Millions of people across Texas lost power during this weekโs storm, and some died in the extreme cold without heat.
Natural gas plants, utility scale wind turbines, coal and nuclear plants alike began to trip โ many lacked the investments necessary to keep them online during low temperatures.
AdRetrofitting existing natural gas wells would be extremely difficult and probably cost prohibitive, according to Parker Fawcett, a natural gas analyst for S&P Global Platts.
While ERCOT did not expect to have very much wind energy available during the peak of winter energy demand, experts said that wind turbines, too, could be winterized.
Thatโs because most states and countries rely on wind power as a cheap additional source of energy rather than a primary source.