Thanks for this. I'd also emphasize (as you mention) that wind turbines can operate in much colder weather and do in Canada and northern states and in Scandanavia and the like. As you say, the energy companies are not designed to provide stable and secure energy. They're designed to maximize quarterly profits. The same is true of natural gas -- they should have started them up earlier and spotted any issues so those could be resolved before the serious cold kicked in. But that costs money. An even better point: this massive cold so far south is because...of the climate crisis. Texas and North Carolina and Alabama and others will have to deal with cold extremes far more often because of the climate crisis. It's not a reason to avoid green energy -- it's a reason to embrace green energy so weather like this doesn't get worse and worse for our children and grandchildren.
Thanks for this. I'd also emphasize (as you mention) that wind turbines can operate in much colder weather and do in Canada and northern states and in Scandanavia and the like. As you say, the energy companies are not designed to provide stable and secure energy. They're designed to maximize quarterly profits. The same is true of natural gas -- they should have started them up earlier and spotted any issues so those could be resolved before the serious cold kicked in. But that costs money. An even better point: this massive cold so far south is because...of the climate crisis. Texas and North Carolina and Alabama and others will have to deal with cold extremes far more often because of the climate crisis. It's not a reason to avoid green energy -- it's a reason to embrace green energy so weather like this doesn't get worse and worse for our children and grandchildren.