During the recent Winter Storm Heather (Jan. 13-16), the Texas grid was able to produce enough energy to meet the demand, but just barely. Since Winter Storm Uri (February 2021), it appears that improvements have been made to the reliability of natural gas generation. Also, there have been significant additions of renewables capacity, primarily solar, and a small amount of energy storage (batteries). All of these helped to prevent another grid collapse. But we also got lucky. This storm was not nearly as severe as Uri in its intensity, duration, and precipitation.
Two individuals died from hypothermia, or freezing, in the latest cold spell in the Northwest. The medical examiner in Milwaukee, Wisconsin is investigating three more deaths related to hypothermia.
A 56 year-old father has been identified as the first victim of the historic winter storm that has frozen much of the US, after apparently freezing to death on a Buffalo street.