Measures that could help make electric grids more robust - such as fortifying power plants against extreme weather, or installing more backup power sources - could prove expensive. While scientists are still analyzing what role human-caused climate change may have played in this week’s winter storms, it is clear that global warming poses a barrage of additional threats to power systems nationwide, including fiercer heat waves and water shortages. But as climate change accelerates, many electric grids will face extreme weather events that go far beyond the historical conditions those systems were designed for, putting them at risk of catastrophic failure. Electric grids can be engineered to handle a wide range of severe conditions - as long as grid operators can reliably predict the dangers ahead. The crisis sounded an alarm for power systems throughout the country. Many of Texas’ wind turbines also froze and stopped working.
#FS GLOBAL REAL WEATHER FAIL OFFLINE#
At the same time, a large fraction of the state’s gas-fired power plants were knocked offline amid icy conditions, with some plants suffering fuel shortages as natural gas demand spiked.
Record-breaking cold weather spurred residents to crank up their electric heaters and pushed power demand beyond the worst-case scenarios that grid operators had planned for. As of Tuesday afternoon, at least 23 people nationwide had died in the storm or its aftermath.Īnalysts have begun to identify key factors behind the grid failures in Texas. Separate regional grids in the Southwest and Midwest also faced serious strain. The grid failures were most severe in Texas, where more than four million people woke up Tuesday morning to rolling blackouts. The patches were given to Navy wide receivers coach Mick Yokitis, a 2006 Naval Academy graduate, by Bourgeois earlier this year.Huge winter storms plunged large parts of the central and southern United States into an energy crisis this week, with frigid blasts of Arctic weather crippling electric grids and leaving millions of Americans without power amid dangerously cold temperatures. There will be a #13 home blue jersey adorned with two SEAL Team 8 patches placed prominently on the Navy sideline and senior wide receiver Michael Salisbury and sophomore wide receiver Jayden Umbarger will wear SEAL Team 8 patches on their uniform. In his honor, the team will run out with a SEAL Team 8 flag along with the traditional American, Navy and Marine Corps flags at their game on Saturday. Vehicle of missing Auburn University student located in 45-year-old cold caseĭuring his time at the Naval Academy, he was a four-year member of the Navy football team and earned three varsity letters. They have a geographic responsibility of the Mediterranean and southern Europe.īourgeois received his commission from the United States Naval Academy in May 2001 and served the Navy and Naval Special Warfare community for over 20 years. SEAL Team 8 is part of Naval Special Warfare Group Two based out of Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story. Wetherbee, commodore, Naval Special Warfare Group 2. This is a great loss to everyone who knew him. Brian was as tough as they come, an outstanding leader, and a committed father, husband and friend. “An incident like this weighs heavily on us all. The SEAL Team 8 executive officer has temporarily assumed command. and Panamanian service members conduct fast rope insertion extraction system training during Exercise Mercury in Panama, Jan. His legacy carries on in teammates he served with, led, and mentored.” U.S. We will miss his charismatic leadership and faithful stewardship of our standard. “Brian was one of our very best leaders, who possessed all the attributes that make our force effective. Howard III, commander, Naval Special Warfare Command. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the Bourgeois family – and we will ensure our community remains in support of and in relationship with Brian’s family and his children, for life,” said Rear Adm. Navy SEAL dies from injuries sustained in training