Wind Turbines in the Cold

Texas Turbines Fail

Republicans in Texas are quick to blame wind turbines for their energy problems during the extreme winter weather there. That theory is more politically motivated than truthful. Wind turbines failed in Texas, but two-thirds of the power problems were due to breakdowns at fossil fuel power plants. Green energy has been a political punching bag for Texas Republicans like Gov. Greg Abbott throughout the winter storm. Experts say that politicians never take responsibility for natural disasters when it comes to preparedness. (Texas Tribune).

Abbott isn’t alone. Republicans looking to score political points from across the spectrum have been blaming green energy for the disaster, including those in Texas. “This is what happens when you force the grid to rely in part on wind as a power source,” Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) tweeted Tuesday afternoon. “When weather conditions get bad as they did this week, intermittent renewable energy like wind isn’t there when you need it.”

To drive the point home, many are sharing a viral image of a helicopter de-icing a frozen windmill. “You know how you unfreeze frozen windmills? By sending up a helicopter that shoots out chemicals onto the blades,” Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) tweeted, ostensibly in response to the viral image. “You need fuel for the helicopter. Keep that in mind when thinking how ‘green’ windmills are.”

The only problem is that the image was not taken in Texas earlier this week. It was taken in Sweden in 2014. (Rolling Stone)

 Wind turbines work well in cold climates. All you have to do is look at how wind generating companies in the north operate. The turbines in the north are fitted with deicers. More traditional power plants are engineered to deal with the cold. So are the water companies. 

Utilities in Texas are being charged with a lack of preparedness in  the face of the storm. They knew it was coming. They had days to prepare. That would not have been enough time for a storm like this. Preparations should have begun years ago.

Utilities in the south are not equipped to deal with the cold. 

There have been warnings from climate scientists. Their warnings went unheeded. The change in the vortex has been under study since the 1950's. and the breakdown has been occurring more frequently with increasing intensity. An article published by Acuweather warns, Longer, harsher winters may be in store for the portions of North America as the polar vortex continues to weaken and shifts, according to a new study.

The vortex has been shifting according to Acuweather's Senior Meteorologist Bob Smerbeck. "There are other factors that determine where the vortex sets up," Smerbeck said. "The warm blob over the north Pacific in winter 2013-2014 and the unusually warm waters along the west coast of North America [for the] 2014-2015 winter contributed to a southward dip in the vortex across eastern North America and cold winters in the central and eastern U.S."

Climate denial is a big part of power politics in the south, especially Texas. With more of these events likely in the coming winters, preparing infrastructure for more extreme cold would seem to be imperative. Housing will need to be updated to withstand the cold.

It will be costly. It will be necessary.

There's an opportunity here. Updating the infrastructure means good paying jobs.