Texas in Crisis

[Deepak]

I highly doubt water mains never break in Russia.

In Russia, water main break you!

 

[Jarhyn]

Trevor Noah has a show on the Texas outage. Fast-forward to 8:00, just before he explains how AOC can provide a new source of power for the state.

Come on, somebody! Watch the last minute of the YouTube and give Trevor a laughing-face emoticon.

I despise youtube. Pretty much any thing linked to me in that platform will not be watched.

 

[Worldtraveller]

I had read that the Texas power capacity, being deregulated, is very much based on using cost to keep supply and demand in check. When demand goes up the costs go up very quickly in order to decrease demand. That means that there is very little excess capacity to handle demand spikes created either by extreme heat or extreme cold. The power producers make most of their money when demand spikes and the prices paid by consumers spikes, so there is little to no incentive to have a power capacity buffer as the buffer would just decrease profits.

On top of that no economic incentive to make the system more hardened against extreme weather as we see here. Everything done on the cheap to maximize profits. Wind is just one example of things done on the cheap. Alaska depends a great deal on wind for it's electrical needs but you don't see the wind turbines freezing up in Alaska because they
have been made to withstand extreme cold.

Just another example of the failure of the free market to meeting the needs of the society.

It got so bad, one of the local utilities was begging its customers to cancel their service and get their power from another local provider. They are apparently unable to control their own rates (or would lose so much that they'd go out of business since their costs also fluctuate, I guess?). The rates skyrocketed to something $9k/kWh, I forget the exact rate, but it was crazy, as in people would be looking at $2-3k bills if their energy use stayed the same!

 

[ZiprHead]

Houston.

 

[Gospel]

Underwriter: steups, "clearly they didn't use towels, mop or a bucket to mitigate the damage".

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

View attachment 31961

Houston.

Man, a foot or so more and it would have just gone down the sink.

As far as explaining how that happened, that doesn't look like a kitchen in a home that people are currently living in, ie a rental.

Also, I don't know if I've never seen a dropped ceiling in a kitchen before.

 

[jab]

Daily Mail?

Meanwhile, uninsulated natural gas lines are a significant contributor to the shortage of energy. But let’s let The Daily Mail tell us the “truth”.

https://www.texastribune.org/2021/02/16/texas-wind-turbines-frozen/

I don't think Canadian wind turbines freeze up--or at least I haven't heard of such a thing.

 

[Deepak]

Houston.

We have a problem

 

[Cheerful Charlie]

Up north, wind turbines have heater systems to de-ice the blades and protect their generators. Texas turbines do not have this as the added expense was deemed not necessary. On average Texas receives 22% to 25% of energy needs from wind, depending on the season. That dropped to 19% during this storm. Up North, gas pipelines have dehumidifiers to knock water out of natural gas before it goes into the pipes. Texas mostly does not, again, to save $$$. So ice can build up in the pipeline and restrict or even stop natural gas flow. Northern states have learned to prepare natural gas systems to stay operational in long, very cold winter storms. Texas payed not much attention to those lessons learned.

"Well Bradshaw, it's like in the army you know. The great prince
issues commands, founds states, vests families with fiefs. Inferior
people should not be employed."
- Firesign Theater - Nick Danger, Third Eye

 

[T.G.G. Moogly]

I don't think Canadian wind turbines freeze up--or at least I haven't heard of such a thing.

Those are socialist, regulated wind turbines. The wind turbines in Texas are free of commie oversight. Lets hear it for libertarian utopia.

 

[Worldtraveller]

I don't think Canadian wind turbines freeze up--or at least I haven't heard of such a thing.

Those are socialist, regulated wind turbines. The wind turbines in Texas are free of commie oversight. Lets hear it for libertarian utopia.

FREEEEEDUMB!!

 

[GenesisNemesis]

I don't think Canadian wind turbines freeze up--or at least I haven't heard of such a thing.

Those are socialist, regulated wind turbines. The wind turbines in Texas are free of commie oversight. Lets hear it for libertarian utopia.

FREEEEEDUMB!!

Trump supporters' brains do freeze up, though.

 

[ronburgundy]

So, Cruz took his family to Cancun today while his constituents freeze to death b/c of policies he and his party support.

Also, there's this.

 

[Swammerdami]

So, Cruz took his family to Cancun today while his constituents freeze to death b/c of policies he and his party support.

Also, there's this.

Even just viewing a jpeg, where intimate contact is impossible (except via an ESP-like sense, or as in the Deja Vu movie) I viscerally smell his fetid farts. The putrid aroma makes me want to puke.

 

[ideologyhunter]

His wife is a three at best and his dad was at the parking lot above the grassy knoll at midday on that Friday with an Italian-made carbine.
(Don't mind me. I'm angling for a staff position at Ted's office.)

 

[lpetrich]

Beto O'Rourke on Twitter: "We’re calling as many Texas seniors as we can today to check in on them, connect them to resources, and try to help where we can. The more people making phone calls, the more Texans we can reach. We’re starting at 5:30CST today, join us here: (link)" / Twitter

Beto O'Rourke on Twitter: "For those who have power or who are outside of Texas - we are calling senior citizens across the state this evening to see how we can connect them with assistance where needed. You can join us here: (link)" / Twitter.

Beto O'Rourke on Twitter: "We made over 151,000 calls to senior citizens in Texas tonight. One of our vols talked to a man stranded at home w/out power in Killeen, hadn’t eaten in 2 days, got him a ride to a warming center and a hot meal. Help us reach more people, join us tomorrow: (link)" / Twitter

That call-in is now complete, and I'm mentioning it to show what he did yesterday, as I write this.

He did it again today.

Beto O'Rourke on Twitter: "THANK YOU to all who are making calls with us to people across the state of Texas, connecting them with warming centers, shelter, food and water. We’ve just opened another shift starting at 3pm CST, please join us: (link)" / Twitter

Beto O'Rourke on Twitter: "Over 300,000 phone calls made by volunteers today to help senior citizens in Texas who need heat, water, food and shelter (and some basic kindness).
We are opening a third shift, starting at 5pm CST today.
Please join us if you can: (link)" / Twitter

Beto O'Rourke on Twitter: "Last phone bank today to help Texans get heat, water, shelter, food and transportation. 7pm cst: (link)" / Twitter

 

[lpetrich]

Jerry Jones' Company Hits 'Jackpot' As Storms Send Gas Prices Surging : Live Updates: Winter Storms 2021 : NPR

But for oil and gas producers that have managed to keep production going, this is proving to be a big payday. Jerry Jones, the billionaire owner of the Dallas Cowboys, appears to be one of the beneficiaries.

Comstock Resources Inc., a shale driller that operates in Texas and Louisiana, told investors on an earnings call this week that the surge in natural gas prices was providing it with a major — albeit almost certainly temporary — financial boost. The company is publicly traded but Jones holds a majority of the shares.

then
NPR on Twitter: "A drilling company that operates in Texas and Louisiana told investors that the surge in natural gas prices — amid powerful winter storms — was giving it a major financial boost.

"Obviously, this week is like hitting the jackpot," CFO Roland Burns said. (list)" / Twitter
then
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "Fossil fuel billionaires are profiting off this nightmare. CFOs called it a “jackpot.”

The reason GOP are scrambling to blame the Green New Deal is bc it’s the biggest legislative threat against the corrupt powers responsible for (& benefiting from) the suffering unfolding now." / Twitter


Ted Cruz flew to Cancún as millions of Texans endure power outages | The Texas Tribune

Ted Cruz says leaving Texas during winter disaster was "obviously a mistake" as he returns from Cancún.

First spotted at an airport by a social media user who posted his photo, there was an immediate outcry overnight that a U.S. senator would travel out of the state amid the worst storm in many Texans' lifetimes.

...
"I was trying to be a dad, and all of us have made decisions — when you've got two girls who have been cold for two days and haven't had heater power, and they're saying 'Hey, look we don't have school why don't we go, let's get out of here.' I think there are a lot of parents that would be like, 'Look, if I can do this great.' That's what I wanted to do," he told the TV station.

"[But] really from the moment I sat on the plane, I began really second-guessing that decision, and saying 'Look, I know why we're doing this, but I've also got responsibilities, and it had been my intention to be able to work remotely, to be on the phone, to be on the internet, to be on Zoom, to be engaged, but I needed to be here and that's why I came back."

 

[lpetrich]

Guess who else is helping out.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "Team AOC is launching relief efforts for Texas starting today

Our first effort is a partnership w/ 5 Texas orgs getting on-the-ground relief to Texans ASAP.

If you’re able, please donate here - it’ll split your contribution to all 5.

% goes to them. (link)" / Twitter
then
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "Holy smokes.

Our Texas relief mobilization has already raised $325k for food, housing, elder care & direct relief straight to vulnerable Texans.

This might be a little crazy... but can we raise $1M by midnight? % goes to Feeding Texas, ECHO & more: (link)" / Twitter
then
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "I feel like I should do something if we hit $1M in Texas relief. What should it be? (Don’t be weird pls) (link)" / Twitter


𝐹𝓇𝑒𝒹𝑒𝓇𝒾𝒸𝓀 THE UNION 𝒟𝑜𝓊𝑔𝓁𝒶𝓈𝓈 on Twitter: "@AOC Let the record reflect: @AOC from New York has done more to help Texans today than its own Senator, @tedcruz has done all week. #TexasFreeze #CancunCruz" / Twitter
then
Snows Mom on Twitter: "@AmazingDouglass @AndyRosedale @AOC @tedcruz As well as Beto O'Rourke who holds no public office at all." / Twitter

 

[barbos]

I find that hard to believe.

What you are willing to believe isn't all too relevant.

I still don't believe it. (I am talking about major water lines)

Maybe near house, but not main pipes. You can easily damage it by driving over it or doing yard work.
Regardless, 6 inches is deep enough to not freeze in one week of slightly subzero temperature.

Generally water pipes are prone to fail at its point of greatest weakness. It doesn't all need to freeze, just one part... like say where a valve is located.

And main pipes are plastic anyway.

You do realize that our infrastructure wasn't built in 2010, right? While new construction involves PVC, it hasn't always been PVC. Water lines in the US are made of all sorts of materials, including lead.

I was talking about major water lines. The ones which are at least 5" thick, They are deep and they are PE in new construction.

It's clear that second floor copper piping froze up and burst in these videos. Main valve is fine. This is stupid. Whole houses collapse because they did not know that water supply should be cut off.

It all depends on where the valves are located.

Now you are going to tell me that main valve was on a second floor?

 

[barbos]

And I highly doubt water mains never break in Russia.

Not on such supposedly massive scale