re: What does the North do differently so that their power doesn't go out every winter?

quote:

---

They also aren't on an independent power grid, so if it fails, there is a backup.

---

Entirely too much is made about this talking point.

There are linkages to the eastern grid.

But there were rolling blackouts on their side of the grid too, and plans to give more power died due to shortages in Midwest.

Both the East and West interchanges have rolling blackouts on an analogous at least once every couple of years. For some reason it’s treated as an unfortunate set of circumstances then but when it happened in Texas it is a major talking point.

The only significant difference is how heavily Texas is invested in natural gas, which should be meationed is the current trend of new construction due to being green and easily carbon offset, as opposed to a hodgepodge of sources.

Coal plants can store fuel. You can’t realistically with natural gas.

quote:

---

Not much you can do about design issues but maintenance is different

---

Building codes changed after the 2011 Joplin Missouri tornado. Study found much of the damage could've been avoided by cheap brackets in the roofs

Other places learn from their mistakes. We will see if Texas learns anything