Tom, You do realize that ERCOT is a non-profit organization….
> On Apr 14, 2021, at 8:04 AM, Tom Beecher <beec...@beecher.cc> wrote: > > > Funny how this obsession with a green grid has made the grid > > unreliable, resulting in sales of gas-burning generators and > > perishable fuel. Dare I say it's not been worth it? > > Yes, desire for renewable power sources is totally the reason that power > generators neglect proper preventative maintenance and adoption of lessons > learned during past problem periods. It absolutely has nothing to do with > profit being the most important thing ever. Right? > > On Wed, Apr 14, 2021 at 8:48 AM Mark Tinka <mark@tinka.africa> wrote: > > > On 4/14/21 13:35, Billy Croan wrote: > > > Sounds like we all need to start keeping a few days reserve of energy > > on hand at home now because the utilities can't be trusted to keep > > their system online in 2021. > > It just makes sense to plan along those lines, really. Despite popular > belief, power companies are preferring energy conservation from their > customers more than they do sales, because they just can't keep throwing > up new coal-fired or nuclear power stations a la the days of old (anyone > remember the 1973 and 1979 oil crises?) > > Most people would assume that power companies want to sell more > electricity so they can make more money, but they dread the days when > the network is brought to its knees, even if the revenue will climb. So > between asking customers to save more on energy + being able to rely > less on fossil fuels for generation, one needs to consider their > personal energy security over the long term, fully or partially > independent of the traditional grid. > > > > Funny how this obsession with a green grid has made the grid > > unreliable, resulting in sales of gas-burning generators and > > perishable fuel. Dare I say it's not been worth it? > > I wouldn't say that the obsession is without merit. It's just that > regular folk are only seeking the solution from one perspective - that > of the power generators. If folk (and that includes the gubbermints) met > the power companies half way, renewables would make a lot more sense, > more quickly. But as I said before, when we flick the switch, it must > turn on. End of. And then we revert to demanding power companies to > embrace the additional revenue, or fulfill their mandate to deliver a > basic, life-sustaining utility, no matter what. > > Unfortunately, there really hasn't been sufficient education to regular > folk about what it takes to generate electricity reliably, no matter the > season. And yet, there is far more education out there about the > benefits of conserving it, and preserving the earth. So the view is not > balanced, and power companies as well as oil producers will knee-jerk to > either justify or distance themselves, rather than encourage a fair, > practical engagement. In the end, he that feels the most pressure, > caves... and this can go either way depending on which side of the > economic development curve you are sitting. > > > > > > Nuclear and hydro were the only reasonable obvious choices and > > ecological paralysis hamstrings those as well. > > Ultimately, no target toward zero emissions is complete without some > kind of nuclear and/or hydro. Especially as a solution for peak demand, > (pumped) hydro will continue to be the most efficient option, if folk > are interested in keeping the lights on at 7:45PM on a wintery Tuesday > night. > > > > > > Now is the time to speak the message. Write your elected > > representatives. Talk to your families and friends about energy. > > Change minds. > > There is room for co-existence, I think. But the honest discussions need > to be had, and not the glossy wish list that should be fixed by someone > else, because we are just citizens minding our own business. > > Mark.
