Texas Tribune: A year after the electric grid failed, Texas focuses on reliability, not climate change

Feb. 15 — Transitioning sources of electricity to cleaner fuels is one of the best tools humanity has to fight climate change — which brings severe weather that taxes the grid. But a year after the winter storm, Texas leaders aren’t talking about decarbonizing.

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KUT: One year later, many question the ‘official’ number of deaths linked to the Texas blackout

Feb. 15 — It’s been a year since millions of Texans woke up to find their power cut during the freezing cold. What followed were days without heat, electricity or water. Hundreds did not survive. But, on the anniversary of what became the worst blackout in Texas history, some say many of those who died have yet to be officially recognized.

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Utility Dive: Texas gas generators fared better than wind during last week’s winter storm, according to ERCOT

Feb. 11 — Gas-fired power plants fared better than wind during last week’s winter storm, officials from the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) told utility regulators on Thursday, although overall the grid held up well and there were no widespread outages

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Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Electric Utility Board votes to move forward with transition to competitive power market

Feb. 15 — For the first time in over a decade, Lubbockites may soon have the ability to choose their electric provider following a vote by the city’s Electric Utility Board on Tuesday to transition Lubbock Power & Light to the competitive electric market.

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Texas Tribune: Texas could connect to national power grids without losing autonomy, former grid regulator says

Feb. 15 — Texas has long refused to connect its decentralized grid to two national power networks, but Hunt Energy Network CEO Pat Wood said the state could do so without additional oversight — and without state Legislature approval.

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KXAN: Texas’ power grid was 4 minutes, 37 seconds away from collapsing. How has it improved 1 year later?

Feb. 15 — On Feb. 15, 2021, the Texas power grid was four minutes and 37 seconds away from completely collapsing, an event that would have triggered a “black start.” It would have taken months to mend Texas’ electric infrastructure, and left millions without power for just as long.

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KHOU: Grieving families face long legal battle one year after deadly Texas winter storm

Feb. 14 — Key legal questions, such as whether ERCOT can even be sued, must be decided before lawsuits can move forward.

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Spectrum News; Is it time for Texas to rethink independent power grid?

Feb. 14 — When it comes to electricity, the Lone Star State is certainly alone. The power grid in Texas is isolated from the rest of the country, and the deadly winter storm last year fueled questions about whether it’s time to reevaluate the state’s energy independence.

— See the Report