Abbott is an idiot. Free market approach to failing electrical grid.

[SmCaudata]

Texas Governor Abbott Turns to Bitcoin Miners to Bolster the Grid and His Re-Election

www.bloomberg.com

Not only is this a terrible idea at pretty much every level, it's also really shitty from an environmental standpoint.

Republicans are basically living caricatures. It's lunacy.

 

[Paratus]

Texas Governor Abbott Turns to Bitcoin Miners to Bolster the Grid and His Re-Election

www.bloomberg.com

Not only is this a terrible idea at pretty much every level, it's also really shitty from an environmental standpoint.

Republicans are basically living caricatures. It's lunacy.

I see we made the right move investing in a whole home generator. Now we have to lose both electricity and natural gas to be without power.

Probably need to consider adding solar panels and batteries once my roof needs replacing in several years

I’m sure the Bitcoin miners will be exempt from conserving power during the worst of the summertime demand as that won’t be during a “storm”.

 

[SmCaudata]

Yeah. I'm in WI and gerrymandering here is scary. Since Walker they seem to be actively seeking the bottom 10 for most quality of life metrics. I'm planning on looking at geothermal and solar with my LP backup. Combined with BEV with house backup function I should be able to get adequately off the grid. I also have a well, and given the city water issues here recently I'm really glad...

 

[nakedfrog]

:sigh:
What the fuck kind of clown world is this?

 

[HomerJS]

Texans will give Abbot a pass ignoring the electrical grid which caused deaths of residents as long as he gets rid of that made up CRT

Morons

 

[Fenixgoon]

That's the dumbest goddamn idea I've heard in a long time. It's "opting out of vaccination" dumb. possibly worse.

 

[compcons]

I see we made the right move investing in a whole home generator. Now we have to lose both electricity and natural gas to be without power....

Very little chance of that happening.

Again.

Maybe get a portable that can run on gasoline and propane and power at least the furnace blower and a fridge.

 

[UNCjigga]

This quote from the article is hilarious:
"If the grid starts to go wobbly, as it did when winter storm Uri froze up power plants in February 2021, miners could quickly shut down to conserve energy for homes and businesses. At least two Bitcoin miners have already volunteered to do just that.

Yes, because the FYGM Sovereign Citizen DeFi Libertarians are known to cut their own consumption for "the greater good" when resources are scarce!

 

[dank69]

This quote from the article is hilarious:
"If the grid starts to go wobbly, as it did when winter storm Uri froze up power plants in February 2021, miners could quickly shut down to conserve energy for homes and businesses. At least two Bitcoin miners have already volunteered to do just that.

Yes, because the FYGM Sovereign Citizen DeFi Libertarians are known to cut their own consumption for "the greater good" when resources are scarce!

JFC

 

[Paratus]

Very little chance of that happening.

Again.

Maybe get a portable that can run on gasoline and propane and power at least the furnace blower and a fridge.

Father-in-law did that. Bought a dual fuel portable with electric start (he's in his 70's) and had an electrician install a manual transfer switch with generator plug. If we are without power for days at a time again he'll run his fridge, freezer, and furnace off the generator and they'll come over to our place until the power comes back since ours can run the entire house AC included.

 

[Aikouka]

I just... don't understand the mental gymnastics required to believe that this is a good approach. To my understanding, Texas has a problem with the rigidity and reliability of their network in extreme situations (high/low temperatures), which are becoming a bit more common now. So, instead of solidifying their infrastructure (e.g. winterizing, energy storage, etc.), which is the most direct solution, they want to bring in more demand (ignoring the wasteful nature of crypto mining) and then hope that demand will willfully shutter itself when asked nicely. 🙄

 

[JimKiler]

This quote from the article is hilarious:
"If the grid starts to go wobbly, as it did when winter storm Uri froze up power plants in February 2021, miners could quickly shut down to conserve energy for homes and businesses. At least two Bitcoin miners have already volunteered to do just that.

Yes, because the FYGM Sovereign Citizen DeFi Libertarians are known to cut their own consumption for "the greater good" when resources are scarce!

They will say no and cite they have rights to electricity. And even if they did want to shut down would they know when to power down? I doubt it and then over time they would be less inclined to power down because it will get bungled.

 

[JimKiler]

I just... don't understand the mental gymnastics required to believe that this is a good approach. To my understanding, Texas has a problem with the rigidity and reliability of their network in extreme situations (high/low temperatures), which are becoming a bit more common now. So, instead of solidifying their infrastructure (e.g. winterizing, energy storage, etc.), which is the most direct solution, they want to bring in more demand (ignoring the wasteful nature of crypto mining) and then hope that demand will willfully shutter itself when asked nicely. 🙄

There is no electric grid problems in Texas. I look forward to Trump calling it a democrat hoax in the future.

 

[Homerboy]

so the idea is to bring in power hungry users, so the free market then builds infrastructure to support those new power hungry users. And if the shit hits the fan again (which it will), you then ask those power hungry users (who rely on the power to produce their "product" (I use that term loosely in this case) to pretty please stop using all that power so there's enough for everyone? And if they don't?....

OR

require those providing power now to invest in upgrading their existing infrastructure by winterizing and securing what's already in place? (A tried and true method in 49 other states)

Man Abbott and DeSantis really are racing to see who is the dumbest mother fucker in state gov't.

 

[gothuevos]

Privatize everything. That's the goal.

 

[dawp]

Privatize everything. That's the goal.

yup, and to maximize profits above everything, this going to end well for Texas, glad I moved out in 2007 before the shit really hit the fan.

 

[K1052]

I just... don't understand the mental gymnastics required to believe that this is a good approach. To my understanding, Texas has a problem with the rigidity and reliability of their network in extreme situations (high/low temperatures), which are becoming a bit more common now. So, instead of solidifying their infrastructure (e.g. winterizing, energy storage, etc.), which is the most direct solution, they want to bring in more demand (ignoring the wasteful nature of crypto mining) and then hope that demand will willfully shutter itself when asked nicely. 🙄

Natural gas production freezes out when it gets too cold because none of it is winterized here. Fortunately they have done absolutely nothing to prevent it from happening again and the Republicans want to rely on gas even more because it is "reliable".

Imma take my Austin housing market gain and peace out of this state.

 

[dainthomas]

If I lived there, I'd probably pick up a Ford Lightning to power my house the next time it gets a little nippy and the whole state reverts to the stone age.

 

[senseamp]

Everything is dumber in Texas.

 

[nakedfrog]

I just... don't understand the mental gymnastics required to believe that this is a good approach. To my understanding, Texas has a problem with the rigidity and reliability of their network in extreme situations (high/low temperatures), which are becoming a bit more common now. So, instead of solidifying their infrastructure (e.g. winterizing, energy storage, etc.), which is the most direct solution, they want to bring in more demand (ignoring the wasteful nature of crypto mining) and then hope that demand will willfully shutter itself when asked nicely. 🙄

Well, it sure is a handy thing there's no existing precedent showing Texas choosing protection of corporate profits over human life!

 

[ch33zw1z]

Haha, what in the hell

 

[PowerEngineer]

Well, I have to say that when it comes to maintaining the minute-to-minute balance between generation and load, there is certainly some benefit to having interruptible loads as an option. This will become increasing true as we move away from dispatchable fossil-fueled generation toward take-what-nature-delivers wind and solar generation. However, this isn't going to do much to address the problems caused by severe weather events (e.g. extreme loads and fragile infrastructure).

And IMHO the Bitcoin transaction process consumes way too much power. No country, state, or city should be looking to attract Bitcoin miners because of the increased costs that other ratepayers will see. Bitcoin needs to transition to a much less energy intensive process.

 

[K1052]

*glances nervously at TX weather forcast*

 

[Homerboy]

*glances nervously at TX weather forcast*

I really wish the weather/storms could just target GOP voters in Texas.
Godspeed

 

[Ajay]

What a freaking bizarre state. How stupid does one have to be too screw up natural gas production? There's the stuff called insulation - been around for a while . Also, thermo-electric pipe wraps. Heh, let’s just just vent a million cubic feet of gas instead and just call it a day. To the rest, let them eat cake. Glad the Mrs and I decide against moving to Austin ~10 years ago.