Drought is stressing California’s power grid

[thackney]

Drought is stressing California’s power grid
https://www.theverge.com/2021/7/12/22573648/drought-california-power-grid-electricity-hydro-energy
Jul 12, 2021

Drought is putting pressure on California’s already stressed-out grid. As water reservoirs run dry, there’s been a significant drop in hydroelectric generation. Without enough water pressure to quickly turn turbine blades, there could be electricity shortages right when residents need it the most.

Rolling blackouts have already become a new norm for the state as utilities shut down power lines in an attempt to avoid sparking fires during hot, dry weather. But summertime outages also occur when residents crank up their air conditioners to beat the heat and demand outpaces the available power supply.

“California relies on hydro for so much of its demand, so any drought can put the state in a tight position,” said Lindsay Aramayo, an industry economist with the US Energy Information Administration.

Hydropower is a significant source of energy for the state. In 2019, it made up about 17 percent of California’s electricity mix....

[thackney]

Lake Oroville Level Likely to Fall So Low Hydro-Power Plant Will Shut for First Time
https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2021/06/24/lake-oroville-level-falls-hydro-power-shut-first/
June 24, 2021

Water at Lake Oroville, a key Northern California reservoir, is expected to fall so low this summer that its hydroelectric power plant will likely be forced to shut down for the first time since it opened in 1967.

An unrelenting drought and record heat, both worsened by the changing climate, have pushed the water supply at the reservoir behind the Oroville Dam to deplete rapidly. As a result of the “alarming levels,” officials will likely be forced to close the Edward Hyatt Power Plant for the first time, California Energy Commission spokesperson Lindsay Buckley told CNN.

[Kamaji]

Po widdle Kalifornians.

Where did I put my copy of the world's littlest violin?

[IsailedawayfromFR]

Not to worry.

With the departure of many companies and even more citizens for better pastures, California needs less energy for its needs anyway.

The hole it is digging is due to its focus to go totally green, so electric power is its preferred energy.  IN spite of it being blessed with some of the greatest concentration of hydrocarbons in the US

Bad timing, and bad for the state.

[Fishrrman]

"Water at Lake Oroville, a key Northern California reservoir, is expected to fall so low this summer that its hydroelectric power plant will likely be forced to shut down for the first time since it opened in 1967."

How soon folks forget that only a year or two ago, there was so much water flowing into that lake that the dam was in danger of collapsing.

It's called, "changing weather"...

[Idiot]

"Water at Lake Oroville, a key Northern California reservoir, is expected to fall so low this summer that its hydroelectric power plant will likely be forced to shut down for the first time since it opened in 1967."

How soon folks forget that only a year or two ago, there was so much water flowing into that lake that the dam was in danger of collapsing.

It's called, "changing weather"...

I watched the entire saga of Lake Oroville.  The spillway was destroyed by flooding so the state and fed. gov. spent millions and millions to rebuild it.  Right after this the lake filled back up....like 2 years ago.  They said they had enough water for 5 years at that time.  Here we are now and the lake is at a very low capacity.  They let out too much DANG water!  I'd feel sorry for California, but it's hard to really care at this point, since most of this is/was self inflicted.

[thackney]

How soon folks forget that only a year or two ago, there was so much water flowing into that lake that the dam was in danger of collapsing.

4 1/2 years ago, time flies.
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oroville_Dam_crisis

[Fishrrman]

thackney wrote:
"4 1/2 years ago, time flies."

Sigh.
That's what happens when you get.... old.