So let me get this straight: we can land on Mars (average temperature –81 degrees F), seek out signs of ancient life, collect samples of Mars to be saved in orbit until retrieved by a later mission and land the first helicopter on another world…
but we can’t keep the electric grid and water pumps in Texas operating during a cold spell?
Something tells me this is a human problem rather than a technological one, as everyone knows you have to winterized wellheads, pipelines and gauges in order to keep natural gas (still the primary source of electricity production in the state) flowing in sub-freezing temperatures. But apparently everyone – by which I mean regulators, Public Utilities Commission of Texas (PUCT), system operators, Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), and electric distribution companies too many to mention didn’t feel the probability of a “100 year weather event” warranted the investment. Perhaps they believed in the myth of global warming despite all scientific evidence pointing to a sun cycle plunging us into another mini-ice age. Or maybe they were just feeling lucky and thought Mother Nature would deal them only good hands.
Given the disastrous results this week everyone will no doubt look into implementing widely available precautionary measures going forward. I would like to suggest those measures involve well established weatherization technology rather than more green energy boondoggles.
Remember: green glycol is your friend, green energy, not so much.
“Coolant” aka “anti-freeze” in the north
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