RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:Texas Grid Failure yggdrasill wrote: Texs has been evading regulation on winterization since 1989 at the least, as this 2011 article shows:
https://www.statesman.com/article/20110411/NEWS/304119704
You know more about electric grids and their workings than I do, and I understand the limitations of wind power, but there is a reason why Texas is out of power and not Oklahoma or Alaska or basically anybody else. Oklahoma derives 34% of its power from wind, and it's not any warmer in OK right now than in TX. This isn't a wind power problem nor a cold problem. It's a Texas problem.
Like I said, you usually need a back up source for your wind for peak power requirements. You can also have external contracts where you buy the extra for the wind shortfalls.
As to Oklahoma, according to data from 2018, most of their needs are met with Natural Gas. (https://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=OK#tabs-1) They have a net outflow of electricity that's about 75% of their wind power generation. My take on these numbers is that they likely have natural gas distribution for their heating needs and for electricity they do have sufficient back up for their wind farms which results in selling the extra energy generated.
From what I read in that article, energy is deregulated in Texas. While deregulation will lead to lower rates, it will also lead to lower investments as energy companies won't necessarily be able to recoup those. Imo, it highlights why regulation is needed in the energy sector. However, I doubt that the energy companies at the time asked for deregulation, this probably comes from government and consumer group advocates that wanted lower prices.