Another polar vortex headed to US in March reaching all the way to Texas

Washington Examiner:

Energy Secretary Rick Perry warned Thursday that a polar vortex descending on the U.S. in the first half of March will be a major test for the nation's electricity grid from Montana all the way to his home state of Texas.

"This is going to be a really deep, deep polar vortex all the way to my home state that will put a massive test upon our ability to deliver an energy supply to keep our citizens safe," Perry said at a press conference.

The National Weather Service on Thursday forecast low temperatures from the upper plain states to Arkansas and northern Texas, March 6 to 10.

Perry was explaining the Trump administration's support for an "all-of-the-above" energy strategy, which includes keeping an adequate number of "baseload" power plants operational to stop a major energy disruption.

"Baseload" is an industry term that is used to refer to any power plant that can supply 24-hour energy, seven days a week. For the administration's purposes, it has come to mean coal and nuclear power plants. It is an energy category that does not typically include wind or solar, although Perry pointed out that an "all-of-the-above" strategy does include renewables.

"The goal is to have an all-of-the-above energy strategy that, because of its diversity, we're able to clearly send the message to the citizens of this country that we have an adequate supply of energy," he added.
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Wind and solar are not reliable sources of energy in a polar vortex.  Windmills have to be shut down in some cases because of ice buildup on the wings and because the lubricants freeze.  Solar panels produce no electricity when covered in snow and do not operate at night when it is coldest anyway.

I think I am going to need to split some more firewood.  It would help to get a break from the constant rain we have had in Texas for over a month.  This Seattle type weather sucks.