Michael Shellenberger on the Texas blackouts

It was not the case that Texas’ energy sources failed equally. During the four days of blackouts, February 15th to 18th, the performance, as represented by capacity factors, of nuclear, natural gas, and wind turbines were 79%, 47%, and 14%, respectively. 

But because the electricity grid requires absolute moment-to-moment continuity in power supply in exact balance with demand, we should look at each power source’s lowest hourly performance during the four days of blackouts, which were 73%, 40%, and 2% of nuclear, natural gas, and wind turbines, respectively.

~ Michael Shellenberger, "Renewable Energy Boom Risks More Blackouts Without Adequate Investment In Grid Reliability," Forbes, April 20, 2021