Samsung's Chip Fabs in Texas Ordered to Shut Down Due to Power Shortage

[Bill Martin]

I wouldn't agree with your statement that "Texas' unconnected (mostly) grid is hardly to blame". Julie Cohn (historian of energy, technology and environment from Rice University) DIRECTLY blames the grid here:

Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2021/02/17/texas-power-winter-storm/

A counter-argument for connecting Texas to the nation's power grids...

Massive Power Failure Could Finally Cause Texas to Connect with the Nation’s Power Grids

Energy from neighboring states could have helped Texans survive their extreme winter storm

www.scientificamerican.com

It's Texas' decision in the end...but I imagine the recent tragedy will have changed more than a few minds.

NO. All grids are very fragile and even Connecticut is starting to create a statewide grid that can be quickly disconnected from the large Eastern grid they are part of. Tx needs to stay independent and many other States might want to investigate how to isolate themselves. This is one case 'where bigger grid is NOT better'.

 

[hist78]

Finally Samsung's Austin fab is back to the normal operations.

Austin's Samsung plant is back online after shutting down during Texas winter storms

More than a month after it shut down amid the Texas freeze, Samsung's Austin Semiconductor facility has reached production close to normal levels, the company said.

www.statesman.com

 

[hist78]

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway has a $8.3 billion plan to prevent the next Texas power crisis - and make money in the process.

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway has a $8.3 billion plan to prevent the next Texas power crisis — and make money in the process

The investor's company wants to build 10 emergency power plants with on-site gas storage, in exchange for a 9.3% guaranteed annual return.

markets.businessinsider.com

Elon Musk doesn't like Berkshire's proposal. He prefers his battery farm solution.

Elon Musk slammed Warren Buffett's Texas power plan as 'crazy' — and called for the state to rely on Tesla instead

Tesla Megapacks would be cheaper, more reliable, and work better than Buffett's emergency power plants, Musk said.

markets.businessinsider.com

 

[Bill Martin]

US has three electricity power interconnected networks: Eastern, Western, and Texas. In terms of electricity reliability, Texas is all by themselves. No any other states can step in when Texas is in trouble, like the current crisis. Texas might like ultimate control of their electricity production, distribution, and pricing. But for a $10 to $15 billion fab operator, it's a risky gamble without a convincing reason.

I lived in Ca for about 6 yrs and they had rolling brownouts that were forced on various manufacturers to prevent electric grid issues. This is a common technique used by any grid operator regardless where you live or why it was caused. Thinking that Tx is unique is not looking in the mirror. You might want to read Bakke's The Grid that takes a historical look at the various grids, their blackouts, how/why they happened, various legislation since the 1970s that have caused grids to become more fragile and how green energy can cause additional issues with how the grids were designed. 'Electricity' is not like stepping on the gas or the brakes when you need more or less of something...much more trickier.