Former Texas Governor and Trump Energy Secretary Rick Perry warned Fox News Channel’s Tucker Carlson about the drawbacks of over-reliance on “green” energy, as Texans recently found out when an ice storm left millions without power.
The two also issued a strong warning about the deadly consequences of empowering environmentalist ideologues at the expense of real-world results.
As of Monday night, roughly four million Texans were without power, and wondering why they had been left in the dark while wrapped in layers of clothing and blankets.
“The ERCOT grid has collapsed in exactly the same manner as the old Soviet Union,” said Hirs. “It limped along on underinvestment and neglect until it finally broke under predictable circumstances.” https://t.co/whFrncNOlL
— Matt Pearce 🦅 (@mattdpearce) February 16, 2021
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What Went Wrong In Texas?
According to a Fox News report, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT, estimated that approximately 10,000 megawatts of Texas’ wind generation energy capacity was taken offline by frozen wind turbines.
Wind is the second largest source of energy in Texas, and about half of their wind capability went down in the storm.
Texas generates nearly one fifth of its electricity using renewable energy sources such as wind power.
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ERCOT stated that “about 10,500 [megawatts] of customer load was shed at the highest point,” – or approximately the amount of power needed for two million homes.
They went on to say that “Extreme weather conditions caused many generating units-across fuel types-to trip offline and become unavailable.”
Fox Business also reported that Texas Governor Greg Abbott had received a waiver from the U.S. Department of Energy on Sunday to allow for increased power production.
The fact that the governor would have to ask permission from Washington to increase production may be the beginning of what went wrong.
NEW: The Public Utilities Commission now tells me that about 500,000 residential customers are having power restored at this time.
They said to expect even more this evening. https://t.co/mfi9SumNNJ
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) February 15, 2021
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Concerns About ‘Green’ Energy And The ‘Green New Deal’
In former Governor Perry’s interview with Tucker Carlson on Monday, Perry voiced serious concerns about extreme Green New Deal ideology while also promoting “the need for a diversity of energy sources.”
He pointed out that, while there many wind farms in west Texas, they had all frozen due to the weather.
Because of that, “all that wind energy was lost,” Perry said.
Governor Perry went on to say that it was the job of those in government to “look over the horizon and see the challenges that may lie ahead,” emphasizing the importance of a diverse energy baseload everywhere – so that no single source could be so disruptive.
In explaining to Carlson what went wrong, he pointed to a number of factors. Texas had taken coal plants and nuclear plants offline. He explained that if the U.S. was going to continue to prosper, fossil fuels would have to be included in a number of reliable, diverse energy sources.
Perry also emphasized the use of natural gas, of which Texas itself is the largest supplier in the nation, and compact nuclear fusion reactors.
He also emphasized that wind and solar can be good additions, as is the case in Texas – but that they are not an end-all, be-all.
Perry and Carlson also blasted ideologues who are more intent on pushing their utopian beliefs than the outcomes for real people.
“Fast forward 10 years in an AOC world where everything is solar and wind, and you have this type of event. I mean, it’s 9 degrees in Roundtop Texas… You need power. There are countless lives that could be lost with this reckless adhering to a philosophy, that quite frankly, is not scientific.”
“The science tells us that if you have just wind and solar, it is going to get awfully cold in the winter, and it’s going to get awfully hot in the summer.”
Perry also said that they are using more energy right now during the cold snap in Texas than the hottest time of most summers.
Rick Perry On Freezing Texas Temps: Letting Green Energy Ideologues Control Our Energy Could Get People Killed. https://t.co/W9cJccfM8B
— Jack Blaine (@JackBlaine3) February 16, 2021
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How Are People Coping?
Like elsewhere in the southern U.S., many homes in Texas are not insulated for the kind of weather now gripping the Lone Star State.
As of Monday, Houston police said that at least two deaths had been attributed to the freezing temperatures.
Many more people were resorting to using dangerous methods of trying to keep warm, such as sleeping in cars with the engine running, and even using charcoal grills.
Because of this, several people were hospitalized with carbon monoxide poisoning. Some store shelves were being emptied out and there were some reports of price gouging for basic supplies.
The extreme cold is unusual for Texas, but it had been predicted and there had been time for officials to prepare, according to the Houston Chronicle.
More than two million households in Texas have had power outages during this historic snow storm, according to the people who run the Texas power grid. https://t.co/n7dvU02nPE
— KTXS News (@KTXS_News) February 16, 2021
Watch the complete interview with Tucker Carson and former Gov. Rick Perry below:
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AOC bye bye, . You’re a child in baby outfit
don't think you will have to wait 10 years. the grubment now in power, is doing everything they can, to put you there today. from their lab grown virus to all kinds of new laws and chinese ownership of most of the county, it won't be long now. maybe 1 or at most, 2 years. and p.i. this is the truth, so print it.
Why is ANYONE still listening to these traitors? They should be all in prison. Especially that Brennan trash!
Perry and Tucker Carlson also blasted ideologues who are more intent on pushing their utopian beliefs than the outcomes for real people. Speaking of 'ideologues, Perry added, 'You need power. There are countless lives that could be lost with this reckless adhering to a philosophy, that quite frankly, is not scientific.” Extreme weather conditions caused many generating units-across fuel types-to trip offline and become unavailable.
And by using the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which manages the electric grid for 90 percent of the state and operates separately from federal oversight and regulation, along with the fact that Weatherizing power generation and extraction equipment is voluntary in Texas. What a great philosophy, way to make your point! It isn't really good common sense, but it's a good way to again shift blame from the real problem
"ERCOT, estimated that approximately 10,000 megawatts of Texas’ wind generation energy capacity was taken offline by frozen wind turbines. Wind is the second largest source of energy in Texas, and about half of their wind capability went down in the storm."
"Texas generates nearly one fifth of its electricity using renewable energy sources such as wind power. Former Gov. Rick Perry voiced serious concerns about extreme Green New Deal ideology while also promoting “the need for a diversity of energy sources.”
"He pointed out that, while there many wind farms in west Texas, they had all frozen due to the weather. Because of that, “all that wind energy was lost,” Perry said."
It had nothing to do specifically with the windmills power generation. It only provides about 15% of generated power. ERCOT failed the state of Texas!
ERCOT claimed they were ready, issued a notice to power plants to make sure they were winterized properly and ensured the public that there was enough power to meet the demand.
Why wasn't there a mandate of the winterization of power? Other countries don't have this issue.
After the 2011 winter freeze, El Paso Electric, on the Western Interconnect grid, spent heavily to "winterize our equipment and facilities so they could stand minus-10 degree weather.
Remember he did say, "There are countless lives that could be lost with this reckless adhering to a philosophy, that quite frankly, is not scientific.”
Amongst the may preposterous things Rick Perry recently said, "We got a massive amount of wind farms out in West Texas that are frozen up there just like a propeller on an airplane." This is why prop planes are always just dropping out of the sky on days below freezing. 🤣😂🤣 Ummm… de-icing a plane is to get any layers of ice off the surface of the plane (which greatly effect lift and handling), not to unfreeze a propeller that is stuck frozen. In fact, planes run more efficiently in cold air, and less so in hot air. But you go chasing your windmills, Mr. Perry.
AOC needs to go away. Period.
Aoc replied to governor Perry…………….. blame trump and you should have voted Democrats and the storm wouldn't have hit !!!
"Leave Texas to its bountiful natural gas and oil. The world runs on it for the forseeable future. The State is rich in it, can develop more, and can distribute elsewhere as needed. Bountiful currently, roughly about 75 years of sustainability left. So what is the plan about the future timetable? "Stop the leftists from stifling American ingenuity, creativity, and initiative!" Too bad that isnt the case here, more like ignorance, laziness, greed and incompetence of those using the blame game again.
Leave Texas to its bountiful natural gas and oil. The world runs on it for the forseeable future. The State is rich in it, can develop more, and can distribute elsewhere as needed. Use alternative sources of energy where useful and practical, and either subsidized or market-driven. Introduce nuclear and fusion power.
Law of supply and demand, please. Stop the leftists from stifling American ingenuity, creativity, and initiative!
This has the stench of those rolling blackouts in California a few years ago. Remember those? Remember how many elderly people died? They gave the same reasons here. Turns out they lied in California. It was just a ploy to raise the electricity prices. What I want to know right now is why is there a limitation on the supply of natural gas to the generators that use them. Who is limiting the supply and why? People are dying because someone is being greedy or just plain evil. ERCOT has a LOT of explaining to do.
I still shake my head in disbelief when the tape of her saying "the world will end in 12 years if we don't do something about global warming and you're worried about how much it is going to cost" Well yes, we certainly ARE concerned about how much it is going to cost in dollars and cents, in jobs lost, illness and death because people can't afford doctors and food while the dreaming democrats swoon over a bar tender who should still be mixing martinis and not talking about legislative agendas!
AOC's "world" will resemble Somalia on a bad day….
Speaking of "We have to take a look at the people that are representing us" ERCOT claimed they were ready, issued a notice to power plants to make sure they were winterized properly and ensured the public that there was enough power to meet the demand.
Why wasn't there a mandate of the winterization of power? Other countries don't have this issue. After the 2011 winter freeze, El Paso Electric, on the Western Interconnect grid, spent heavily to "winterize our equipment and facilities so they could stand minus-10 degree weather.
Extreme weather conditions caused many generating units-across fuel types-to trip offline and become unavailable.
Rick Perry blames this on wind energy and the failure of the ideas of the green deal and renewable energy. 'You need power. There are countless lives that could be lost with this reckless adhering to a philosophy, that quite frankly, is not scientific.” But relying on an electric grid for 90 percent of the state, who operates separately from federal oversight and regulation, along with the fact that Weatherizing power generation and extraction equipment is voluntary in Texas. It wasn't rocket science to figure this out. What a great philosophy, bravo!
The storm that hit Texas is a warning. In real time it shows how divorced from reality the New Green Deal is. We can't let people that have no background or basic knowledge of what they are talking about leads down a path to destruction. We have to take a look at the people that are representing us, be it Congressman or Senator. Most of them have never held a real job. I will bet if we checked on AOC we would find she was a mediocre bartender at best.
"The piggy bank does have a bottom. You can only print so much before it really becomes worthless. According to Trump we can always print more, nobody would ever foreclose on us if we default! "Maybe a week in North Dakota in a normal residence but without any power & NO, no fireplace for heat. Cannot leave a "carbon footprint", while the CCP stomps us into oblivion. Then in six months, plant them in Death Valley" Not to be rude, but are you sure you haven't insulated yourself from reality?
Until "these greenies" are actually forced to see what reality is, we are in trouble. They are insulated from reality. Maybe a week in North Dakota in a normal residence but without any power & NO, no fireplace for heat. Cannot leave a "carbon footprint", while the CCP stomps us into oblivion. Then in six months, plant them in Death Valley in typical accommodations, without A/C. Give them unlimited supplies of water, food (no gas grills & don't even think about using charcoal to cook) & let them see what is reality for those who do not live in their well heated space in Winter, then unlimited A/C in summer.
I am near my "expiration" date, but out of curiosity hope to make to 11/24 to just see what happens. If the "greenies" achieve their dream, time for the eternal dirt nap. I won't even need "self help". No need for sympathy, I have lived a full and legally productive life, a la Mike Rowe.
RE, bow to us or die. If they kill us all, who are they going to tax, even after they scarf up any estate remaining in "death taxes" for the "good of the country". The piggy bank does have a bottom. You can only print so much before it really becomes worthless. Don't even think about putting a match to it for heat.
This is exactly what the left desperately wants! People freezing or boiling, with no power, no help coming locally, so they can say 'see, you need us to live, bow to us or die'
"Now, these libs freezing their butts off, that voted Democrat, can see what would happen if North Korea or China knock out our electrical grid." That's an ignorant comment! They're not responsible, nor is it relevant. Remember it's a Republican state and it went for Trump. Its Governor and majority legislators are Republican. Their policies and laws put them in this position! "Without natural gas and oil this entire country would be in rolling power outages like California." If you think that's the only threat to our power grids. Without a maintained, upgraded, secure and well protected infrastructure, that natural gas and oil won't make a difference! Extreme weather conditions caused many generating units-across fuel types-to trip offline and become unavailable. Yes those very natural gas and oil ones too! That sort of complacent attitude is why Texas is in trouble already. Think bigger.
Now, these libs freezing their butts off, that voted Democrat, can see what would happen if North Korea or China knock out our electrical grid. The Boy Scouts could invade us and be successful. Without natural gas and oil this entire country would be in rolling power outages like California. The rest of the world can't match what we do to keep the environment clean using fossil fuel.