"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2021-02-16T21:54:51Z"
data-video-section="business"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/energy/2021/02/16/dallas-lavandera-weather-snow-power-outage-vpx.cnn"
data-branding-key=""
data-video-slug="Dallas Lavandera weather snow power outage vpx"
data-first-publish-slug="Dallas Lavandera weather snow power outage vpx"
data-video-tags="business and industry sectors,business, economy and trade,continents and regions,electric power industry,energy and utilities,environment and natural resources,environmentalism,natural gas,north america,nuclear energy,oil and gas industry,renewable energy,southwestern united states,texas,the americas,united states,utilities industry,wind energy,electricity production and distribution,energy and resources,utilities disruptions"
data-details="">
Video Ad Feedback
CEO reacts to backlash over power outages in Texas
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2021-02-16T21:54:51Z"
data-video-section="business"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/energy/2021/02/16/dallas-lavandera-weather-snow-power-outage-vpx.cnn"
data-branding-key=""
data-video-slug="Dallas Lavandera weather snow power outage vpx"
data-first-publish-slug="Dallas Lavandera weather snow power outage vpx"
data-video-tags="business and industry sectors,business, economy and trade,continents and regions,electric power industry,energy and utilities,environment and natural resources,environmentalism,natural gas,north america,nuclear energy,oil and gas industry,renewable energy,southwestern united states,texas,the americas,united states,utilities industry,wind energy,electricity production and distribution,energy and resources,utilities disruptions"
data-details="">
Video Ad Feedback
CEO reacts to backlash over power outages in Texas
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2024-03-01T17:03:55Z"
data-video-section="weather"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/weather/2024/03/01/winter-weather-california-snow-expected-van-dam-vpx.cnn"
data-branding-key=""
data-video-slug="winter weather california snow expected van dam vpx"
data-first-publish-slug="winter weather california snow expected van dam vpx"
data-video-tags="blizzards and ice storms,california,continents and regions,derek van dam,domestic alerts,domestic-health and science,domestic-us news,iab-science,iab-weather,international alerts,international-health and science,international-us news,misc people,north america,seasons of the year,severe weather,southwestern united states,the americas,united states,weather,winter (season)"
data-details="">
Video Ad Feedback
'Crippling' weather conditions expected to hit California
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2024-02-04T12:10:51Z"
data-video-section="weather"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/weather/2024/02/04/weather-california-storms-emergency-evacuations-allison-chinchar-vpx.cnn"
data-branding-key=""
data-video-slug="weather california storms emergency evacuations allison chinchar vpx"
data-first-publish-slug="weather california storms emergency evacuations allison chinchar vpx"
data-video-tags="accidents, disasters and safety,blizzards and ice storms,brand safety-nsf accidents and disasters,brand safety-nsf sensitive,business and industry sectors,business, economy and trade,california,continents and regions,domestic alerts,domestic-business,domestic-health and science,domestic-us news,electricity production and distribution,energy and resources,energy and utilities,environment and natural resources,floods and flooding,iab-business and finance,iab-disasters,iab-home utilities,iab-industries,iab-personal finance,iab-power and energy industry,iab-science,iab-weather,international alerts,international-business,international-health and science,international-us news,landforms and ecosystems,landslides,natural disasters,north america,rivers,severe weather,southwestern united states,the americas,united states,utilities disruptions,utilities industry,weather"
data-details="">
Video Ad Feedback
Emergency evacuations in place across parts of Southern California
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2024-02-04T02:07:27Z"
data-video-section="us"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2024/02/04/california-atmospheric-river-torrential-downpour-storm-expected-bernal-nr-vpx.cnn"
data-branding-key=""
data-video-slug="california atmospheric river torrential downpour storm expected bernal nr vpx"
data-first-publish-slug="california atmospheric river torrential downpour storm expected bernal nr vpx"
data-video-tags="accidents, disasters and safety,blizzards and ice storms,brand safety-nsf accidents and disasters,brand safety-nsf sensitive,california,continents and regions,domestic alerts,domestic-health and science,domestic-us news,environment and natural resources,floods and flooding,iab-disasters,iab-science,iab-weather,international alerts,international-health and science,international-us news,landforms and ecosystems,landslides,natural disasters,north america,rivers,severe weather,southwestern united states,the americas,united states,weather"
data-details="">
Video Ad Feedback
Storm expected to bring 'life threatening flooding' in California
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2024-01-26T15:49:16Z"
data-video-section="weather"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/weather/2024/01/26/winter-storms-new-england-climate-change-weir-pkg-contd-ldn-vpx.cnn"
data-branding-key=""
data-video-slug="winter storms new england climate change weir pkg contd ldn vpx"
data-first-publish-slug="winter storms new england climate change weir pkg contd ldn vpx"
data-video-tags="bill weir,blizzards and ice storms,brand safety-nsf oil negative,brand safety-nsf sensitive,business and industry sectors,business, economy and trade,climate change,continents and regions,domestic alerts,domestic-climate crisis,domestic-health and science,domestic-us news,energy and environment,energy and utilities,environment and natural resources,iab-business and finance,iab-environment,iab-industries,iab-power and energy industry,iab-science,iab-weather,international alerts,international-climate crisis,international-health and science,international-us news,landforms and ecosystems,maine,misc people,north america,northeastern united states,oceans,seasons of the year,severe weather,the americas,united states,weather,winter (season)"
data-details="">
Video Ad Feedback
Watch back-to-back storms wreak havoc in New England
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2024-01-23T16:53:12Z"
data-video-section="weather"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/weather/2024/01/23/missouri-fire-truck-spins-on-icy-road-caught-on-camera-cnnmax-vpx.cnn"
data-branding-key=""
data-video-slug="missouri fire truck spins on icy road caught on camera cnnmax vpx"
data-first-publish-slug="missouri fire truck spins on icy road caught on camera cnnmax vpx"
data-video-tags="accidents, disasters and safety,brand safety-nsf accidents and disasters,brand safety-nsf sensitive,continents and regions,derek van dam,firefighters and firefighting,fires,labor and employment,midwestern united states,misc people,missouri,north america,the americas,united states,workers and professionals"
data-details="">
Video Ad Feedback
Video captures fire truck spinning out of control on icy road
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2024-01-20T01:31:50Z"
data-video-section="weather"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/weather/2024/01/20/extreme-weather-snow-us-chad-myers-tsr-vpx.cnn"
data-branding-key=""
data-video-slug="extreme weather snow US chad myers tsr vpx"
data-first-publish-slug="extreme weather snow US chad myers tsr vpx"
data-video-tags="chad myers,domestic alerts,domestic-health and science,earth sciences,iab-science,iab-weather,international alerts,international-health and science,meteorology,misc people,science,severe weather,weather"
data-details="">
Video Ad Feedback
Car crashes into snow plow trying to pass tractor-trailer in intense snow
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2024-01-18T18:47:51Z"
data-video-section="us"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2024/01/18/kentucky-helicopter-rescue-four-students-cprog-orig-ht.cnn"
data-branding-key=""
data-video-slug="kentucky helicopter rescue four students cprog orig ht"
data-first-publish-slug="kentucky helicopter rescue four students cprog orig ht"
data-video-tags="accidents, disasters and safety,aircraft,aviation and aerospace industry,blizzards and ice storms,brand safety-nsf accidents and disasters,brand safety-nsf crime,brand safety-nsf sensitive,business and industry sectors,business, economy and trade,continents and regions,crime, law enforcement and corrections,domestic alerts,domestic-health and science,domestic-us news,helicopters,iab-aviation industry,iab-business and finance,iab-crime,iab-industries,iab-science,iab-weather,international alerts,international-health and science,international-us news,kentucky,law enforcement,north america,rescue operations,seasons of the year,severe weather,southeastern united states,the americas,united states,weather,winter (season)"
data-details="">
Video Ad Feedback
Watch helicopter crew rescue students stranded in snowy gorge
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2024-01-15T19:05:47Z"
data-video-section="us"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2024/01/15/buffalo-bills-stadium-snow-orig-me.cnn"
data-branding-key=""
data-video-slug="Buffalo Bills stadium snow orig me"
data-first-publish-slug="Buffalo Bills stadium snow orig me"
data-video-tags="afc east,afc north,american football conference,blizzards and ice storms,buffalo bills,domestic alerts,domestic-health and science,football (american),iab-american football,iab-science,iab-sports,iab-weather,international alerts,international-health and science,nfl,pittsburgh steelers,seasons of the year,severe weather,sports and recreation,sports organizations and teams,weather,winter (season)"
data-details="">
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2022-01-14T16:48:59Z"
data-video-section="weather"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/weather/2022/01/14/prepare-home-for-winter-storm-orig-mg.cnn"
data-branding-key=""
data-video-slug="prepare home for winter storm orig mg"
data-first-publish-slug="prepare home for winter storm orig mg"
data-video-tags="blizzards and ice storms,business and industry sectors,business, economy and trade,domestic alerts,domestic-health and science,energy and utilities,extreme cold,iab-business and finance,iab-industries,iab-power and energy industry,iab-science,iab-weather,international alerts,international-health and science,pipeline transportation,seasons of the year,severe weather,transportation and warehousing,utilities disruptions,utilities industry,weather,winter (season)"
data-details="">
With millions of Texans still without power in the wake of a winter storm and frigid temperatures, everyone is looking for someone to blame.
Many Democrats are blaming Gov. Greg Abbott (R) for failing to adequately prepare for the storm. Many conservatives are blaming the environmental movement – insisting that frozen wind turbines show the limits of alternative energy sources. (This is a gross exaggeration.)
But the primary fall guy is the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), an independent organization that operates Texas’ power grid.
“This was a total failure by ERCOT,” said Abbott on Tuesday. “These are the experts. These are engineers in the power industry. These aren’t bureaucrats or whatever the case may be. These are specialists, and government has to rely upon on these specialists to be able to deliver in these types of situations.”
The story, as you might guess, is actually slightly more complicated than that. It’s rooted in Texans’ views of their state as a quasi-independent country – and a desire to have as little federal interference in their lives as possible. Yes, there are politics at the root of this.
To understand what is happening right now in Texas – and who’s to blame – you have to go back to 1935, when President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed the Federal Power Act, which governed electricity sharing and sales between the states. Basically, it allowed the federal government to regulate states who brought power in from outside their state lines.
Texas, never a fan of federal intrusion, set up its own power grid system – split between northern and southern Texas – to avoid any federal involvement. That led eventually to the formation of ERCOT in 1970 and this strange fact: There are three power grids in the United States – the eastern power grid, the western power grid and, well, Texas.
Yes, you read that right. Texas has its own power grid. Because it is Texas.
And while being independent from the yoke of federal regulation has always been a point of pride for Texas, the limits of that strategy are being realized now. See, because Texas – or at least 90% of the state – is controlled by ERCOT, they can’t simply borrow power from either the eastern or western power grids. That’s never been a problem before because Texas has always been able to generate more power than its citizens need. But the reality is that Texas is an electricity island, which isn’t a problem until the lights go out, and you don’t have enough power in the state to turn them back on.
Now, there’s no question that ERCOT bears some blame here, too. When your only job is to manage a power grid and that power grid fails miserably, that’s a big problem. And as the Houston Chronicle noted on Tuesday, the chair of ERCOT lives in Michigan and the vice chair lives in California – so they are not exactly feeling the brunt of their bad strategy.
While ERCOT is a nonprofit, it is overseen by the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Texas state legislature. The head of the PUC is DeAnn T. Walker, who was appointed to that role by Abbott in 2017. Prior to that post, she was a senior adviser to Abbott on regulatory issues.
The state legislature is already agitating about addressing the ERCOT situation, with Abbott calling it an emergency issue for the 2021 legislative session – meaning that a bill can be passed within the first 60 days of the legislative session, which began last month. Texas state House Speaker Dade Phelan is calling for committee hearings to investigate ERCOT by the end of the month.
Here’s the reality: In a situation as catastrophic as the one Texas finds itself in right now, there’s plenty of blame to go around. But the roots of Texas’ current electricity crisis can be traced all the way back to the cries of “Remember the Alamo” – and the double-edged sword of the state’s fiercely protected independence.