Texas in Crisis

[Angra Mainyu]

Have you seen any lack of safeguards in nuclear power stations in Texas?

Looks like they are being too cautious, going by bilby's info.

I’m capable of holding both ideas in my head. If there’s any place where Chernobyl style negligence would happen in the US it would be Texas.

Which two ideas?

In any case, the nuclear industry in Texas hasn't had any accidents, and modern reactors have even better safety mechanisms than those currently in operation.

 

[Elixir]

Have you seen any lack of safeguards in nuclear power stations in Texas?

Looks like they are being too cautious, going by bilby's info.

I’m capable of holding both ideas in my head. If there’s any place where Chernobyl style negligence would happen in the US it would be Texas.

Which two ideas?

In any case, the nuclear industry in Texas hasn't had any accidents, and modern reactors have even better safety mechanisms than those currently in operation.

True. And regulations have gotten more stringent. Elected Texas Republicans hate federal regs. That’s why they have their own for-profit, Republican donating private utility grid, built on the cheap instead of to fed standards.

I’d like to see Texas go full nuclear, but not under the auspices of ERCOT.

 

[ZiprHead]

Don't all nuclear power generating stations have to comply with federal regulations?

 

[Deepak]

Have you seen any lack of safeguards in nuclear power stations in Texas?

Looks like they are being too cautious, going by bilby's info.

I’m capable of holding both ideas in my head. If there’s any place where Chernobyl style negligence would happen in the US it would be Texas.

Which two ideas?

In any case, the nuclear industry in Texas hasn't had any accidents, and modern reactors have even better safety mechanisms than those currently in operation.

The one that I mentioned, that Texas would be the place, and the one I quoted, which is that in the land of Texas no case of negligence has been found. What other ones could I be talking about?

 

[Elixir]

Don't all nuclear power generating stations have to comply with federal regulations?

Believe so. And IAEA as well - hence a non starter for Texas Repugs.

 

[AthenaAwakened]

Don't all nuclear power generating stations have to comply with federal regulations?

Did you know ...

Federal OSHA is a small agency; with their state partners they have approximately 1,850 inspectors responsible for the health and safety of 130 million workers, employed at more than 8 million worksites around the nation — which translates to about one compliance officer for every 70,000 workers.

I shared this tidbit because everyone needs to know it AND it shows just how serious the federal govt takes its enforcement role.

Due to the relatively small number of Nuclear power plants in the US, currently this is true

Each year, NRC specialists conduct 10 to 25 routine inspections at each nuclear power plant, depending on the activities at the plants and issues that may occur. The agency has about 150 resident inspectors, including some who are based at nuclear fuel production facilities and new reactor construction sites.

If private utilities were allowed to build nuclear plants the way they want to, I believe the number of inspectors would not change, the number of inspections would drastically decrease and disaster would be just a matter of when.

I personally do not have a problem with nuclear power. I do have problems with private businesses that put profits over people. If nuclear plants were publicly run and a good PR campaign aired and promoted, you could see almost geometric growth in the number of Nuclear Plants in US in relatively short order.

 

[steve_bank]

Texas prides itself on independence and chose to go it alone by not connecting to the national grid tp avoid regulations. They thumbed there noses and paid the price.

A perfect example of basing a critical need on minimizing costs and maximizing revenue. Hardening for cold was recommended but required by the state. Utilities said it costs too much.

That is not the half of it. A major solar event could cripple national electricity. It is a well known and understood threat.

There was a minor disruption in Canada.

The main problem that is plaguing us on many issues is our good old American ideal of hyper independence of the individual that limits our ability to act collectively for the common good. We have no national power policy even as we are long utterly depended on electricity.

It is mind boggling to hear people in the media say they are just realizing our dependemce on electricity.

 

[fromderinside]

Let me just interject two organizations, Bonneville and TVA. nuff sed?

 

[bilby]

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.

Sorry, but I can't help you.

 

[lpetrich]

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "Natural disasters reveal how brutal & inhumane our system of inequality is.

No one should be left to fend for themselves in a natural disaster. This is why we insist on justice in climate policy. In a modern society, equity is as important as technology.

We must modernize. #GND" / Twitter


So water supplies are now unsanitary in Austin TX.
Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez on Twitter: "All of Austin now must boil their water.
And hospitals don’t have water now.
This is total nightmare" / Twitter

David Pakman on Twitter: "Wow. People in Austin are being advised to boil water with power that many don't have for electric ovens and microwaves. This entire fiasco is a stunning indictment of Texas Republican politics, and they're blaming in on...wind turbines." / Twitter

Fred on Twitter: "You can't make this shit up @tedcruz." / Twitter
noting
Gene Wu on Twitter: "Guess which US Senator from Texas flew to Cancun while the state was freezing to death and having to boil water? (link)" / Twitter
Ted Cruz

 

[bilby]

No nuclear power plants have suffered any burst pipes. One (of four) reactors was shut down due to a sensor error. One of several redundant sensors in one of four reactors gave a false reading, and the insanely cautious regulations demanded that the reactor be shut down in such circumstances. Which would be hyper-cautious under normal conditions, but is positively dangerous when the state is already seeing deaths due to insufficient generation.

The lesson here is not to be so stupidly scared by nuclear power plants.

Wellll, hang on now.

The reason Texas is having such terrible woes is that they chose to avoid regulations by making their own power grid so they could skip maintenance and preparedness steps which lack is now actively causing failures.

Are you sure promoting nuclear power to a state with a proven track record of not just ignoring but celebrating the lack of safeguards is a prudent move?

Well the regulations are federal, so Texas (or any other state) doesn't get a say. The NRC isn't in the business of ignoring anything; They require power plants to employ a small army of staff whose only purpose is to certify that everyone else is complying with every jot and tittle of the regulations.

 

[bilby]

Have you seen any lack of safeguards in nuclear power stations in Texas?

Looks like they are being too cautious, going by bilby's info.

I’m capable of holding both ideas in my head. If there’s any place where Chernobyl style negligence would happen in the US it would be Texas.

Well the Chernobyl negligence was in the design and build as well as the operation. You need to fail badly at all three to get a Chernobyl style failure. Operating failures in western plants are hugely expensive, but they don't hurt anyone (except the underwriters and their hangers-on).

 

[lpetrich]

Cenk Uygur on Twitter: "Only upside of Texas power outages is people like @joerogan, who were so proud to leave CA and move to TX, freezing their asses off. They said they wanted less government. Congrats, mission accomplished! I hope you're not asking the government to come help you. #Freedom" / Twitter


ProudLiberal47 on Twitter: "@GeorgeTakei @AOC NEW: A source with United Airlines confirms that Sen. Ted Cruz was originally scheduled to return to the U.S. on Saturday; however, he rebooked his flight to return this afternoon at 6am this morning.
(@ByERussell - @skift reports)" / Twitter
then
George Takei on Twitter: "In fairness, @AOC booked him the flight to Cancun. It’s really her fault." / Twitter
then
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "If Sen. Cruz had resigned back in January after helping gin up a violent insurrection that killed several people, he could’ve taken his vacation in peace. Texans should continue to demand his resignation.

But don’t blame me for this, my points are on Amtrak! " / Twitter
Not sure what she's referring to.

Zina Spezakis, CFA on Twitter: "@AOC In all honesty, we're better off with @Tedcruz in Cancun.
Mexico - please keep him.
He's nothing but destructive here.
#CancunCruz" / Twitter

 

[lpetrich]

AOC has joined Beto O'Rourke in organizing relief for Texans.

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

Jerry Jones' Company Hits 'Jackpot' As Storms Send Gas Prices Surging : Live Updates: Winter Storms 2021 : NPR
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. (link)" / Twitter

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

 

[lpetrich]

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

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

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "Wow.
We officially raised $1 million for Texas relief at 9:17pm.
Thank you all so much. I’m at a loss for words.
Always in awe of movement work.
% of this relief is going straight to Texan food assistance, homelessness relief, elder care, and more. (link)" / Twitter

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "Totally blown away.
$1M raised in direct relief for Texans in less than a day.
As a thank you to everyone who contributed & amplified, I’ll be going to Texas this weekend to visit w/ @LaCongresista in Houston & highlight what’s happening on the ground. (link)" / Twitter
Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-TX-29

By comparison, what is Ted Cruz doing?

 

[lpetrich]

Cenk Uygur on Twitter: "I sent tweet about @joerogan moving to Texas to get away from government regulation & then TX had epic disaster because of govt. deregulation. What happened next was hilarious- every blue check conservative jumping to defend his feelings in desperate attempt to get on his show." / Twitter
then
Matthew Kleinschmidt on Twitter: "@cenkuygur @joerogan Cenk, TYT was my first real love on the progressive news front. TY. But you guys have become bitter over the last couple years... toward allies and friends. Please cut the shit. Set a standard of moral heartiness and adhere to it, w/ humility and kindness, for the good of self." / Twitter

-

Beto O'Rourke on Twitter: "Thank you @AOC and everyone who contributed in this drive to help the people of Texas. We are grateful to you!" / Twitter
then
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "Thank you @BetoORourke for helping organize thousands of wellness check-in calls! " / Twitter

This is how much AOC has raised: $2 million.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "We’ve now raised $2 MILLION in relief for Texans & are adding more orgs.
I’ll be flying to Texas today to visit with Houston rep Sylvia Garcia (@LaCongresista) to distribute supplies and help amplify needs & solutions.
Let’s see how far we can go: (link)" / Twitter

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "Charity isn’t a replacement for good governance, but we won’t turn away from helping people in need when things hit the fan.
People understand that now is the time for collective action and doing what we can w/ whatever we’ve got.
Thank you y Pa’lante! (link)" / Twitter

Short for "para adelante" or "forward."

 

[lpetrich]

Donald Trump Jr. Goes On Insane Rant Blaming Democratic Governors For Texas Crisis
noting
Donald Trump Jr. on Twitter: "The hypocrisy of those trying to cancel Ted Cruz who have been totally silent on their Democrat Governor’s incompetence is telling. My thoughts on the Cancún Cruz fauxoutrage! #Cruz #CancunGate is fake. (link)" / Twitter

Trump Jr. Dubs Cruz 'Cancun Cruz' in Attempted Defense of Cancun Trip - Second Nexus

According to texts from Cruz's wife Heidi to friends, the family was tired of their "FREEZING" house and made a snap decision to take the trip, where they planned to stay at an oceanside Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

...
"Now, if I were a Trump, which I am, I'd come up with a nickname for something like this. Like maybe, I don't know, 'Cancún Cruz.' It's funny, okay? But like honestly I can't get on this bandwagon, trying to cancel the guy."

Jennifer 'pro-reality' Rubin on Twitter: "It is rare to find a politician as disliked by his own side as he is by the opposing one. In that, we can thank Cruz for doing his part in helping the country attain unity. https://t.co/VdEhRV5ORm" / Twitter
noting
Opinion | Just how unpopular is Ted Cruz? - The Washington Post
noting
Ted Cruz’s Cancún Trip: Family Texts Detail His Political Blunder - The New York Times

Text messages sent from Ms. Cruz to friends and Houston neighbors on Wednesday revealed a hastily planned trip. Their house was “FREEZING,” as Ms. Cruz put it — and she proposed a getaway until Sunday. Ms. Cruz invited others to join them at the Ritz-Carlton in Cancún, where they had stayed “many times,” noting the room price this week ($309 per night) and its good security. The text messages were provided to The New York Times and confirmed by a second person on the thread, who declined to be identified because of the private nature of the texts.

...
Mr. Cruz’s critics quickly circulated hashtags mocking his trip: #FlyinTed, a play on former President Donald J. Trump’s derisive nickname for Mr. Cruz during the 2016 primary race, and #FledCruz, among them. Some Democratic groups sought to fund-raise off the episode, and the state Democratic Party renewed its calls for Mr. Cruz’s resignation.

Cancun Cruz. I like that.

 

[lpetrich]

Texas power outages: Grid was 'minutes' from failing, lawmaker says - CNN

Texas officials pointed the blame at the power company and called for investigations. US Rep. Marc Veasey, a Democrat who represents parts of Fort Worth and Dallas, said he's learned from an industry executive that the power grid was just minutes from failing on Monday before state agency officials initiated emergency rolling outages.

"I want people to know that we were minutes away from the entire grid crashing," he told CNN's Ed Lavandera, criticizing ERCOT and Republican leaders for not better preparing for the freeze.

"They certainly could have taken some precautions that would have prevented what we're having to deal with now," Veasey said.

Texas was minutes away from monthslong power outages, officials say | The Texas Tribune - "Officials with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas said that grid operators implemented blackouts to avoid a catastrophic failure that could have left Texans in the dark for months."

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.

As millions of customers throughout the state begin to have power restored after days of massive blackouts, officials with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT, which operates the power grid that covers most of the state, said Texas was dangerously close to a worst-case scenario: uncontrolled blackouts across the state.

The quick decision that grid operators made in the early hours of Monday morning to begin what was intended to be rolling blackouts — but lasted days for millions of Texans — occurred because operators were seeing warning signs that massive amounts of energy supply was dropping off the grid.

then
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
then
Rep. Ro Khanna on Twitter: "As Chairman of the @OversightDems’ Environment Subcommittee, ..." / Twitter

As Chairman of the @OversightDems’ Environment Subcommittee, I’m launching an investigation into how this mess unfolded. We need to know why so many fossil fuel sources failed, why ERCOT wasn’t better prepared, who participated in the conspiracy to falsely blame renewables.

Once the dust settles here, I also plan to hold a hearing with the leaders responsible for this total meltdown. Texans need answers, Americans deserve to know the truth about the failures of fossil fuels, and we must know how to prevent this from happening again.

 

[Swammerdami]

Have you seen any lack of safeguards in nuclear power stations in Texas?

Looks like they are being too cautious, going by bilby's info.

I’m capable of holding both ideas in my head. If there’s any place where Chernobyl style negligence would happen in the US it would be Texas.

Well the Chernobyl negligence was in the design and build as well as the operation. You need to fail badly at all three to get a Chernobyl style failure. Operating failures in western plants are hugely expensive, but they don't hurt anyone (except the underwriters and their hangers-on).

I read Confessions of a Rogue Nuclear Regulator by Gregory B. Jaczko, former Chairman of the NRC. I do NOT recommend the book, but it has made me a bit less sanguine about nuclear power. He seems to extrapolate from Fukushima: if anything can go wrong it will.


BTW, the Chernobyl mini-series is a great watch! It is very interesting technically and psychologically — there were heroes and villains — but also to get a look at Soviet governance. Apparently it was the huge incompetence exposed by Chrenobyl (rather than Reagan's rhetoric ) that brought down the Soviet state.

 

[Deepak]

Have you seen any lack of safeguards in nuclear power stations in Texas?

Looks like they are being too cautious, going by bilby's info.

I’m capable of holding both ideas in my head. If there’s any place where Chernobyl style negligence would happen in the US it would be Texas.

Well the Chernobyl negligence was in the design and build as well as the operation. You need to fail badly at all three to get a Chernobyl style failure. Operating failures in western plants are hugely expensive, but they don't hurt anyone (except the underwriters and their hangers-on).

I’d like to think that you’re just being a nuclear proponent and want to defend the technology but you’re misunderstanding my point, I think.

The question isn’t whether the results of any given incident are going to be equal given the same scenario being tried, with whatever failsafes and whatnot activating.

My point is that we’re coming off a year of near half a million deaths from the politicization of a disease, and a party dominated by a Christian libertarian death cult. If your point is that the regulatory agencies in the US are strong enough that we could put Jared Kushner in charge for an indefinite period of time and you’re going to the mat to make the same assurance, then perhaps we have a discussion here. Or if you think there’s some state more likely in the other 49. If not, then this sounds like people talking about the resiliency of any given American system in the lead up to the Trump presidency.

A system is only good in as much as it’s defended. When you have sabotage from within, all your safeguards start to break down. We’ve already seen it with the financial regulatory system in decades past. People are living it now in Texas.