In February, Texas faced the startling reality of a changing climate with single-digit temperatures that led to widespread power outages, flooded homes and lives lost. But why was Texas hit with one of the worst blackouts in our country’s history? And why was its energy grid unprepared to handle it? This week, senior energy analyst Julie McNamara of the Union of Concerned Scientists helps us answer these questions, and Lori Landry, a longtime friend of Sec. Castro, shares her family’s experience of having to evacuate their impacted North Texas home. 

 

Keep up with Julián on twitter @JulianCastro and Instagram @JulianCastroTX. 

 

Resources from the episode:

• Julie on The Takeaway - The American Power System Is Unprepared For Climate Change
• 6 things to know about supply, demand, and our electricity future - The Union of Concerned Scientists
  • Read Julie's latest blog post on what happened in Texas here
• Tracking the Texas power outages with PowerOutage.US
• Power outage terms explained - KUT
• Mutual aid for people affected by the outages - Vox
• How to prepare for power outages - CDC

 

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