Was There Another Reason For Electricity Shutdowns In California?

The Epoch Times ^ | 11/01/2019 | Richard Trzupek

[Skywise]

According to the official, widely reported story, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) shut down substantial portions of its electric transmission system in northern California as a precautionary measure.

Citing high wind speeds they described as “historic,” the utility claims that if they didn’t turn off the grid, wind-caused damage to their infrastructure could start more wildfires in the area.

Perhaps that’s true. Perhaps. This tale presumes that the folks who designed and maintain PG&E’s transmission system are unaware of or ignored the need to design it to withstand severe weather events, and that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) allowed the utility to do so.

Ignorance and incompetence happens, to be sure, but there’s much about this story that doesn’t smell right—and it’s disappointing that most journalists and elected officials are apparently accepting it without question.

Take, for example, this statement from a Fox News story about the Kincade Fires: “A PG&E meteorologist said it’s ‘likely that many trees will fall, branches will break,’ which could damage utility infrastructure and start a fire.”

Did you ever notice how utilities cut wide swaths of trees away when transmission lines pass through forests? There’s a reason for that: When trees fall and branches break the grid can still function.

So, if badly designed and poorly maintained infrastructure is not the reason PG&E cut power to millions of Californians, what might have prompted them to do so? Could it be that PG&E’s heavy reliance on renewable energy means they don’t have the power to send when an “historic” weather event occurs?

[ALASKA]

I think you’re right. It will happen quick.

[Big Red Badger]

All I need is that Hot shower in the morning
otherwise I’m a
Walking Zombie.
I’ll have to admit
Getting dressed by
Candlelight is kinda,
Well,
Exciting.

[Openurmind]

It’s “camping mode”. And camping is fun. :)

We lived off grid for ten years and enjoyed every minute of it. We sold that and currently live in a totally grid independent 40 ft 3 axle coach. We have solar and a wind generator I can pop up alongside in 5 minutes. So we can unhook at any time and camp anywhere for as long as we like with all the power we could need.

Our only dependency on civilization when camping is propane and water. Being in the desert where it is dry we even have a 12v evaporation cooler that does very well off the panels. But at our rural base camp we have power a hook up, septic, and a well with storage.

But if you think you are going to need it often, a small pump and 500gl-1000gl storage tank would serve you very well. You could even just hook it up with hoses to one of the outside hose bibs with a double female connector to supply the house temporarily when you need it. And eventually hook it up permanent and valved if you like. :)

[eyedigress]

It’s Cali.

I was in San Jose a couple weeks ago and yes, it is bad.

[justa-hairyape]

The wind mills also change the climate by removing energy from the atmosphere. They do this by slowing the wind. So in theory, they can cause greater winds since the normal winds required to even pressure differentials, need to be greater. But what the heck, I dont even have a College degree and would spit on one offered to me. Just a stupid deplorable here.

[CrappieLuck]

So many do NOT see.

Maybe too many

[Big Red Badger]

You’re living
The Dream!
I plan on doing
“Arizona” soon,
.
And Permanently!

[poconopundit]

California used to be one of the main suppliers of hydroelectric power generation, until some problem was invented, that this was “upsetting” the environment, and therefore the capacity had to be destroyed, so all the power dams were dynamited.

* * *

Interesting... and now when you look at the tech industry born in Silicon Valley, those businesses can’t get enough hydro power.

Example: huge sums are being spent by the big tech firms to build data centers in Montreal. Why? Because with Quebec’s magnificent hydro-electric industry, it’s the cheapest electricity money can buy — and also one of the most environmentally friendly, especially if it’s in relatively cool places like Portland and Canada where the water can be used to remove heat from compute farms.

So there’s a disconnect between California regulation and the high tech firms’ massive support for hydropower to drive the digital world.

[Openurmind]

I have my fingers crossed for you. :) Take care not to land in one of our blue counties!

[RedMonqey]

A movie that will never be remade due to “Woke” culture.

Wish the movie “Midway” would have the same fate.

It will, judging by the advertising, will suffer from “Wokeness”, shallowness and historic inaccuracies, galore.

Special effects or not, I won’t be standing in line for this turkey during the holidays...

[spudville]

My theory is that an increasingly Socialistic/Communist government of California is giving the serfs a taste of a future fast approaching. A Venezuelan vacation so to speak.

[RedMonqey]

Whether or not they like it, they will be get a four course meal of the failures of Socialism, it's just a matter of time.

Unlike the Venezuelans, Californians can slink away to a new state and pretend they had had nothing to do with the catastrophe that's coming.

To quote the Ronaldus Magnus:

'You ain't seen nothing yet."

(grins!)