The chilling memory of last February’s deadly blackout is pushing some Texans to stockpile firewood, testing the Lone Star State’s tight inventories and driving up prices for households already slammed by runaway inflation.
At Sierrah Wood in Leander, just north of Austin, owner Michael Wheeler said he’s fielded hundreds of queries this week alone from residential buyers looking for firewood as chilly weather sweeps across the state. At Texas Firewood near College Station, owner Roger Earwood says customers are driving as far as three hours to pick up orders because they can’t get any closer to home. Suppliers started getting requests for seasoned firewood as early as this summer, months before the normal October start to the season—and the calls keep on coming.
All of which has been overwhelming for a niche and antiquated corner of the energy market.
