Central Library
Texas Can
RECEIVED Thu., Feb. 18, 2021
Dear Editor,
I am a Texan currently finishing a master's in power and electrical engineering at Rheinish-West Faelishe Technical University in Aachen, Germany. This last week, I worried from afar as both my brothers and their families went without power for more than 24 hours. I worry about those who may not have been as prepared or fortunate as my brothers. This severe winter storm has revealed weaknesses in Texas’ power grid. Even without extreme weather, rapid population growth is stressing Texas’ aging power network. As Texas’ power grid is isolated from other US networks, we have an unprecedented opportunity to modernize our grid on our own. Renewable and alternative energy sources will continue to play a growing role in our infrastructure and Texas’ power grid already needs to be fixed: I say we fix the system in a way that uses renewables in the most efficient way. A “smart” decentralized grid with distributed storage will not only improve the power network’s efficiency, it could prevent millions from going without power in the next severe weather event. Texas is home to some of the best hardware and software manufacturers and universities in the world, and it is about to be home to one of the top lithium battery manufacturers: If anybody can do this, Texas can.
I am a Texan currently finishing a master's in power and electrical engineering at Rheinish-West Faelishe Technical University in Aachen, Germany. This last week, I worried from afar as both my brothers and their families went without power for more than 24 hours. I worry about those who may not have been as prepared or fortunate as my brothers. This severe winter storm has revealed weaknesses in Texas’ power grid. Even without extreme weather, rapid population growth is stressing Texas’ aging power network. As Texas’ power grid is isolated from other US networks, we have an unprecedented opportunity to modernize our grid on our own. Renewable and alternative energy sources will continue to play a growing role in our infrastructure and Texas’ power grid already needs to be fixed: I say we fix the system in a way that uses renewables in the most efficient way. A “smart” decentralized grid with distributed storage will not only improve the power network’s efficiency, it could prevent millions from going without power in the next severe weather event. Texas is home to some of the best hardware and software manufacturers and universities in the world, and it is about to be home to one of the top lithium battery manufacturers: If anybody can do this, Texas can.
Paul Schleicher
