Bone chilling

[gwalchmai]

Here's something else to worry about. Dang, I don't care for politicians... ;(

Chris Keefer, the Toronto-based physician and founder of Canadians for Nuclear Energy, calls the electric grid a “civilizational life support system.”

Keefer, of course, is correct. The most critical systems in our society ­­— medical, water, wastewater, traffic lights, telecommunications, and lighting­­ — depend on reliable electricity. But earlier this month, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation issued their final report on a winter storm that hammered the northeastern U.S. last year. And that report proves that our natural gas grid is just as essential as our electric grid. FERC and NERC have repeatedly said that the two grids are intertwined, interdependent, and irreplaceable. Indeed, a reliable and resilient natural gas grid is critical to our energy security, and therefore, our national security.

Put short, policymakers ignore the importance of the gas pipeline system at our extreme peril.

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In bone-dry language, the report “Inquiry into Bulk-Power System Operations During December 2022 Winter Storm Elliott,” explains how the gas pipeline network in New York nearly failed last Christmas when temperatures plummeted during the bomb cyclone. Freeze-related production declines, combined with soaring demand from power plants, homes, and businesses, led to shortages of gas throughout the Northeast. The lack of gas, as well as mechanical and electrical issues, resulted in an “unprecedented” loss of electric generation capacity totaling some 90,000 megawatts. While the lack of electricity was dangerous, the possibility of a loss of pressure in the natural gas network should send a bone-chilling shiver through the sacroiliac of every politician and bureaucrat in Washington, D.C., New York and the Northeast.

The report explains that if the gas pipeline system had failed, the recovery process in New York City would have taken “months.” In addition, the property damage due to damaged water pipes in homes and buildings would likely have caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage.

Left unsaid in the report is that the collapse of the gas grid during the period in which temperatures in New York City stayed below freezing would have caused a calamity unlike any other in U.S. history. The cold that lasted from December 23 to December 28 could have resulted in thousands, or even tens of thousands, of deaths. The damage from burst water pipes would have rendered untold numbers of residential and office buildings in New York City unusable.

A friend who works for the federal government in Washington, D.C., and is familiar with the FERC/NERC report told me last week that the loss of gas in New York City would have required evacuating most of the people in the city. Let that soak in for a minute. New York City has roughly 8.5 million residents. Evacuating even 25% of Gotham’s residents during extreme cold would have required a herculean effort. But even assuming such an evacuation could be accomplished, imagine how the country would handle 2 million displaced New Yorkers who could not return to their homes for months. And while you’re at it, imagine if those 2 million New Yorkers had their homes soaked by broken water pipes.

-- more at the link --

[Mrs.Cicero]

The fact that they have only just lately realized this is even scarier than the facts themselves.  😖 

[minderasr]

They're all too busy focusing on the woke agenda and trying to out-woke each other.  Where's that extinction level asteroid when we need it?

[janice6]

5 hours ago, gwalchmai said:

Here's something else to worry about. Dang, I don't care for politicians... ;(

Chris Keefer, the Toronto-based physician and founder of Canadians for Nuclear Energy, calls the electric grid a “civilizational life support system.”

Keefer, of course, is correct. The most critical systems in our society ­­— medical, water, wastewater, traffic lights, telecommunications, and lighting­­ — depend on reliable electricity. But earlier this month, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation issued their final report on a winter storm that hammered the northeastern U.S. last year. And that report proves that our natural gas grid is just as essential as our electric grid. FERC and NERC have repeatedly said that the two grids are intertwined, interdependent, and irreplaceable. Indeed, a reliable and resilient natural gas grid is critical to our energy security, and therefore, our national security.

Put short, policymakers ignore the importance of the gas pipeline system at our extreme peril.

Type your email...
Subscribe
In bone-dry language, the report “Inquiry into Bulk-Power System Operations During December 2022 Winter Storm Elliott,” explains how the gas pipeline network in New York nearly failed last Christmas when temperatures plummeted during the bomb cyclone. Freeze-related production declines, combined with soaring demand from power plants, homes, and businesses, led to shortages of gas throughout the Northeast. The lack of gas, as well as mechanical and electrical issues, resulted in an “unprecedented” loss of electric generation capacity totaling some 90,000 megawatts. While the lack of electricity was dangerous, the possibility of a loss of pressure in the natural gas network should send a bone-chilling shiver through the sacroiliac of every politician and bureaucrat in Washington, D.C., New York and the Northeast.

The report explains that if the gas pipeline system had failed, the recovery process in New York City would have taken “months.” In addition, the property damage due to damaged water pipes in homes and buildings would likely have caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage.

Left unsaid in the report is that the collapse of the gas grid during the period in which temperatures in New York City stayed below freezing would have caused a calamity unlike any other in U.S. history. The cold that lasted from December 23 to December 28 could have resulted in thousands, or even tens of thousands, of deaths. The damage from burst water pipes would have rendered untold numbers of residential and office buildings in New York City unusable.

A friend who works for the federal government in Washington, D.C., and is familiar with the FERC/NERC report told me last week that the loss of gas in New York City would have required evacuating most of the people in the city. Let that soak in for a minute. New York City has roughly 8.5 million residents. Evacuating even 25% of Gotham’s residents during extreme cold would have required a herculean effort. But even assuming such an evacuation could be accomplished, imagine how the country would handle 2 million displaced New Yorkers who could not return to their homes for months. And while you’re at it, imagine if those 2 million New Yorkers had their homes soaked by broken water pipes.

-- more at the link --

Maybe they could walk to some Middle or South American country to be saved from life by the benevolence of their citizens?  Nah, could never happen....... 

[Fog]

My parents had their gas shut off for over a week because someone broke a gas pipe.

They were ok because water heater and range are electric and it was not a cold time of year.

Their neighbor with a gas water heater and range was having a little trouble.

[janice6]

Just now, Fog said:

My parents had their gas shut off for over a week because someone broke a gas pipe.

They were ok because water heater and range are electric and it was not a cold time of year.

Their neighbor with a gas water heater and range was having a little trouble.

Essentially every one in the Metro area in Minnesota are on gas.................

[Walt Longmire]

Natural Gas runs the turbines in my area the create the electricity. My heat and cooking are powered by gas. I do have a wood stove also which has a fire in it all winter.

[janice6]

When we first moved into this area, we had power outages frequently in the Winter.  So I put a 50,000 BTU gas fireplace in the center of the basement.  When the power went out I flipped the switch on the fireplace and we had enough heat to prevent damage to the home.  It was also a place of refuge with the radiated heat and I spent some time laying on the carpet holding my wife just because we could.

Gas is the life blood of America bottled or pipeline.

[Walt Longmire]

I bought a double wide mobile home when I showed up in Alaska in 1982. Right away I added on a room on the side entrance. Insulated and sheetrocked. Installed a wood stove and kept my tools in there. During the winter the underground electric feed to the entire area failed. Power was out for over a week in sub zero temps. By the time a temporary fix was done, most people around us were froze up.