Texas is an enigma. The state is the USA’s largest refiner and producer of oil, however, it is also the country’s largest wind energy generator. That must play well into the oft-affirmed idiom, “Everything’s big in Texas” even, according to American country singer George Strait, “ex’s” The wind energy, however, is having significant problems.
Last winter much of the state was without power for days because wind turbines froze and failed to produce any power. Today, with a typical Texas heatwave, winds are so sluggish that only 8% of them are producing any energy at all.
The problem with wind power naturally is “irregularity” and the ill-advised reliance on unreliable nature. Solar energy sails in the same ship. When one couples intermittent and unreliable power with extremely high demand, there are going to be significant issues.
Vestas and Ørsted both Danish wind turbine manufacturing companies have said that the black ink in their financial statements has declined because of listless wind speeds. As noted in the linked story, “The industry is not hiding the direct relationship between wind output and wind energy output. Politicians, on the other hand, would much rather not talk about it.”
As evidenced here, politicians are not as concerned with people, but instead power and the deception of climate change and the use of fear-mongering is giving it to them. Under further increased demands this summer, many states could be subjected to rotational load shedding also known as rolling blackouts.
As well, politicians are not concerned with the millions of birds and bats killed or maimed annually by wind turbines or solar panels. For political power and privilege this is simply another matter to repress. Even the progressive zealots of the National Audubon Society and PETA conceal what to their movement should be absolute outrage.
Europe has had this same predicament with wind turbines, and is very concerned with winter coming and the potential for disruption in Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG). The European Union and member nations have all banned hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and are reliant on the Russian Nordstream pipelines. Despite reopening a few shuttered coal and nuclear plants, many believe Vladimir Putin will eventually shut down the LNG source and Europeans will suffer and many die without winter heat.
Protests are already happening in many parts of Europe with the difficulties, hardships and hazards being caused by unwarranted climate policies. Without access to fertilizers, farmers, food handlers and ranchers have been hard hit.