Texas

Texas Freeze: ERCOT can do better than counting on failure-prone Gas

Published

10 months ago

January 13, 2024

Texas Freeze: ERCOT can do better than counting on failure-prone Gas

Frozen Pipelines covered in Ice and Snow power outage during Winter Storm Uri caused by natural gas … [+] pipelines freezing

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Texas, along with most of the country, is about to get hit with an Arctic blast that will plunge temperatures to extreme lows. But the all-too-recent memory of Winter Storm Uri in February 2021 causing rolling blackouts, hundreds of deaths, and billions in unexpected utility bills leaves Texans more worried than the rest of the country about their power staying on next week.

Unfortunately, their worries are real despite Governor Abbott’s insistence that all will be fine. Almost three years after that traumatic event, Texas’ state legislature and regulators have done little to insulate their constituents for the next big freeze beyond requiring weatherization inspections, a woefully insufficient measure.

Instead, Texas policymakers used the tragedy to subsidize expensive and unreliable fossil fuels. The state legislature’s main response to Uri was authorizing billions in state money to double down on the main cause of its last disaster: natural gas power plants.

Gas plants are “disproportionately vulnerable to failure”

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the North American Electric
AEP
Reliability Corporation found that Texas’ over-reliance on natural gas was the main cause of blackouts during Winter Storm Uri – more than 80% of ERCOT’s natural gas powered backup generators failed, prolonging outages while residential electricity demand spiked 250% higher than normal because people cranked up the heat.

Gas
GAS
generation has become our grid’s hidden Achilles Heel: A recent report from the Union of Concerned Scientists found gas plants are “disproportionately vulnerable to failure” in extreme temperatures and were responsible for 56% of the capacity knocked offline during Uri. The problem is that extreme cold can freeze gas plant equipment like valves, water lines, sensors and inlet air systems and embrittle rubber and silicone seals.

Fortunately, the market forces that Texas Republicans tried hard to suppress are too strong, and ended up saving ERCOT during last summer’s extreme heat waves, when the state was hotter than 99% of the Earth’s surface.

Because of the free market orientation of Texas’ electricity system, it produces more electricity from renewables than any other state and is second only to California when it comes to grid scale battery capacity. And as I outlined in an earlier article, these clean resources kept the grid float and Texans cool in unbearable heat.

These same renewables and batteries will make a meaningful difference next week. During the worst of the upcoming freeze wind power is expected to produce at least 10 GW on the coldest mornings, with solar adding at least 7 GW mid-day along with 3 GW of batteries that can ensure clean power can meet atleast a fifth of ERCOT’s forecasted peak demand of 80 GW.

Renewables and batteries aren’t a silver bullet

However, renewables and batteries are not a magical replacement for unreliable natural gas plants. Other extremely cost-effective measures can prepare the Texas grid to weather future big freezes, as noted by Energy Innovation researchers in the aftermath of Winter Storm Uri.

The first is energy efficiency. Texas, and much of the south, has poorly insulated houses that rely on inefficient electric resistance heaters. Fortunately, technological advancements and policy delivered through the Inflation Reduction Act point to a better way. Replacing these resistance heaters with heat pumps that are often three times as efficient can cut consumer electricity bills using a federal tax credit to offset much of the upfront cost.

(From the Big Freeze Report: ERCOT slide showing cold weather impacts on electricity consumption by … [+] customer class)

ERCOT

Texas energy expert Doug Lewin estimates inefficient resistance heaters in poorly insulated homes contributed 30-40 GW of demand during Uri’s worst conditions, accounting for 45-55% of the total load and thereby precipitating the grid collapse.

The Texas Public Utility Commission has been authorized by the state legislature to develop rules to increase residential energy efficiency, but the agency hasn’t even started the process more than seven months after the bill was signed by the Governor. Texas has a golden opportunity to pass strong energy efficiency standards that could result in a heat pump boom in the state aided by Inflation Reduction Act tax credits.

The second is ending the Texas grid’s isolation by connecting it with the rest of the country. A geographically larger grid is a more reliable grid – make the grid larger than the storm, as they say.

It makes intuitive sense – the nearby Southeast and Southwest experience different weather patterns and temperatures, with different impacts on renewable and fossil power plants’ reliability. And it would have dramatically reduced the astronomical power price spikes that hit customers during Uri. A recent report by Grid Strategies found that if the Texas grid had been connected to adjacent regions during Uri it would have yielded savings “approaching $1 billion for 1 GW of additional ties between ERCOT and the Southeast, and over $100 million for most of the other [nearby regions]”.

Even outside of extreme events, connecting Texas’ ERCOT grid to the rest of the country can save consumers lots of money. A recent study from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found some of the most valuable opportunities for interregional transmission lie in exchanges between Texas and surrounding regions.

LBNL study showing that Texas will benefit the most from grid interconnection

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

What comes after this storm?

With another big freeze bearing down on Texas, it’s hard to witness the understandable angst that Texans feel about whether their grid will hold up. What makes it worse is that we’ve known for years how to make the grid more resilient against extreme weather.

I hope that blackouts, sky high bills, and unnecessary suffering never happen during extreme weather events. But what comes after the storm is where hope becomes reality. For a reliable grid, Texas policymakers just need to take common sense actions.

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Texas

How To Spend An Overnighter In Fort Worth, Texas

Published

7 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Press Room

How To Spend An Overnighter In Fort Worth, Texas

The Fort Worth skyline reflects off the Trinity River. It is a city that loves its roots and embraces its evolution.

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If you’ve been one of the 10.8 million annual visitors to Forth Worth, Texas, you already know it’s worth a multi-day stay. But sometimes, you don’t have that luxury, and the best you can swing is an overnighter. I’m here to tell you, that’s not a bad thing. Fort Worth, a pleasantly compact city in comparison to its sprawling neighbor, Dallas, turns an overnight stay into an opportunity to immerse yourself in Texan culture while luxuriating in the finer things in life.

Start with a semi-private flight via JSX, which operates out of its own terminal outside of Dallas-Love airport. This streamlined service provides private-flying ease and comfort at a fraction of the cost (a typical flight from Houston to Dallas costs about $500 round trip and gets you there in about an hour). After an extremely comfortable flight, you’ll touch down in Dallas, and it is a matter of minutes to deplane, collect your bag, and hail a ride. Opt for a rental car from JSX onsite provider Go Rentals or just use a ride app for the day.

The lobby of the Crescent Hotel Fort Worth features eye-catching chandeliers and comfortable seating with views of the outdoor courtyard and fireplace.

Crescent Hotel Fort Worth

The heart of Fort Worth is 40 minutes away – you’ll leave the hustle and bustle of the big city behind and find tree-lined (and impeccably clean) streets. You’ll also find the new Crescent Hotel Fort Worth, which Conde Nast Traveler recently dubbed the #1 Hotel in Texas. Service is on point – when I arrived feeling a little queasy, the staff managed to rustle up a bowl of soup and a grilled cheese sandwich, and that was with the dining room temporarily reserved for a television crew shooting on the premises.

Which apparently is a thing in Fort Worth. It’s becoming an increasingly popular destination for movie and TV filming, and it’s clear why. The landscape is quite pretty, made all the prettier in the Cultural District, where Crescent Hotel is located. It features lovely museum buildings and wide streets that will beckon you outside to explore, and that exploration should include the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, the oldest botanic garden in Texas. It boasts 23 specialty gardens, such as the Japanese Garden ideal for a serene stroll, along with sculptures, ponds, waterfalls, and a don’t miss greenhouse.

If you prefer the indoors, just across the street from the Crescent Hotel is the Kimbell Art Museum, which recently celebrated its 50^th anniversary and features works by creative legends like Rembrandt, Picasso, and Cezanne. The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth is a stone’s throw away, as is the Amon Carter Museum, currently featuring an exhibit entitled “Cowboy.”

The Fort Worth Stockyards are home to the twice-daily cattle drives that pay homage to the culture and history of his area.

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And speaking of cowboys, you must set aside time to witness an authentic and historically accurate cattle drive, which takes place twice daily at 11:30 am and 4:00 pm on Exchange Street in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards. Watch as wranglers outfitted in boots, chaps, and hats reminiscent of the early American days drive cattle through the town. You can learn more about Fort Worth’s cowboy culture at The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, and the Cattle Raisers Museum.

If you haven’t noticed by now, Fort Worth is a bit of a dichotomy with its attention to ranch life every bit as important as its evolution to modern city. That’s why a day here is a study in contrasts, and one of the best ways to see – and taste – that is through the food. Start with lunch on the hacienda-style patio at Joe T. Garcia’s, a popular Tex-Mex restaurant serving up margaritas and family recipes like bean chalupas since 1935.

Mouthwatering scallops are cooked to precision at Waters, a fine dining restaurant in Fort Worth, Texas

Rebecca Deurlein

For dinner, dive into Waters Restaurant for a fine dining experience helmed by Chef Jon Bonnell. Appetizers like crab cakes and tomatoes topped with fried goat cheese are about as close to perfect as you can get. And foods that depend on being cooked just right, like scallops and filet, are indeed just right. Waters is located in Sundance Square, a walkable entertainment and business district that is especially lovely at night and offers live theater, shopping, an historic Chisholm Trail mural, water features, and over 30 restaurants, in case you decide to stay.

That’s the only problem with Fort Worth – one day and night will give you a taste that will have you hustling to get back. So maybe not such a problem after all.

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Texas

City of Houston defends keeping firefighter on payroll amid nude video controversy and lawsuit

Published

15 hours ago

November 20, 2024

Press Room

City of Houston defends keeping firefighter on payroll amid nude video controversy and lawsuit

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — The City of Houston says its hands are tied when it comes to a firefighter who showed a nude video of a female firefighter to their colleagues.

John Barrientes was found liable in a civil trial last year and was ordered to pay former firefighter Melinda Abbt $250,000. City Council is considering approving an $850,000 payment to Abbt to settle a separate federal lawsuit related to the matter.

Yet some council members question why Barrientes has been allowed to keep his job.

The city points to an obscure Texas law governing police and fire departments.

“If you’re looking to terminate someone’s employment because of a past act, the statutory scheme in Texas requires that that occurs within six months of the act,” City Attorney Michel Arturo said.

But that’s not how other attorneys see it.

“I’m not aware of any law that says you have to fire someone within 180 days of the misconduct,” employment attorney Michael Lombardino said.

Arturo sent Eyewitness News a copy of the Texas Local Government Code. Under a heading titled ‘Indefinite Suspensions,’ it reads:

“In the original written statement and charges and in any hearing conducted under this chapter, the department head may not complain of an act that did not occur within the six-month period preceding the date on which the department head suspends the firefighter or police officer.”

Lombardino said that should only apply to indefinite suspensions, which he said are different than terminations.

“Sometimes you need to be able to conduct an investigation, so putting a time limit on when you would be able to terminate an employee doesn’t really make sense,” he said.

Arturo told council members that firing Barrientes could give him grounds for a wrongful termination suit. Some worry about the lawsuits the city could face by keeping him.

“If we have another incident that comes up, aren’t we in more legal jeopardy because we are aware of this behavior?” Councilman Fred Flickinger asked.

Council won’t vote on whether to approve the settlement with Abbt for at least another week.

For news updates, follow Luke Jones on Facebook, X and Instagram.

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Texas Longhorns OT Kelvin Banks Jr. Named Finalist for Major Award

Published

22 hours ago

November 20, 2024

Press Room

Texas Longhorns OT Kelvin Banks Jr. Named Finalist for Major Award

Texas football senior and offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. was nabbed as one of the four finalists for the Lombardi Award, a trophy that celebrates the best offensive or defensive lineman in college football.

Among Banks Jr. in the other finalists spots are LSU’s offensive tackle Will Campbell, Penn State’s defensive end Abdul Carter and South Carolina’s EDGE defender Kyle Kennard.

This is just another award for the offensive tackle. After the Mississippi State win, Banks Jr. was named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week and repeated that award against Oklahoma. In addition, Banks Jr. also was named the Outland Trophy’s National Player of the Week for his performance against the Sooners.

Before the season, Banks Jr. was called First Team All-America by the Associated Press, CBS Sports, ESPN, Sporting News, and The Athletic as well as the preseason First Team All-SEC team by both media and coaches.

The Texas offense has been successful partially because of Banks Jr., he is ranked as the highest Texas player on the PFF Big Board at 11.

According to the official Texas Longhorns website, the Longhorns rank ninth nationally in team passing efficiency (162.81), 12th in passing offense (288.6), 13th in completion percentage (67.9) and scoring offense (37 ppg), and 18th in total offense (450.2 ypg).

These stats have also helped propel the Longhorns offensive line to be a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award earlier this month.

If Banks Jr. wins, this would be the fourth time a Longhorn has won the Lombardi Award. The other three to win are Kenneth Sims (1981), Tony Degrate (1984), and Brian Orakpo (2008).

This year’s award dinner will take place on Dec. 11th after the regular season concludes.

In the meantime, Banks Jr. and the Longhorns face the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday for their next opponent.

The game in Austin will kickoff at 2:30 on ABC.

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