What's going on with the power failures in Texas?

[Lemon Drop]

modelamac wrote:
Why is coal still used in Texas? Unbelievable!

They burn more coal than any other state. Twice as much as number two state, which is Indiana. Stats from 2016.

[SteveG]

Lemon Drop wrote:
[quote=modelamac]
Why is coal still used in Texas? Unbelievable!

They burn more coal than any other state. Twice as much as number two state, which is Indiana. Stats from 2016.
It's part of their Carboniferous Age outreach program.

[Rolando]

We were without power 90% of Monday. zero this morning in San Antonio. Rolling blackouts.

Our gas oven is now our heater, our stove and teapot is a humidifier WHILE WE ARE AWAKE.

The house is drafty, so we are getting fresh air.

[Mr Downtown]

Back in the 80s, you saw a lot of bumper stickers in Texas that said "Save Energy: Let a Yankee Freeze In The Dark."

Funny thing about the karma train: it runs in a circle.

[Ombligo]

I hope Samintex is doing okay.

[decay]

Mr Downtown wrote:
Back in the 80s, you saw a lot of bumper stickers in Texas that said "Save Energy: Let a Yankee Freeze In The Dark."

Funny thing about the karma train: it runs in a circle.

as quoted here:
http://www.ercot.com/news/releases/show/64

[JoeH]

modelamac wrote:
That is NOT true. Motors and heaters use the most electricity. A fan/blower is a motor with blades on the end, or a squirrel cage on the end.

Just ask any restaurant owner. He has cold storage rooms that have refrigeration compressors, a multiple exhaust fans over the grills, exhaust fans to move heat out of the kitchen, and large heating/cooling units on the roof to keep the dining area happy. Ask him about his electric bill.

[quote=AllGold]
Sure, but furnace blowers don't use that much electricity so they're not the reason the grid is overloaded.

Yes fans use energy, but compared to the usage for those refrigeration compressors, resistance heaters for heat pumps, and so on, they are a small fraction of the total usage. You need the fans to move the heated or cooled air, but it does not take nearly as much energy as the actual heating and cooling.

[AllGold]

JoeH wrote:
[quote=modelamac]
That is NOT true. Motors and heaters use the most electricity. A fan/blower is a motor with blades on the end, or a squirrel cage on the end.

Just ask any restaurant owner. He has cold storage rooms that have refrigeration compressors, a multiple exhaust fans over the grills, exhaust fans to move heat out of the kitchen, and large heating/cooling units on the roof to keep the dining area happy. Ask him about his electric bill.

[quote=AllGold]
Sure, but furnace blowers don't use that much electricity so they're not the reason the grid is overloaded.

Yes fans use energy, but compared to the usage for those refrigeration compressors, resistance heaters for heat pumps, and so on, they are a small fraction of the total usage. You need the fans to move the heated or cooled air, but it does not take nearly as much energy as the actual heating and cooling.
Agreed. Electric heat uses at least 10 times more electricity than the fan or blower in a forced air gas furnace.

[AllGold]

Sounds like the main problem is Texas has its own isolated power grid that doesn't connect outside the state.

How's that working out for you? :RollingEyesSmiley5:

[Buzz]

What happened to global warming?

BIL/SIL in TX are staying in hotel, courtesy of hospital SIL works for. Not sure what their daughter is doing; last we heard she was staying w/ a friend, hoping to go back home to FL ASAP. Timing ever isthing.
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