ERCOT, PUC, and deregulation got us here

[Biff Tannen 45673]

1 hour ago, C-Man said:

I've long avoided Buccee's unless I've absolutely had to make a stop there. Glad to know there's a legit reason to not ever go there again.

I just never really got it.  Most truck stop type places are really nice nowadays.  Buccee's draw is it's just huge I guess?

[C-Man 27214]

Just now, Biff Tannen said:

I just never really got it.  Most truck stop type places are really nice nowadays.  Buccee's draw is it's just huge I guess?

Idiocracy is real

[MissingInAction 25038]

I prefer the old school truck stops where prossies cruised the truck lots, and well maintained glory holes in the bathrooms.

[Degenerate Gardner 4085]

8 minutes ago, C-Man said:

Idiocracy is real

Not only that, it looks to be aspirational. 

[JimmyJames 12271]

On 8/18/2021 at 5:32 PM, Biff Tannen said:

I just never really got it.  Most truck stop type places are really nice nowadays.  Buccee's draw is it's just huge I guess?

The only reason I ever stop at a Buccees is if I’m on the road and have to take a shit. They do have good bathrooms and plenty of stalls. 95 percent occupied but always at least a few available.  It must be science or something.

 Otherwise, besides that, the place is basically a ring on Dante’s inferno of hell.

[Longhorn_Fan68 33869]

Xpost. Maybe more reason to avoid Buccee's

 

[C-Man 27214]

21 hours ago, JimmyJames said:

The only reason I ever stop at a Buccees is if I’m on the road and have to take a shit. They do have good bathrooms and plenty of stalls. 95 percent occupied but always at least a few available.  It must be science or something.

 Otherwise, besides that, the place is basically a ring on Dante’s inferno of hell.

 

2 hours ago, Longhorn_Fan68 said:

Xpost. Maybe more reason to avoid Buccee's

 

If I have to make an emergency poop stop there again, I can't guarantee it's going to make it into the bowl. I'm definitely not gonna flush.

[atomheartbevo 89649]

On 7/16/2021 at 10:48 PM, cactusflinthead said:

Nothing to see here.

More nothing to see.

https://www.texastribune.org/2021/10/21/texas-railroad-commission-power-grid-council/

Quote

Oil industry helped handpick members of Texas advisory group for electric grid reliability, emails show

Oil and gas industry groups provided a list of names to the Railroad Commission for appointment to a council formed in response to the February power crisis. All four of the industry's top choices were selected.

Quote

Oil and gas industry groups had a heavy hand in choosing representatives to serve on a council intended to ensure energy and electricity operations continue during extreme weather conditions, emails provided to The Texas Tribune and confirmed by the Texas Railroad Commission show.

The council, recently formalized by the Texas Legislature in the aftermath of the power crisis earlier this year is supposed to ensure the energy and electric industries meet “high priority human needs” and “address critical infrastructure concerns” — responsibilities lawmakers assigned to it after the previous, informal group failed to ensure natural gas suppliers could transport enough fuel to power plants during the February winter storm.

Quote

Bob Stein, a professor of political science at Rice University and expert on political ethics, said that governments often need and want people from the industry to advise them or serve on boards because of their knowledge of the sector. But he said there should be clear distinctions between industry interests and those of regulators — and rules to ensure the lines aren’t blurred.

“We have to be able to appoint people who know something about what they’re regulating,” Stein said. “But it’s all about whose interest are we looking out for: the public or the industry? Who do we really represent?”

 

[JimmyJames 12271]

Nothing will change until the republicans lose power. Nothing. The grid will likely fail again. It’s only a question of when, not if.

Edited October 24, 2021 by JimmyJames

[atomheartbevo 89649]

35 minutes ago, JimmyJames said:

Nothing will change until the republicans lose power. Nothing. The grid will likely fail again. It’s only a question of when, not if.

They are playing a pretty risky game, since Republicans, including Abbott, very publicly claimed to have fixed the grid.

You can get away with a lot of stupid, ignorant shit, but nobody likes Memaw losing power and having icicles in her house, and Memaw will show the fuck up and vote, especially when you promised her that it wouldn't happen again.

 

[Okie State 3818]

They are playing a pretty risky game, since Republicans, including Abbott, very publicly claimed to have fixed the grid.
You can get away with a lot of stupid, ignorant shit, but nobody likes Memaw losing power and having icicles in her house, and Memaw will show the fuck up and vote, especially when you promised her that it wouldn't happen again.
 

It don't make a shit. Somehow the Libs will be to blame.

[Brisketexan 105095]

They are playing a pretty risky game, since Republicans, including Abbott, very publicly claimed to have fixed the grid.
You can get away with a lot of stupid, ignorant shit, but nobody likes Memaw losing power and having icicles in her house, and Memaw will show the fuck up and vote, especially when you promised her that it wouldn't happen again.
 

You ain’t paying attention, because…

It don't make a shit. Somehow the Libs will be to blame.

This. It will be Joe Biden’s fault. 100% guaranteed. Want to place any bets?

[atomheartbevo 89649]

3 minutes ago, Okie State said:

It don't make a shit. Somehow the Libs will be to blame.

I would like to see Abbott fuck around and try and blame the liberals that aren't in power in Texas, after he very publicly proclaimed that he personally fixed everything. People are more than happy to look the other way when politicians say stupid shit as long as it doesn't actually affect them.  This affected too many of them.

And if we get another fiasco right before the (R) primaries, that'll be fun.

I'm sure Huffines will be saying that this would never have happed on his watch, because he would have outlawed all socialist public utilities, so there would have been no power to lose in the first place!

[atomheartbevo 89649]

1 minute ago, Brisketexan said:

This. It will be Joe Biden’s fault. 100% guaranteed. Want to place any bets?

Ted Cruz won his last race by 2.6%, because he's unlikable, and because Beto helped him out with some comments.  Plus, nobody was freezing to death on Ted's watch in 2017 or 2018.

Abbott is firmly planting his flag in that same unlikable territory as Cruz is. Unlike Cruz though, he made sure people know that personally took responsibility to make sure things are getting fixed with our grid.  Only 45% of Texans approved of him the month after that freeze, and that's along party lines.  The numbers only went down through the year (they've been hovering around 40% lately), and another good freeze, and he won't be cracking 40%.

 

[Francisco 2.0 32389]

7 minutes ago, atomheartbevo said:

I would like to see Abbott fuck around and try and blame the liberals that aren't in power in Texas, after he very publicly proclaimed that he personally fixed everything. People are more than happy to look the other way when politicians say stupid shit as long as it doesn't actually affect them.  This affected too many of them.

And if we get another fiasco right before the (R) primaries, that'll be fun.

I'm sure Huffines will be saying that this would never have happed on his watch, because he would have outlawed all socialist public utilities, so there would have been no power to lose in the first place!

 

Assuming the grid fails again, it's absolutely what he will do.  The GOP can't help themselves, even when it's demonstrably proven they are at fault.   And it works, every time.  Their voters are willing to die because the GOP has convinced them that death and suffering are a better alternative than living under Democratic rule.

It's the greatest con job in history, and it's ongoing.

 

[Brisketexan 105095]

 
Assuming the grid fails again, it's absolutely what he will do.  The GOP can't help themselves, even when it's demonstrably proven they are at fault.   And it works, every time.  Their voters are willing to die because the GOP has convinced them that death and suffering are a better alternative than living under Democratic rule.
It's the greatest con job in history, and it's ongoing.
 

The governing philosophy we’re dealing with is “the suffering and death means it’s working!” That is not hyperbole. The system is working as designed, and as we (the voters) want it to.

[Beau Vine 54211]

2 hours ago, Okie State said:

2 hours ago, atomheartbevo said:

They are playing a pretty risky game, since Republicans, including Abbott, very publicly claimed to have fixed the grid.
You can get away with a lot of stupid, ignorant shit, but nobody likes Memaw losing power and having icicles in her house, and Memaw will show the fuck up and vote, especially when you promised her that it wouldn't happen again.
 

It don't make a shit. Somehow the Libs will be to blame.

He literally went on Hannity and blamed it on the Green New Deal before people had power restored.

[Okie State 3818]

He literally went on Hannity and blamed it on the Green New Deal before people had power restored.

Yep and it circulated like wildfire through Facebook and Nextdoor. Pathetic and completely on brand.

[atomheartbevo 89649]

2 hours ago, Francisco 2.0 said:

Assuming the grid fails again, it's absolutely what he will do.  The GOP can't help themselves, even when it's demonstrably proven they are at fault.   And it works, every time.  Their voters are willing to die because the GOP has convinced them that death and suffering are a better alternative than living under Democratic rule.

It's the greatest con job in history, and it's ongoing.

52 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

The governing philosophy we’re dealing with is “the suffering and death means it’s working!” That is not hyperbole. The system is working as designed, and as we (the voters) want it to.

2018, Ted Cruz won by 2.6% thanks to Trump's support and maybe Beto stumbling (other threads to hash that out).

Fall 2021, Abbott is less popular than Cruz was in late 2018, Trump is out of office, and Abbott is scared shitless of the fucking Mogwai nipping at his wheels.  And this all comes as Abbott spent the summer and early fall trying to suck off The Orange One by waging war against a shitload of the parents of the 5 million school kids in Texas - parents who just want to keep their kids in school and give no shits about whether their kids like wearing masks or not, because the parents don't want to have to miss work or sit in on another fucking school Zoom session in their life.  And Abbott is going to continue fucking with Texans in order to appease Trump, keep the Mogwai off his wheels, and to try and outdo motherfucking Florida's governor.

Abbott better pray the power grid stays online this winter, that the Mogwai doesn't enter the general election with a third party, and he damned sure better pray that Chris Bell or Lupe Valdez walk through the door and pick up the (D) nomination, because he has solidified his image in the minds of a shitload of Texans, and not in a good way.  There's nothing on the horizon to make anybody fall in love with him getting another term.

Rick Perry won in 2006 with 39% of the vote.  If the Mogwai jumps into the general, Greg Abbott ain't winning in 2022 with 39% of the vote.

Edited October 24, 2021 by atomheartbevo

[atomheartbevo 89649]

8 minutes ago, Beau Vine said:

He literally went on Hannity and blamed it on the Green New Deal before people had power restored.

7 minutes ago, Okie State said:

Yep and it circulated like wildfire through Facebook and Nextdoor. Pathetic and completely on brand.

And as shown by the polls, while MAGA ate that up, the moderates, independents, and liberals didn't buy it one bit.  

 

[Nice Guy Eddie 13511]

Yep, I bet if you asked the Texas gop voters about the winter storm, they would blame frozen wind mills, a few inept state employees (probably democrats) and weather that will never happen again.

[Francisco 2.0 32389]

11 hours ago, atomheartbevo said:

2018, Ted Cruz won by 2.6% thanks to Trump's support and maybe Beto stumbling (other threads to hash that out).

Fall 2021, Abbott is less popular than Cruz was in late 2018, Trump is out of office, and Abbott is scared shitless of the fucking Mogwai nipping at his wheels.  And this all comes as Abbott spent the summer and early fall trying to suck off The Orange One by waging war against a shitload of the parents of the 5 million school kids in Texas - parents who just want to keep their kids in school and give no shits about whether their kids like wearing masks or not, because the parents don't want to have to miss work or sit in on another fucking school Zoom session in their life.  And Abbott is going to continue fucking with Texans in order to appease Trump, keep the Mogwai off his wheels, and to try and outdo motherfucking Florida's governor.

Abbott better pray the power grid stays online this winter, that the Mogwai doesn't enter the general election with a third party, and he damned sure better pray that Chris Bell or Lupe Valdez walk through the door and pick up the (D) nomination, because he has solidified his image in the minds of a shitload of Texans, and not in a good way.  There's nothing on the horizon to make anybody fall in love with him getting another term.

Rick Perry won in 2006 with 39% of the vote.  If the Mogwai jumps into the general, Greg Abbott ain't winning in 2022 with 39% of the vote.

 

You do know; I hope I'm wrong, and the positive outlook you have in regards to electoral and demographic trends are correct.  But, daily we as a society are bombarded with evidence to the contrary of your consistent messaging.

The GOP has decided at a state and federal level that there is no line they will not cross in order to remain in power.  And when a political party has done that, well, demographic trends really don't matter.  

 

 

 

[fattyflattie 4639]

1 hour ago, Nice Guy Eddie said:

Yep, I bet if you asked the Texas gop voters about the winter storm, they would blame frozen wind mills, a few inept state employees (probably democrats) and weather that will never happen again.

Im not sure about that. I do think most of them would rather brave the storm annually  than pull the lever for a D, though. 

[atomheartbevo 89649]

1 hour ago, fattyflattie said:

Im not sure about that. I do think most of them would rather brave the storm annually  than pull the lever for a D, though. 

I don't see the MAGA crowd ever voting D, unless Trump went D.  Identity politics has locked them in.

But I could see some not being very enthusiastic about getting out to vote when Trump is not on the ballot, and the guy leading the ballot sucks balls and is promising them something and failing to deliver.

[atomheartbevo 89649]

2 hours ago, Francisco 2.0 said:

You do know; I hope I'm wrong, and the positive outlook you have in regards to electoral and demographic trends are correct.  But, daily we as a society are bombarded with evidence to the contrary of your consistent messaging.

The GOP has decided at a state and federal level that there is no line they will not cross in order to remain in power.  And when a political party has done that, well, demographic trends really don't matter.  

I don't necessarily consider it positive, but more pragmatic.  Georgia flipping two Senate seats with Trump on the ballot, and one of those Ds being a black guy, and the other a Jewish guy, should be a wake-up call to Texas Republicans. Trump and MAGA are not infallible.  And toss in Arizona as well.

We are bombarded daily with various messages to the contrary, no denying that, but the Republicans have been in power in Texas for a few decades now, and their trying to blame Democrats wears a little thin when the Republicans have been trying to make life difficult for everybody. I mentioned the pandemic - parents of younger children have been through hell the past year and a half or so, and most just want the schools to stay open and their kids to stay in school.  Meanwhile the Republicans are out there all over TV and social media openly bragging about fighting against the very measures that would keep schools open and kids in school.

To quote Nandor the Relentless: "I am sick and tired of being sick and tired" and that's how a lot of folks are.

And yes, Republicans did try to blame Biden for the February fiasco, but most people understood that he'd only been in office for a few weeks, and they also understood that neighboring states, going through some of the same shit, did not lose power on the scale that we did.

And here's the thing:  The Republicans vowed and claimed to have fixed the power grid issues from last February.  They better pray it holds up through this winter. 

The chances of us having another one of those "once in a lifetime" storms is low, but everybody is noticing that over the last 5-10 years, we seem to be having more and more "once in a lifetime" kind of incidents/disasters.

[RDCanecutter 26411]

On 8/18/2021 at 11:41 AM, DigglerontheHoof said:

Buccee's is where you go to see People of Walmart, when you don't feel like doing all that walking.   The average BMI in Buccee's has to be 50+.

Bass Pro Shops is a strong contender in that genre, with the twist that the People of Walmart are wearing camo while moving through all the camo, so you get this shimmering Predator effect out the corner of your eye.

[hobbes2702 13032]

16 hours ago, atomheartbevo said:

I would like to see Abbott fuck around and try and blame the liberals that aren't in power in Texas, after he very publicly proclaimed that he personally fixed everything. People are more than happy to look the other way when politicians say stupid shit as long as it doesn't actually affect them.  This affected too many of them.

And if we get another fiasco right before the (R) primaries, that'll be fun.

I'm sure Huffines will be saying that this would never have happed on his watch, because he would have outlawed all socialist public utilities, so there would have been no power to lose in the first place!

It’s not that they will look away. Pubs will blame Dems and it will work because their voters are stupid and just need an other to lament

[atomheartbevo 89649]

48 minutes ago, hobbes2702 said:

It’s not that they will look away. Pubs MAGA will blame Dems and it will work for MAGA voters because their voters they are stupid and just need an other to lament

Fixed. It's way too easy to assume that every Republican is full-on MAGA these days, but there's plenty that aren't, and there's plenty of moderates and independents who are tired of the excuses.  See Georgia.  See Arizona.  See Ted Cruz only winning by 2.6% a couple of years.

ERCOT fuckery is a FAFO moment if it happens again.  People will tolerate a lot of shit, but if the Republicans are out there telling everybody it's fixed, and that we need to keep our grid independent, and then the same shit happens again, like I said nobody likes Meemaw being without power for days in the middle of a winter storm.

[atomheartbevo 89649]

What's interesting about our discussions is that none of us are saying that Texas (collectively - ERCOT, the power companies) won't fuck up again in the winter.  We keep bringing in more and more companies and people from out-of-state, so the demand keeps rising.

[Dutchrudder 11137]

I spent 4k making my new home ready for extended power outages by adding a generator interlock system to my panel, and a plug on the outside of the house to connect it. Got a plumber to add a line from the gas meter that I can connect whenever it happens.

I converted the generator to tri fuel, because again I don't trust the Texas grid to not fuck up again. I'll be using natural gas to feed the unit, but in the event these bozos shut that off, I'll be able to use gas or propane to power it as well. I don't know when exactly I'll need it, but being a good Boy Scout, I'm prepared.

[atomheartbevo 89649]

4 hours ago, Dutchrudder said:

I spent 4k making my new home ready for extended power outages by adding a generator interlock system to my panel, and a plug on the outside of the house to connect it. Got a plumber to add a line from the gas meter that I can connect whenever it happens.

I converted the generator to tri fuel, because again I don't trust the Texas grid to not fuck up again. I'll be using natural gas to feed the unit, but in the event these bozos shut that off, I'll be able to use gas or propane to power it as well. I don't know when exactly I'll need it, but being a good Boy Scout, I'm prepared.

So uhhh...what's your address?  You can PM me....the reason why I'm asking is uhh.....I've got a guy who can help you with fuel.  Yeah, that's it!  He can help you out with low-cost fuel.

 

[Amos Moses 795]

6 hours ago, Dutchrudder said:

I spent 4k making my new home ready for extended power outages by adding a generator interlock system to my panel, and a plug on the outside of the house to connect it. Got a plumber to add a line from the gas meter that I can connect whenever it happens.

I converted the generator to tri fuel, because again I don't trust the Texas grid to not fuck up again. I'll be using natural gas to feed the unit, but in the event these bozos shut that off, I'll be able to use gas or propane to power it as well. I don't know when exactly I'll need it, but being a good Boy Scout, I'm prepared.

Did you buy a kit to convert for natural gas?

[Dutchrudder 11137]

Did you buy a kit to convert for natural gas?

Yeah, that's what a Tri-fuel conversion does. Most generators take gasoline, some do propane and/or natural gas out of the box. You can either buy one that has the ability, or change it with a kit. I bought a Duromax 13000, which can power my whole house on nat gas if needed. That's my primary option in the event there is another long black out. Pics


It would take about 4 pounds of propane to power home essentials for a day, so I could use my grill tanks if needed to get by a few days. Worst case scenario, I siphon gas from the cars and put it in the generator to keep the heater running if we have week long+ outage and no natural gas feed.

When the freeze hit this year, I had a 2 year old and a wife that was 7 months pregnant. Our home did not have power for what ended up being about 3 full days. We stuck it out the first day, doing what we could to stay warm and limit the loss of heat in the house, but after that first night, our home temp dropped from 58 degrees to 48. We weren't going to risk waiting around for power to come back, and went to stay with a friend who never lost power. I'm never going to let that happen again, so I went after a self sufficient option. I don't trust this Texas government at all, they are all fucking crooks. Hundreds of Texans died from that one storm, and they aren't doing anything about it.

[Fudge Nuggets 19190]

19 hours ago, atomheartbevo said:

They better pray it holds up through this winter. 

Well since it appears winter has been cancelled this year, I don't see the grid failing again.

[Guest Lobo]

Huffines is in a tough bind.  On the one hand, if the grid were to fail again this Winter...he could blame it on Abbott and probably steal away a significant chunk of reliable Abbott voters who know deep down inside Greg was full of shit on the ERCOT mess...but they still want to vote Republican.  

On the other hand, Huffines' "outer skin" relies on a warm, moist environment to keep it from cracking off to reveal his ghoulish-gnome like appearance.  

[Satoshi 129]

Cross posting despite the reflexive negs i will get. Bitcoin mining to help stabilize the grid. 
 

 

[Captainant 27655]

7 minutes ago, Satoshi said:

Cross posting despite the reflexive negs i will get. Bitcoin mining to help stabilize the grid. 
 

 

this is idiotic. Increasing power demand is not how you'd typically address lack of capacity in a grid. The goal in this story isn't to increase generation capacity, but to increase demand to pay for energy during typical periods of low generation, in order to try to incentivize producers to supply more energy.

We should be investing in energy storage, not increased energy consumption.

Edited November 23, 2021 by Captainant

[Native Texas 44]

16 minutes ago, Satoshi said:

Cross posting despite the reflexive negs i will get. Bitcoin mining to help stabilize the grid. 
 

 

$5 says they lose their ass if the don’t get bought up by another hedge buddy.  No rocket surgeon to know it’s more the offering and timing to get the insiders out while being green is the thing…

 

ERCOT SWPP are the right folks on this biz.

 

not yahoo’s beating on solar panel dumb shit!

[wildcat09 29349]

It’s so hard to tell the crypto con artists from the crypto marks.

[Satoshi 129]

15 minutes ago, Captainant said:

this is idiotic. Increasing power demand is not how you'd typically address lack of capacity in a grid. The goal in this story isn't to increase generation capacity, but to increase demand to pay for energy during typical periods of low generation, in order to try to incentivize producers to supply more energy.

We should be investing in energy storage, not increased energy consumption.

I want to congratulate you on something. This might be the most ignorant comment I’ve seen on this forum. The article which you didn’t click, explains it all.
 

200MW, 100% green, being brought on to the grid that would otherwise not be economical. When demand is low and supply is high, miners are happy to use the green electricity to mine bitcoin. If you can monetize the energy that would otherwise be stranded or lost, then it encourages building out more renewables. 
 

 

[Captainant 27655]

7 minutes ago, Satoshi said:

If you can monetize the energy that would otherwise be stranded or lost, then it encourages building out more renewables. 

No, I read the article - burning that energy by running SHA256 hashes is a waste of that energy. We shouldn't be investing in ways to burn more energy. We should be investing in energy storage and transmission solutions so that we have better burst capacity in our grid. This article and investment firm propose to buy the marginal unused power from renewables at a discount for use in cryptomining - with the assumption that doing so will encourage more generators and capacity growth.

 

Proof of work cryptos are not the future, and their value is almost entirely speculative. 

 

Given your problem statement of "renewables are bursty and therefore inefficient and bad investments", I argue that capturing the unused burst to sell at a later date with better economics (aka - timeshifting with energy storage), or applying that excess energy to public works, rather than private mining enterprises, would be a far greater net-positive for society and the power generators that you claim to be looking out for.

[Satoshi 129]

1 hour ago, Captainant said:

No, I read the article - burning that energy by running SHA256 hashes is a waste of that energy. We shouldn't be investing in ways to burn more energy. We should be investing in energy storage and transmission solutions so that we have better burst capacity in our grid. This article and investment firm propose to buy the marginal unused power from renewables at a discount for use in cryptomining - with the assumption that doing so will encourage more generators and capacity growth.

 

 

Your framing is interesting.

Nobody is “burning” any energy. It’s 100% green capacity that otherwise wouldn’t be built out. When demand is high, it’s all given to the grid so none is wasted.

”we should be investing in energy storage”. To my knowledge this is all private funds so nothing is being diverted from public funds. So what you think “we” should be investing in is irrelevant. Call your State Rep or something. 
 

 

1 hour ago, Captainant said:

 

 

Proof of work cryptos are not the future, and their value is almost entirely speculative. 

NGMI

 

1 hour ago, Captainant said:

Given your problem statement of "renewables are bursty and therefore inefficient and bad investments", I argue that capturing the unused burst to sell at a later date with better economics (aka - timeshifting with energy storage), or applying that excess energy to public works, rather than private mining enterprises, would be a far greater net-positive for society and the power generators that you claim to be looking out for.

Economic actors respond to financial incentives. If bitcoin mining is what makes the expansion of our electric grid capacity viable, then it is a net positive and should be pursued.  Im not sure why you’d be against it. Unless it’s just because it’s me. Or you have a philosophical disagreement with bitcoin.
 

If there’s better ways to make these things happen then they will happen. 

[atomheartbevo 89649]

1 hour ago, Satoshi said:

Nobody is “burning” any energy. It’s 100% green capacity that otherwise wouldn’t be built out. When demand is high, it’s all given to the grid so none is wasted.

....

”we should be investing in energy storage”. To my knowledge this is all private funds so nothing is being diverted from public funds. So what you think “we” should be investing in is irrelevant. Call your State Rep or something. 

They didn't pick Texas for shits and giggles.  They picked us for cheap energy and low regulations, and a state government that welcomes their lobbyists with open arms.  They have no loyalty to Texas and they give no shits about whether Joe Smith in Dripping Springs has power in the summer or winter.

I agree with @Captainant - and these companies have been donating to Abbott for the last 7 or 8 years.

Hell, he's their biggest cheerleader.  They don't toss money his way without a return on their investment.

And this fucking idiot even tried to compare it to our poorly created/managed gold depository (or suppository am I right?)

The Chinese companies and investors aren't pushing bitcoin operations in Texas because they like the scenery.

[Satoshi 129]

49 minutes ago, atomheartbevo said:

They didn't pick Texas for shits and giggles.  They picked us for cheap energy and low regulations, and a state government that welcomes their lobbyists with open arms.  They have no loyalty to Texas and they give no shits about whether Joe Smith in Dripping Springs has power in the summer or winter.

I agree with @Captainant - and these companies have been donating to Abbott for the last 7 or 8 years.

Hell, he's their biggest cheerleader.  They don't toss money his way without a return on their investment.

And this fucking idiot even tried to compare it to our poorly created/managed gold depository (or suppository am I right?)

The Chinese companies and investors aren't pushing bitcoin operations in Texas because they like the scenery.

Of course that’s why they came here. Cheap energy and low regulations are seen by a lot of people as good things. The energy cost is the number one input that determines bitcoin mining profitability. 
 

I’d like to see the receipts showing which mining companies you say have been donating to Abbott for the last 7-8 years. That’s way back in bitcoin time. 
 

All I’ve seen from you and Captain so far is that you don’t like who supports it. Or you think they’ll up and leave, but these companies enter into long term contracts around prices etc and they build out infrastructure. Bolting after a few years is not the plan. 
 

Basically you’ve yet to formulate an argument why new large scale, privately funded and 100% green electrical capacity for Texas is a bad thing.

[Bullneck 19079]

Are Texas' power generators ready for the next freeze? ERCOT thinks so

ERCOT says it has inspected more than 300 electric generation units to meet new state standards. 

[Bullneck 19079]

 

[Brisketexan 105095]

Are Texas' power generators ready for the next freeze? ERCOT thinks so

ERCOT says it has inspected more than 300 electric generation units to meet new state standards. 

Now ask about the gas producers and pipelines. Because a plant with no fuel is just a lot of expensive metal.

[wildcat09 29349]

Aren't the tough new requirements "check this box to opt out"?

[Biff Tannen 45673]

11 hours ago, wildcat09 said:

Aren't the tough new requirements "check this box to opt out"?

And pay like $300?

[tx 3 putt 76905]

16 minutes ago, Biff Tannen said:

And pay like $300?

And recieve a sternly worded letter !!!