For the past three summers, we have had the same story. Early in the year, the government agencies will state: "not to worry, the grid looks fine for this summer and it appears we will have plenty of energy to keep the lights on." But as we have experienced in the past two consecutive summers, this one is no different.
For starters, this summer's fire season started a bit earlier than normal. At one point in the last couple of weeks we were up to 1700 fires burning across California. One national television network called their headline "California On Fire" -- indeed. While we can be thankful for the brave men and women that have battled back these fires and have knocked the numbner down to around 500 fires currently burning, the problem is that 3 of those fires are currently threatening transmission lines in northern and central California.
Now add heat to the equation. California this week is experiencing our second heatwave of the summer. Stronger than the last one earlier in the year, the California Independent System Operator (CAISO)is predicting that consumtion may near the records we saw in 2006 (heaviest consumption of electricity is predicted for Wednesday and Thursday, given the anticipated high temperatures in major parts of the state). The only potential good news is that the heatwave will likely be concentrated to California and not affect the rest of the West -- if it does, we are in trouble.
What happens if the heatwave does hit other Western states? Well, that means that the power they would normally ship to California will likely be consumed at home, so the power for the region will be constrained and in short supply. Ugly, right?
One more thing... The aging infrastructure. Will our older power plants hold up to a third summer in a row of heatwaves, fires and transmission issues? I know that the good folks that work at those places will do what they did the last two summers in a row and work their hardest to make sure that the facilities run and produce power. But will the aging steel cooperate?
Once again, 2008 is what I call a "Summer of Hope." Hope the fires don't disrupt transmission, hope the heatwaves don't engulf the whole west and that they don't last too long, and hope that the againg infrastructure holds up. Wouldn't it be nice to say, "good thing we are building the necessary infrastructure to deal with this problem?"
Well, I "hope" that legislators and the regulators are paying attention.
the problem is that 3 of those fires are currently threatening transmission lines in northern and central California.
Posted by: ClubPenguinCheats | June 01, 2010 at 08:15 PM