AMY HARDBERGER
As we move into spring, memories of Texas’ deep freeze that left millions without power and water for several days continue to fade. These two impacts, however, were neither separate nor unrelated inconveniences: people lost water because they lost power.
If 2011 is a guide, our suffering might not be over. The deep freeze and winter blackouts of 10 years ago were followed by an epic drought that again threatened the power sector because of a lack of cooling water. Scientists predict Texas is poised for another harsh drought on the heels of the 2021 freeze, so the same water that froze in February might become scarce enough to threaten our energy sector twice in one year.