What factors contributed to the power grid failure in Texas during February 2021? What other areas have experienced rolling blackout recently? How does climate change potentially factor into future grid security in Texas and elsewhere?

Texas power grid crisis

As we will be learning, the power grid is meant to offer greater stability and consistency in electric power delivery to end users. However, extreme weather events and other crises can lead to large portions of the grid going offline, leaving consumers in a major (sometimes deadly) lurch. This week you are taking a look at an AP article that examines what happened during the February 2021 Texas power grid failure.

You can find the article here: https://apnews.com/article/why-texas-power-grid-failed-2eaa659d2ac29ff87eb9220875f23b34 please answer the first question before reading.

 Before reading the article:

1. Before reading the article – had you heard about the February 2021 Texas power grid crisis? What were your impressions of the causes/impacts? Was anyone you know impacted?

Now that you have read the article:

2. What factors contributed to the power grid failure in Texas during February 2021?
3. What other areas have experienced rolling blackout recently?
4. How does climate change potentially factor into future grid security in Texas and elsewhere?
5. What might be done to help safeguard Texas against similar issues in the future?
6. Most states in the US are interconnected in larger regional grid systems. Google around to look into why Texas is the only state that operates its own grid. Responses can be short, but please link to the source you used.