ERCOT says new battery storage and other systems set in place after 2021’s devastating winter storm will help prevent an energy emergency this winter.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) is guarding against winter power outages with battery storage systems. According to an article by Arcelia Martin in Inside Climate News, “The battery systems allow for more availability in the early morning, when it’s harder to meet electricity demand, ERCOT reported.”
ERCOT has implemented a number of reforms since a winter storm in 2021 caused catastrophic power losses across the state. “The operators are required to show preparation records, or how they’ve implemented and maintained weather emergency measures. They also must conduct walkthroughs during which they show inspectors how they’ve implemented physical protections to the batteries, including waterproofing, wind-proofing and freeze-proofing.”
However, “There’s no guarantee that batteries within ERCOT can quickly recharge during winter storms as solar underperforms and ice could lead to wind projects going offline.” And because the Texas power grid is isolated from the rest of the country, it can’t easily import power during an emergency. ERCOT says the battery storage systems and other reforms make it less likely that the state will experience an energy emergency this winter.
Read the full story: The Texas Power Grid Will Get a Boost from Batteries This Winter
California-Style Rolling Blackouts Come to Texas
As bad as the power outages are in Texas, they would be much worse if the independent energy grid operator hadn't initiated rolling blackouts. In an extensive interview with CBS Austin, Bill Magness, the head of ERCOT, explains what went wrong.
Texas Grapples with How to Power New Data Centers That Consume More Energy than Cities
The state’s utility grid operator is scrambling to adjust its planning processes to meet a skyrocketing number of interconnection requests.
Court Denies Lawsuits Over Texas Power Grid Failure
The state’s Supreme Court ruled the non-profit ERCOT can’t be sued for damages caused during blackouts in the 2021 winter storm.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Chicago breaks ground on $3 billion megadevelopment
The new neighborhood, titled Foundry Park, will one day host 3,700 residences.
California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO resigns after $600,000 scandal
Under Ian Choudri, the authority used taxpayer dollars to fund first class flights and trips to nightclubs.
Want to study the Missouri River? Soon, you may need unanimous approval from 10 states
Legislation would require 10 governors’ permission to study or build projects moving water outside the basin.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority