By:
Andy Colthorpe
Texas’ grid and the idiosyncrasies of its electricity planning system regime made global headlines in February following a harsh winter storm and subsequent blackouts that affected millions of people and businesses for almost an entire week.
The tragic events, which left an estimated 30 people dead, were followed quickly by initial, predictable, depressing knee-jerk reactionary blaming of renewable energy by politicians and media outlets alike. In reality wind and solar both performed above grid planners' expectations in the state while thermal generation sources not only underperformed, but still — despite a wave of propaganda — comprise the vast majority of the generation mix in the Lone Star State.