Intro To: Winter Reliability
Is Texas Ready for Another Winter Storm? | Texas Grid Reliability Crisis Explained
Winter Storm Uri left millions of Texans without power in February 2021. Years later, is the Texas electric grid actually more reliable—or are we still at risk of another major blackout?
In this video, we break down new research on the state of Texas grid reliability heading into winter, including why the reserve margin has dropped from 17.5% to roughly 10%, how over $50 billion in new solar and battery investment may not protect Texans during a multi-day winter storm, and what it would actually take to prevent the next grid failure.
We cover:
– Why weatherization alone didn’t solve the Texas power grid’s deeper problems
– How ERCOT’s improved reliability statistics can be misleading
– Why batteries fall short during prolonged winter storms
– The role of thermal generation (natural gas, nuclear, coal) in keeping the lights on
– How surging data center demand is adding pressure to an already strained grid
– Market design reforms that could drive long-term reliability
Whether you lived through the 2021 Texas blackout or you’re trying to understand what’s being done to prevent the next one, this video gives you the full picture.