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Our America with Julián Castro

A Reckoning in Texas

Our America with Julián Castro

Lemonada Media

Society & Culture

4.6884 Ratings

🗓️ 18 March 2021

⏱️ 42 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

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   Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows.   To follow along with a transcript and/or take notes for friends and family, go to https://www.lemonadamedia.com/show/our-america shortly after the air date.   Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

Hi, it's me Ricky Lake. You probably know me for my hit 90s talk show, but if I'm being totally

0:05.8

honest, I was juggling so much and didn't have time to stop and think about what truly went

0:10.5

into living a full and vibrant life.

0:13.1

We'll fast forward to today, I'm 55 and a half years old

0:16.7

and I am happier than ever.

0:18.4

And I'm so excited to help you find your joy

0:21.4

on my new show, The High Life with Ricky Lake.

0:24.0

Together we'll learn new ways to live better.

0:27.0

Listen to The High Life with Ricky Lake from Lemonotta Media.

0:30.0

Out now, wherever you get your podcasts.

0:36.0

Lemonade.

0:37.0

Last month my home state of Texas faced one of the worst blackouts in our country's history.

0:49.2

The number is 15 million. That's the number of Americans right now who are estimated to be without power.

0:57.0

We experience single digit temperatures day after day that led to an unprecedented need for electricity to keep people warm in their

1:06.3

homes.

1:07.3

But our energy grid couldn't keep off.

1:10.0

It wasn't used to this high level of demand.

1:12.6

Ercot said that multiple electric generating plants started shutting down.

1:16.6

Their equipment simply froze up.

1:18.9

So with less electricity being generated, you know what that means?

1:22.7

Rotating outages.

1:24.5

So Ercot, for the Electric Reliability Council of Texas,

...

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