You mentioned “Black Start” capability, and I don’t think that’s what Q was referring to when he mentioned ‘black eye’.
Utilities have all kinds of black start generators in their systems, usually hydro generation or Gas turbines that don’t require a large amount of startup power. Our entity has 4 designated plants with this capability, but there are about a dozen more that probably can do it but aren’t tested periodically and so are not designated as “black start’.
Your mention of the “black start diesel” is true - a nearby hydro plant that is designated “black start capable’ has a small diesel that is first started to bring up control systems and lighting in the plant so that the operator can bring a generator up without outside power. I’ve not toured any black start CT plants, but I suspect that the scheme is similar.
True story - during the tornado outbreak of 2011, there was an area in Alabama that was electrically isolated from the rest of the grid - there was no way to tie it to the interconnected power grid because tornadoes had taken down all the transmission ties. But there was a hydroelectric plant in the area that was black-started and served to provide a source of power for the area until some of the transmission assets could be rebuilt and returned to service.
Granted, the source wasn’t large, but the area was so hammered by tornadoes that the demand for power was also pretty small.
You mentioned “Black Start” capability, and I don’t think that’s what Q was referring to when he mentioned ‘black eye’.
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I didn’t think Black Start was Black Eye, just added it as a related item as far as the power stations are concerned. I had never heard of it before, and was glad to know about it. Also happy to comfirm that there are ongoing efforts to minimize impacts and get power back up in emergencies.
Thank you so much for your expert information!