NYT: Fossil-fuel defenders falsely blame renewable energy sources for crippling Texas electric grid collapse

Politicians and media personalities spread lies that cited frozen wind turbines as the reason millions lost power across the oil-rich state during an unprecedented intrusion of cold air in mid-February.

In reality, it was a failure of the natural gas supply chain caused by unusually low temperatures and rare snow and ice accumulations. Some turbines did fail because of ice accretion, but wind power provides only a small fraction of Texas electricity, which is distributed by a deregulated network independent from the rest of the national power grid.

Fossil-fuel allies also cited the unprecedented deep freeze and accompanying winter storms across much of the nation as evidence global warming doesn’t exist.

In fact, climate change fueled largely by carbon emissions means more devastating climate-linked weather anomalies can be expected, both in winter and summer. In this particular event, Arctic disruptions in the jet stream allowed frigid polar air to descend much farther south than it typically does.

KNOX NEWS: As city swells, huge demand for houses in Knoxville area may cue more urban sprawl

Demand is far outstripping supply in suburban areas of Knoxville such as Farragut, where bidding is fierce and apartment complexes are sprouting to meet housing needs.

According to the article: “While normally there would be 12,000–14,000 houses for sale in Knoxville, right now there’s only about 1,900. The demand is even higher in Farragut.”

Don’t expect the proliferation of far-flung apartment buildings and subdivisions — and their accompanying public infrastructure needs — to subside anytime soon, at least based on this article.

The Daily Times: Three little bears rescued from Sevier County crawlspace

Tennessee Wildlife Resource officers responded and chased the adult bear off with an air horn. Three cubs were soon discovered under the house. 

NOAA:  Earth’s average temperature was 1.45 degrees (F) warmer than the 20th-century average in the first month of 2021.

Sea ice coverage also declined. The Southern Hemisphere recorded 10 tropical cyclones in January, just one shy of the previous record.

Africa recorded its warmest January ever, and there were a host of other climate anomalies, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

In the spirit of Thinking Globally, Acting Locally, consider what you can do to help Mother Earth and its inhabitants.

Adopting a more sustainable life style to reduce one’s personal ecological footprint is easier to wish for than to accomplish. Some measures that would reap a significant  environmental benefit, such as making a home more energy efficient, may require a substantial investment of physical effort, time and money that will pay back over time only.

Deliberate choice of clothing, however, is a simple course of action for anyone to start making a big difference in social justice, climate impacts and environmental conservation.