DALLAS — ERCOT sought emergency approval from the federal government to bypass emission standards if necessary to keep electricity flowing after state officials’ repeated declarations the the power grid was “ready and reliable” for days of bone-chilling temperatures and dangerous windchills.
Officials sent a letter Friday to the U.S. Department of Energy asking for clearance to sidestep some emissions standards, if needed, to keep the power on. The letter stated the loss of power to homes would be a “far greater risk to public health” than being allowed to exceed certain permit limits.
“ERCOT does not lightly request this authorization,” CEO Pablo Vegas wrote. “It understands the importance of the environmental permit limits that are at issue.”
