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Why Everyone Is Talking About The Texas Electric Grid

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Why Everyone Is Talking About The Texas Electric Grid


Everybody, it appears, is speaking concerning the electrical grid in Texas nowadays. It appears a bit odd since, not like February 2021, Texans haven’t needed to endure via days on finish with out energy throughout a significant climate emergency this summer time. All through all the warmth thus far and the pleas grid supervisor ERCOT (the Electrical Reliability Council of Texas) has issued asking clients to preserve energy, the grid has held up.

However it’s simply July, with the traditionally even-hotter interval of August via mid-September nonetheless to come back, and everybody from the New York Occasions to the Wall Road Journal to Bloomberg to writers right here at Forbes to varied Texas media shops are expressing considerations concerning the grid’s potential to carry up till the warmth relents. There are good and legitimate causes for these considerations. In spite of everything, the state has up to now seen eight new day by day data for energy demand on the grid this summer time, and extra appear prone to be set throughout the 8 to 9 weeks to come back.

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In an interview with the Houston Chronicle final week, Interim ERCOT CEO Brad Jones famous that the temperatures this summer time have been hotter than his fashions had projected. That’s definitely affordable, however additionally it is honest to notice that there’s nothing unprecedented concerning the warmth in Texas this summer time, and if the grid has not been constructed out to deal with this type of summer time warmth, then that could be a failure of creativeness and planning.

In its Might, 2022 Summer season Evaluation of Useful resource Adequacy (SARA), ERCOT stated it anticipated it will have loads of obtainable capability to fulfill its anticipated peak day by day demand of 77,317 MW. However on July 11, when it issued a request to clients to preserve power, ERCOT forecast that demand would probably exceed 79 MW throughout peak hours. ERCOT’s fashions additionally forecast extra file demand on July 13, necessitating a second conservation request in 3 days. With the state mired in its ongoing warmth wave, extra data could possibly be set this coming week.

Making the scenario even tighter, that SARA report listed ERCOT’s anticipated unplanned offline outages from dispatchable thermal capability at simply over 4,000 MW at any given time. However greater than 12,000 MW was down on July 11, as older pure fuel and coal vegetation started to battle from being run always in the course of the summer time warmth. A few of these vegetation at the moment are properly previous scheduled upkeep dates as they’re being run full-out to fulfill demand. Mixed with wind energy’s projected supply of simply 8% of its nameplate capability in the course of the warmth of the day, Jones admitted the scenario was fairly dicey.

Ed Hirs, College of Houston Vitality Fellow, stated the scarcity of dispatchable energy is the central drawback. “We have now much less dispatchable energy on the grid than we did final summer time,” Hirs stated. “We have now about 63,000 plus megawatts obtainable. That is a couple of thousand megawatts lower than we had final summer time. Demand is rising.”

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Texas Senator Charles Schwertner agrees. “We have now definitely discovered that electrical energy is simply as very important as water and air,” Schwertner instructed ABC13 in Austin. “We have to proceed to have a look at methods to boost our dispatchable era. A era that Texans can depend upon after we are having excessive demand intervals like we’re seeing at this time.”

Two corporations, Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway
BRK.B
and Connecticut-based Starwood Vitality, submitted plans to the legislature in 2021 that envisioned the state create incentives that may finance the constructing of a fleet of recent, dispatchable pure fuel reserve capability that ERCOT would be capable of faucet throughout occasions of maximum climate. Senate invoice 3, for which Sen. Schwertner was the chief sponsor, included language to create a program roughly alongside the traces urged by these two corporations. However that language was stripped out of the invoice by the Home State Affairs committee late within the session.

The consequence of that call is extra delay in addressing the actual drawback on the grid. An expedited allowing course of may have enabled concrete being poured and metal for the brand new vegetation going into the bottom as quickly as 2023. With the de-regulated Texas market nonetheless failing to create the market indicators wanted to encourage new dispatchable thermal capability and the legislature not assembly once more till subsequent January, ERCOT officers should proceed to scramble to keep away from blackouts throughout occasions of extreme summer time and winter climate for a number of extra years to come back.

That actuality explains why seemingly everyone seems to be speaking concerning the Texas electrical energy grid at this time, though Texans’ lights have stayed on.



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Five-Star Aggies WR Target Spurns USC, Sets Texas A&M Visit

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Five-Star Aggies WR Target Spurns USC, Sets Texas A&M Visit


The Texas A&M Aggies are picking up steam on the recruiting trail with some of the top talent in the nation.

Already, players such as five-star safety Jonah Williams, five-star tackle Michael Fasusi, and four-star corner Cobey Sellers have all been projected to land in College Station as part of the Aggies 2025 haul.

Now, another top talent is reportedly eyeing Texas A&M, with five-star wide receiver Kaliq Lockett canceling his official visit to USC in favor of a trip to Aggieland, per On3’s Steve Wiltfong.

Nov 25, 2023; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA;  Texas A&M Aggies wide receiver Ainias Smith (0)

Nov 25, 2023; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Texas A&M Aggies wide receiver Ainias Smith (0) / Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

And for Lockett, it is the impact of new head coach Mike Elko on the program that has made all the difference in his interest.

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“The culture change at A&M is eye-catching,” Lockett told On3. “Coach Elko is really making a big impact not only with the players but with the coaches and fans. You can tell he means business.”

Lockett, who currently ranks as the No. 14 overall player, No. 2 wide reciever in the nation and No. 5 player in Texas per the On3 Industry Ranking, has his other visits scheduled for LSU on May 31, Florida State on June 14 and Texas on June 21.

However, this will not be Lockett’s first trip to Aggieland either, after taking an unofficial for the Maroon-White spring game – a visit that was highlighted by his connection with four-star Aggies QB commit, Husan Longstreet.

“Definitely getting to connect with the quarterback commit Husan Longstreet,” Lockett said. “My first time meeting him in person. Great guy and we were talking about the possibility of us linking up at A&M in the future.”

As it stands, the Longhorns are currently favored to land the Sachse, TX product with a 30.8 percent confidence rating for On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine, followed by the Aggies at 17 percent and LSU at 14.5 percent.

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OU Softball: Oklahoma ‘Excited’ to Clash With Texas for Big 12 Tournament Title

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OU Softball: Oklahoma ‘Excited’ to Clash With Texas for Big 12 Tournament Title


OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma got its wish for the weekend — a shot at revenge. 

The No. 4-ranked Sooners dropped their first conference series since 2011 last month to the now-No. 1 Texas Longhorns.

OU could level the season series at 2-2 on Saturday and win the Big 12 Tournament in the process. 

The Red River Rivals have dominated softball during their tenures in the Big 12. 

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Patty Gasso has won 23 conference titles — 15 regular-season titles and eight tournaments — in the Big 12. 

Texas has another nine championships — five in the regular season and four tournament crowns.

The Longhorns won’t be able to defend their regular season title in the SEC next year, and neither will the winner of the Big 12 Tournament.

“We were kind of hoping for this opportunity,” Gasso said on Friday after OU dispatched BYU. “Just, one, to face Texas and two, to get better from it. So, yeah. I think everybody’s going to be really excited about the matchup.”

Both teams have dominated in Oklahoma City to set up Saturday’s tilt. 

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OU manhandled Kansas 10-1 on Thursday before downing BYU 13-2 on Friday. 

Texas hammered Texas Tech 13-4 in the quarterfinals, and the Longhorns followed up that performance with a 14-3 drubbing of Baylor on Friday night. That puts the tournament’s top two seeds both at a plus-20 run differential in their first two games.

“They’re a very tough team,” Texas coach Mike White said of Oklahoma on Friday night. “They’re getting hot again. They always play well at home so we’re expecting a good matchup.”

White’s offense is humming, something that he said was influenced in part by watching the Sooners over the past three years.

“We have to take control … be aggressive,” White said. “… That’s what’s been so impressive about Oklahoma over the last several years. That’s what they do. So a rising tide lifts all boats and we’re just trying to catch up and play the game that they’ve been playing.”

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There was little to separate the two rivals across three game in Austin. 

The Longhorns won both the second and third games of the series 2-1, but OU outscored Texas 7-6 across all three games at Red & Charline McCombs Field. 

Texas beat Oklahoma to hand the Sooners their first Big 12 series defeat since 2011 earlier this year in Austin.

Texas beat Oklahoma to hand the Sooners their first Big 12 series defeat since 2011 earlier this year in Austin. / Briana Sanchez/American-Statesman / USA

Oklahoma appears to have snapped out of its offensive funk over the past three games. 

Gasso has returned to the basics to get the bats on track. She’s gone back to her roots by returning to small ball to keep her hitters locked into an aggressive mindset, and the decision has looked like a masterstroke. 

Through OU’s struggles, she never lost faith that the Sooners would round into shape when the postseason got underway. 

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“I’ve had frustrating moments for sure,” said Gasso, “where I would go home and go, ‘I don’t have any idea what to do here.’ But we’re not built that way. 

“We’re always going to find a way to get something to click, somehow, some way and we’re not going to stop until we figure it out.”

Freshmen hitters Ella Parker and Kasidi Pickering are riding a hot streak to pair with OU’s wealth of experience in center fielder Jayda Coleman, shortstop Tiare Jennings, third baseman Alyssa Brito, outfielder Rylie Boone and catcher Kinzie Hansen. 

Gasso has all her pitchers at her disposal as well heading into the title game. 

Kelly Maxwell started against Kansas and Kierston Deal mowed through BYU, leaving senior Nicole May fresh alongside Bedlam star Karlie Keeney, who hasn’t pitched yet in the 2024 Big 12 Tournament. 

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“We just want them to just compete like nobody’s business and not get caught up in outcomes,” Gasso said on Friday. “… Keep your mind free, take your breaths, get in there and throw a competitive pitch every time your arm swings around in a circle because when you do that you’re going to win. More times than not you’re gonna beat that hitter.”

The season’s fourth meeting between Oklahoma and Texas gets underway from Devon Park, formerly Hall of Fame Stadium, at 6:30 p.m. Saturday and the game will be broadcast on ESPN2.

“I feel really good,” Gasso said. “I think all hands are on deck.”



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KSAT Connect: Aurora borealis spotted in South Central Texas due to geomagnetic storm

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KSAT Connect: Aurora borealis spotted in South Central Texas due to geomagnetic storm


SAN ANTONIO – It was a rare sight across parts of the South Central Texas sky Friday night: the aurora borealis!

A strong geomagnetic storm — the strongest since October 2003 — occurring this weekend allowed these colorful waves to extend farther south than usual.

According to the NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, a cluster of sunspots has ejected solar flares, plasma, and magnetic fields towards Earth over the past few days, causing this strong geomagnetic storm.

“CMEs (coronal mass ejections) are explosions of plasma and magnetic fields from the sun’s corona. They cause geomagnetic storms when they are directed at Earth… Geomagnetic storms can impact infrastructure in near-Earth orbit and on Earth’s surface, potentially disrupting communications, the electric power grid, navigation, radio and satellite operations… Geomagnetic storms can also trigger spectacular displays of aurora on Earth.”

NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center

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Sightings have also been reported across the country and all over the world.

With more opportunities to spot them into the weekend, the best way to view the aurora borealis in South Central Texas is at a location away from city lights. Because of the sensitivity to light, phone cameras have also been proven to spot the colors better than the naked eye.

Check out some of the photos sent into KSAT Connect:

Robert Lozano

The Northern lights taken from our driveway in Bulverde!

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Justin J

Some shots of the Northern Lights in Spring Branch.

Not sure how to upload to KSAT Connect? Here is a guide to posting:

  • Open the KSAT Weather Authority app OR visit the KSAT Connect web page. We recommend using the app for regular access to KSAT Connect!
  • If you’re on the KSAT Weather Authority app, click the camera icon on the navigation bar at the bottom of the screen. You can also upload from the KSAT News app. Click here for instructions.
  • Sign in or sign up for a FREE KSAT Insider (member) account by clicking the orange button with the text “Log in to Upload a Pin.”

  • Once you’re signed in, you’ll click the orange button that now reads “Upload a Pin.”

  • Click the blue button at the top to choose the photo or video you’d like to share.

  • Select “Weather” as the channel and one category.

  • Tell us about your photo or video by including a description.

  • The last step: Click the orange button at the bottom to upload.


Copyright 2024 by KSAT – All rights reserved.



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