Paul, our hearts break for everybody in the Texas Hill country. It is in the news here in Spain as being a tragedy. I think we can blame, at least in part, the administration for being negligent in its cuts to the NWS and the legislature in Austin. We saw the delayed response following Hurricane Helene play out in the Carolinas with misinformation regarding FEMA, which responded as it does, and locals who watch Fox News chasing them away! Meanwhile so many suffered more than they needed to.
As for February 2022, I worked for ERCOT post winter storm Uri. The real story was, in the end, not the power system as such, but the Intra-state gas pipeline and E&P infrastructure that failed which then cut off fuel to power generation. Yet while the entire ERCOT Board and CEO were sacked and the PUCT completely turned over, the real locus of problem rested with the Texas Railroad Commission. Nobody there faced the hard questions of why the gas infrastructure over which they had authority failed so badly…and no real changes were made.
The February 2022 example is one of party ideology and industry capture ahead of public health and safety. Oh, and do not let them tell you that it was “unprecedented.” Bullshit! I pulled the NWS met data going back as far as I could (also knowing where to look and lived it helps) and December 1989 was just as cold or colder. So, are we going to gut NWS data to claim ignorance for lack preparation for things we know have happened and can happen again? Seems so.
What is next? Cutting budgets for weather stations for collecting and reporting? Is it going to take another 1903 Galveston hurricane that nobody knew was coming to changes minds?
Many thanks for your expert insights, Paul. This is all very helpful. I could hardly agree more with your assessments and prognosis for the future actions of the Texas legislature. The Texas Railroad Commission, really just a front for Big Oil and Gas is as corrupt as it comes, in my opinion.
It has become maddening to intelligent Texans, to deal with the FOX News (propaganda) crowd, living and breathing conspiracy theories and outright lies. One tidbit from the 2021 freeze that still galls me can be found in the following link, regarding Jerry Jones' profiteering due to a sweetheart deal from the GOP run Texas Legislature.
Again, I am so very grateful for your expert, first-hand insights. Stay well there in Spain.
Paul, it was worse…far worse than that. Without details, I saw the receipts (literally) for gas sold at around $1000/mmBtu. But the prices were even higher in SPP to the north! BTW, not much has changed as I can see production drop offs in the Permian in west Texas during January and February to this day.
Paul, our hearts break for everybody in the Texas Hill country. It is in the news here in Spain as being a tragedy. I think we can blame, at least in part, the administration for being negligent in its cuts to the NWS and the legislature in Austin. We saw the delayed response following Hurricane Helene play out in the Carolinas with misinformation regarding FEMA, which responded as it does, and locals who watch Fox News chasing them away! Meanwhile so many suffered more than they needed to.
As for February 2022, I worked for ERCOT post winter storm Uri. The real story was, in the end, not the power system as such, but the Intra-state gas pipeline and E&P infrastructure that failed which then cut off fuel to power generation. Yet while the entire ERCOT Board and CEO were sacked and the PUCT completely turned over, the real locus of problem rested with the Texas Railroad Commission. Nobody there faced the hard questions of why the gas infrastructure over which they had authority failed so badly…and no real changes were made.
The February 2022 example is one of party ideology and industry capture ahead of public health and safety. Oh, and do not let them tell you that it was “unprecedented.” Bullshit! I pulled the NWS met data going back as far as I could (also knowing where to look and lived it helps) and December 1989 was just as cold or colder. So, are we going to gut NWS data to claim ignorance for lack preparation for things we know have happened and can happen again? Seems so.
What is next? Cutting budgets for weather stations for collecting and reporting? Is it going to take another 1903 Galveston hurricane that nobody knew was coming to changes minds?
Many thanks for your expert insights, Paul. This is all very helpful. I could hardly agree more with your assessments and prognosis for the future actions of the Texas legislature. The Texas Railroad Commission, really just a front for Big Oil and Gas is as corrupt as it comes, in my opinion.
It has become maddening to intelligent Texans, to deal with the FOX News (propaganda) crowd, living and breathing conspiracy theories and outright lies. One tidbit from the 2021 freeze that still galls me can be found in the following link, regarding Jerry Jones' profiteering due to a sweetheart deal from the GOP run Texas Legislature.
Again, I am so very grateful for your expert, first-hand insights. Stay well there in Spain.
https://www.npr.org/sections/live-updates-winter-storms-2021/2021/02/18/969074414/jerry-jones-company-hits-jackpot-as-harsh-storms-send-natural-gas-prices-surging
Paul, it was worse…far worse than that. Without details, I saw the receipts (literally) for gas sold at around $1000/mmBtu. But the prices were even higher in SPP to the north! BTW, not much has changed as I can see production drop offs in the Permian in west Texas during January and February to this day.