and Garcia could work off packing boxes.

She could make up for it by challenging Cruz & Co to donate as much to such organizations as they've received in donations from the people who benefited from the shoddy procedures that caused the disaster.
Tom

 

[crazyfingers]

This is going to make me look old and petty, but I don't care.

I remember an episode from the winter of 1973. The OPEC oil embargo was hammering US power supplies. Massive shortages were combined with skyrocketing prices. Home heating was particularly a disaster across the northern states. People were being permanently forced out of their homes. This hit older folks especially hard, because they tended to be "house rich, but cash poor" as they often lived on fixed incomes.

But it was a boon to energy producers like many Texans. When there was a proposal for federal regulations on prices and distribution, some Texan high muckety muck(Governor, IIRC) announced
"Those damn Yankees can freeze in the dark!"

Tom

I remember during the oil embargo waiting in gas lines in the car with my mother. The line was once about a half mile long. I don't recall a home heating oil issue but I was just a little kid so I don't expect that I'd have known about it.

 

[crazyfingers]

I read in the news about possible oil and gas disruptions from this fiasco. I don't gas up much. Don't drive a lot these days but gas seems to be up about 20 cents.

 

[jonatha]

gas seems to be up about 20 cents.

RVonse made that observation in another thread a few days ago.

It's Biden's fault. I forget exactly why...

 

[ZiprHead]

gas seems to be up about 20 cents.

RVonse made that observation in another thread a few days ago.

It's Biden's fault. I forget exactly why...

Restarting Texas’ Damaged Oil Refineries Is Going to Take Weeks

Exxon Mobil Corp.’s Baytown and Beaumont plants, Marathon Petroleum Corp.’s Galveston Bay refinery and Total SE’s Port Arthur facility all face at least several weeks to resume normal operations, people familiar with the situation said. Gasoline prices at the pump could reach $3 a gallon in May as long outages crimp supply ahead of the driving season, said Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis for retailer tracker GasBuddy.

The cold snap and power outages that roiled energy markets affected more than 20 oil refineries in Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma. Crude-processing capacity fell by about 5.5 million barrels a day, according to Amrita Sen, chief oil analyst for consultant Energy Aspects Ltd.

 

[lpetrich]

Cong. Jackson Lee, Cong. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, and Cong. Garcia - they joined the volunteers in packing food donations into boxes at the Houston Food Bank.

I'd bet a good deal that their presence at the food bank was a net loss for Houstonians in need. This photo op, with all the staff and security necessary, probably caused more disruption than Lee, AOC, and Garcia could work off packing boxes.

It didn't seem very horribly disruptive to me.

She could make up for it by challenging Cruz & Co to donate as much to such organizations as they've received in donations from the people who benefited from the shoddy procedures that caused the disaster.
Tom

Good idea.

Katie Hill on Twitter: "What a sad attempt at a photo op redemption" / Twitter

Senator Ted Cruz on Twitter: "#TexasStrong (pix link)" / Twitter
then
Josh Marshall on Twitter: "@SenTedCruz Sir, generous of you to help put the water @aoc bought into cars." / Twitter


How bad it is in some parts of the state.
Rep. Sylvia Garcia on Twitter: "This is the line to get clean water in Houston.

This line stretched miles, miles of people who do not have water to drink, cook, or clean with.

I will be volunteering at water distribution sites today, if you are able, please join us in helping our neighbors. (vid link)" / Twitter

 

[crazyfingers]

Restarting Texas’ Damaged Oil Refineries Is Going to Take Weeks

Exxon Mobil Corp.’s Baytown and Beaumont plants, Marathon Petroleum Corp.’s Galveston Bay refinery and Total SE’s Port Arthur facility all face at least several weeks to resume normal operations, people familiar with the situation said. Gasoline prices at the pump could reach $3 a gallon in May as long outages crimp supply ahead of the driving season, said Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis for retailer tracker GasBuddy.

The cold snap and power outages that roiled energy markets affected more than 20 oil refineries in Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma. Crude-processing capacity fell by about 5.5 million barrels a day, according to Amrita Sen, chief oil analyst for consultant Energy Aspects Ltd.

I remember when Hurricane Katrina and Rita hit the gulf coast in 2005 we had gone to Maine for vacation. Gas was a slightly above $2/gal when we left and while we were there it skyrocketed to $4/gal. I think it was Katrina that hit end of August and prices went up while we were in Maine. And then when we are home Rita hit about a month later and they went up close to $5/gal.

Kinda strange about this recent one. Can't oil refineries have their own electric generators so that cold won't destroy the machinery? Seems to me having their own generator capacity would have cost less than all the repairs they need to make.

 

[lpetrich]

Where is Sen. John Cornyn?

Rep. Sylvia Garcia on Twitter: "Today I was joined by @RepAOC at a water distribution event hosted by @BakerRipley

Team work makes the dream work (vid link)" / Twitter
SG and AOC putting some water bottles into the trunk of a car.

Then
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "TEXANS: FEMA assistance is now available for you to apply at (link)

Make sure you take photos , keep all receipts , and document EVERYTHING you can to rebuild.

Thank you for hosting me, @RepSylviaGarcia! Extra gracias for sending me home with tamales " / Twitter
noting
Home | disasterassistance.gov

Rep. Sylvia Garcia on Twitter: "As we toured the homes of constituents @koryahaywood & Ms. Hulsey, we saw the damage this storm has done &a all the work we have left to do.

Good news, @POTUS has authorized federal funds to help us rebuild, please visit to apply for FEMA assistance

(links)" / Twitter


Charles Booker on Twitter: "You shouldn’t have to crowdfund to offset the failures of an energy grid.
We need leadership and sustainability. We need system level change.
We need a Green New Deal." / Twitter

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "@Booker4KY %" / Twitter

 

[TomC]

all face at least several weeks to resume normal operations, people familiar with the situation said. Gasoline prices at the pump could reach $3 a gallon in May as long outages crimp supply ahead of the driving season, said Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis for retailer tracker GasBuddy.

WTF?

Right now, in the depths of Trump virus epidemic, we're paying around 2.60/gal. That's with tons of people out of work, or working from home, or whatever.

If the Biden administration manages to boost us out of the Trump administration's mess, I fully expect gas to be $1 more per gallon by May, and the driving season.
And I live in "low cost of living" southern Indiana.

$3.60/gal. by May is a fairly optimistic guess. Unless, of course, you're a Texan oil man. Maybe Trump and Cruz can take better care of their big donors and gas will be $4 something.
Tom

 

[lpetrich]

AOC announces that she's raised $2 million for Texas relief efforts in under 24 hours

Texas power outage: why wind turbines are not to blame - Vox - "Some Republicans want you to think wind turbines caused the Texas blackout. Here’s why they’re wrong."

Let’s get the facts straight. Every type of power plant — whether powered by coal, natural gas, nuclear, solar, or wind sources — in Texas was impacted by the ice and freezing temperatures that arrived with Winter Storm Uri over the weekend. But it was natural gas — the state’s top source of electricity — that failed most significantly as wellheads and power plants froze over. Wind turbines, meanwhile, were responsible for 13 percent of the total lost electricity output, according to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), the state’s nonprofit grid operator.

Wayne Lawson, PhD on Twitter: "Ted Cruz continues to be a trailblazer as he becomes the first Hispanic person to flee FROM Texas TO Mexico because of ICE" / Twitter

FULL REMARKS: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez visits Texas to volunteer at Houston Food Bank - YouTube - she did a press conference, and she stated that "the whole country stands with you." The food bank's aid is for everybody, no questions asked.

AOC raises $3.2 million for Texas’ winter storm victims, volunteers at Houston food bank - YouTube
More of that press conference, including Sylvia Garcia's remarks.

 

[ZiprHead]

His Lights Stayed on During Texas’ Storm. Now He Owes $16,752

SAN ANTONIO — As millions of Texans shivered in dark, cold homes over the past week while a winter storm devastated the state’s power grid and froze natural gas production, those who could still summon lights with the flick of a switch felt lucky.

Now, many of them are paying a severe price for it.

“My savings is gone,” said Scott Willoughby, a 63-year-old Army veteran who lives on Social Security payments in a Dallas suburb. He said he had nearly emptied his savings account so that he would be able to pay the $16,752 electric bill charged to his credit card — 70 times what he usually pays for all of his utilities combined. “There’s nothing I can do about it, but it’s broken me.”

Mr. Willoughby is among scores of Texans who have reported skyrocketing electric bills as the price of keeping lights on and refrigerators humming shot upward. For customers whose electricity prices are not fixed and are instead tied to the fluctuating wholesale price, the spikes have been astronomical.

The outcry elicited angry calls for action from lawmakers from both parties and prompted Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, to hold an emergency meeting with legislators on Saturday to discuss the enormous bills.

Is this how Texas turns blue, when the folks whose lights stayed on get burned too?

 

[crazyfingers]

His Lights Stayed on During Texas’ Storm. Now He Owes $16,752

SAN ANTONIO — As millions of Texans shivered in dark, cold homes over the past week while a winter storm devastated the state’s power grid and froze natural gas production, those who could still summon lights with the flick of a switch felt lucky.

Now, many of them are paying a severe price for it.

“My savings is gone,” said Scott Willoughby, a 63-year-old Army veteran who lives on Social Security payments in a Dallas suburb. He said he had nearly emptied his savings account so that he would be able to pay the $16,752 electric bill charged to his credit card — 70 times what he usually pays for all of his utilities combined. “There’s nothing I can do about it, but it’s broken me.”

Mr. Willoughby is among scores of Texans who have reported skyrocketing electric bills as the price of keeping lights on and refrigerators humming shot upward. For customers whose electricity prices are not fixed and are instead tied to the fluctuating wholesale price, the spikes have been astronomical.

The outcry elicited angry calls for action from lawmakers from both parties and prompted Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, to hold an emergency meeting with legislators on Saturday to discuss the enormous bills.

Is this how Texas turns blue, when the folks whose lights stayed on get burned too?

But don't you know it's Biden's fault?

https://www.rawstory.com/larry-kudlow-joe-biden/