California says it needs more power to keep the lights on

[mountaineer]

May 6, 20226:48 PM EDT
California says it needs more power to keep the lights on
By Nichola Groom
Reuters

May 6 (Reuters) - California energy officials on Friday issued a sober forecast for the state's electrical grid, saying it lacks sufficient capacity to keep the lights on this summer and beyond if heatwaves, wildfires or other extreme events take their toll.

The update from leaders from three state agencies and the office of Governor Gavin Newsom comes in response to a string of challenges with the ambitious transition away from fossil fuels, including rolling blackouts during a summer heat wave in 2020.

California has among the most aggressive climate change policies in the world, including a goal of producing all of its electricity from carbon-free sources by 2045.

In an online briefing with reporters, the officials forecast a potential shortfall of 1,700 megawatts this year, a number that could go as high as 5,000 MW if the grid is taxed by multiple challenges that reduce available power while sending demand soaring, state officials said during an online briefing with reporters. ...

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James Woods
@RealJamesWoods
But let’s charge 20,000,000 electric cars every day as well…
11:07 PM · May 6, 2022

[sneakypete]

@mountaineer

Tell 'em to light candles.

[Cyber Liberty]

Tough shit. You did it to your own ignorant selves.

[Hoodat]

So now Gavin Newsom is going after federal bailout money to keep Diablo Canyon open?

[Smokin Joe]

Hook up generators to the treadmills in the gyms.
(no motors, make 'em manuals)
It won't solve the problem, but it would be fun to watch.

[Wingnut]

Kin folk said move away from there
Said California is Not the place you oughta be
So they loaded up the truck and they moved away from Beverly
Hills that is, cesspools, dumbass movie stars, liberals

[mountaineer]

Tell 'em to light candles.

Probably prohibited for creating air pollution.

[Smokin Joe]

Just crank up those electric cars... 

Oh, wait...

Nevermind.

[SZonian]

Tough shit. You did it to your own ignorant selves.

While I understand many of the sentiments on this thread, many of us did not "did not do it to ourselves". 

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) which makes many of the policies from which these decisions spring was created by then governor Ronald Reagan.  It is no longer scientifically driven, it's now ideologically driven.  Many on the "board" are not scientists, engineers or otherwise qualified to be making the decisions they do.  The members are appointed by the governor and approved by the CA Senate with no discernible term limit.  Only 4 of 16 voting members are considered "experts". It's a reward for dem loyalists who make many of the most insane decisions ever known to man.  These are the people coming up with and implementing many of these policies.  Newscum and his associates need only point to them as the culprits, they are unaccountable.

That being said, CARB recently announced that selling small gasoline engines of all types is banned commencing in 2024, to include power generators.  Currently, if you have one, you can keep it, but who knows for how long.

What this means is that they'll charge exorbitant rates for power due to paying market rates, while having $6 a gallon gas, while banning generators all to "promote" green energy.   Behavior modification on a statewide scale.

It's going to be an interesting few years...

[Hoodat]

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) which makes many of the policies from which these decisions spring was created by then governor Ronald Reagan.  It is no longer scientifically driven, it's now ideologically driven.

What role did this air resource board play in the decision to mothball nuclear power plants?

[roamer_1]

It's going to be an interesting few years...

I would be getting the hell out... Jussayin.

But then, I heat with wood, mostly for free... And can't imagine not having small engine equipment... The mowers, the tiller, the chipper and the jenny being paramount... And how do you go get firewood without a chainsaw? How do you clean up after a storm? What, HAND DIG the garden?

It's a life I just can't imagine.

[Smokin Joe]

While I understand many of the sentiments on this thread, many of us did not "did not do it to ourselves". 

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) which makes many of the policies from which these decisions spring was created by then governor Ronald Reagan.  It is no longer scientifically driven, it's now ideologically driven.  Many on the "board" are not scientists, engineers or otherwise qualified to be making the decisions they do.  The members are appointed by the governor and approved by the CA Senate with no discernible term limit.  Only 4 of 16 voting members are considered "experts". It's a reward for dem loyalists who make many of the most insane decisions ever known to man.  These are the people coming up with and implementing many of these policies.  Newscum and his associates need only point to them as the culprits, they are unaccountable.

That being said, CARB recently announced that selling small gasoline engines of all types is banned commencing in 2024, to include power generators.  Currently, if you have one, you can keep it, but who knows for how long.

What this means is that they'll charge exorbitant rates for power due to paying market rates, while having $6 a gallon gas, while banning generators all to "promote" green energy.   Behavior modification on a statewide scale.

It's going to be an interesting few years...

That's like shooting yourself in both feet and trying to run a marathon.

[Smokin Joe]

I would be getting the hell out... Jussayin.

But then, I heat with wood, mostly for free... And can't imagine not having small engine equipment... The mowers, the tiller, the chipper and the jenny being paramount... And how do you go get firewood without a chainsaw? How do you clean up after a storm? What, HAND DIG the garden?

It's a life I just can't imagine.

[SZonian]

What role did this air resource board play in the decision to mothball nuclear power plants?

None I'm aware of, but there are many groups interested in eliminating nuclear.

Here's a pretty good article that helps explain many of the "reasons".

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/02/why-is-california-closing-diablo-canyon-nuclear-plant.html

[SZonian]

I would be getting the hell out... Jussayin.

But then, I heat with wood, mostly for free... And can't imagine not having small engine equipment... The mowers, the tiller, the chipper and the jenny being paramount... And how do you go get firewood without a chainsaw? How do you clean up after a storm? What, HAND DIG the garden?

It's a life I just can't imagine.

They're pushing all rechargeable "appliances"...more strain on the grid.  Many thousands of gardeners and landscapers due to go out of business as a result.

"I would be getting the hell out... Jussayin."
We will be...less than 2 years to retirement and then we're out.

[roamer_1]

They're pushing all rechargeable "appliances"...more strain on the grid.  Many thousands of gardeners and landscapers due to go out of business as a result.

"I would be getting the hell out... Jussayin."
We will be...less than 2 years to retirement and then we're out.

 

[DB]

So now Gavin Newsom is going after federal bailout money to keep Diablo Canyon open?

It is likely too late. All the long lead time supply chains to support Diablo Canyon have been closed down, from fuel rods to other specialized equipment that has to be maintained and many of the people related to that have left the company.

The idiots did this to themselves all the while banning natural gas in new homes and demanding everyone switch to electric vehicles.

The stupidity is astounding.

Arizona better not bail them out increasing the cost to Arizonians for electricity.

[DB]

While I understand many of the sentiments on this thread, many of us did not "did not do it to ourselves". 

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) which makes many of the policies from which these decisions spring was created by then governor Ronald Reagan.  It is no longer scientifically driven, it's now ideologically driven.  Many on the "board" are not scientists, engineers or otherwise qualified to be making the decisions they do.  The members are appointed by the governor and approved by the CA Senate with no discernible term limit.  Only 4 of 16 voting members are considered "experts". It's a reward for dem loyalists who make many of the most insane decisions ever known to man.  These are the people coming up with and implementing many of these policies.  Newscum and his associates need only point to them as the culprits, they are unaccountable.

That being said, CARB recently announced that selling small gasoline engines of all types is banned commencing in 2024, to include power generators.  Currently, if you have one, you can keep it, but who knows for how long.

What this means is that they'll charge exorbitant rates for power due to paying market rates, while having $6 a gallon gas, while banning generators all to "promote" green energy.   Behavior modification on a statewide scale.

It's going to be an interesting few years...

The primary "problem" was heating of the ocean near the power plant. The reactors are cooled by sea water. The environmentalist have been screaming that this heating of the water destroyed the native habitat there. It instead became populated with warmer water sea life that "wasn't native". The state of California demanded that PG&E no longer do this. The cost of putting in cooling towers on a plant that wasn't designed for them was too high and PG&E decided to close it down instead.

So California absolutely did this to themselves. I lived in San Luis Obispo county where Diablo Canyon is for nearly 50 years.

[DB]

They're pushing all rechargeable "appliances"...more strain on the grid.  Many thousands of gardeners and landscapers due to go out of business as a result.

"I would be getting the hell out... Jussayin."
We will be...less than 2 years to retirement and then we're out.

Left nearly 4 years ago after living there for nearly 50 years. The state ran me out.

[Cyber Liberty]

Arizona better not bail them out increasing the cost to Arizonians for electricity.

I agree.  AFAIK, APS has been selling power from Palo Verde to Cali for years.

[Cyber Liberty]

Left nearly 4 years ago after living there for nearly 50 years. The state ran me out.

I hope the Arizona environment has been better for you and your company...

[Hoodat]

We will be...less than 2 years to retirement and then we're out.

When you move to Montana, just don't let anyone there know you're from Cali.

[Wingnut]

When you move to Montana, just don't let anyone there know you're from Cali.

Hope he doesn't want to raise him up a crop of dental floss.
 Raisin' it up Waxin' it down...

[Cyber Liberty]

Hope he doesn't want to raise him up a crop of dental floss.
 Raisin' it up Waxin' it down...

Next thing you know, he's gonna be a Toss Flycoon....

[roamer_1]

When you move to Montana, just don't let anyone there know you're from Cali.

That's a thing alright... But also not a thing... I have punched cows with fellers from down in the Sierras.
Rednecks are rednecks, even in California. Them kind fit in here just fine.

[Smokin Joe]

That's a thing alright... But also not a thing... I have punched cows with fellers from down in the Sierras.
Rednecks are rednecks, even in California. Them kind fit in here just fine.

Yep. (Real) country folks are awful similar, no matter where they are from.

[Kamaji]

Meh.  They did it to themselves.

[SZonian]

When you move to Montana, just don't let anyone there know you're from Cali.

That's a little farther North than we're currently looking, and thanks for the advice.

But I daresay, I'd have to remove the tags from the car we're driving or get a rental to not give it away. 

[rustynail]

They just need to tap the power of SMUG.

[GtHawk]

They just need to tap the power of SMUG.

If they could run generators on bullshit we'd have it made, there is an unlimited supply in Sacramento. Who'd a thunk it, California has socialist democrat control that foists green energy upon the taxpayer while eliminating nuclear and NG power generation, no meaningful improvements to the power grid all the while pushing EV's. But wait that's not all! Instead of building and filling reservoirs to insure the supply of water to residents in the midst of periodic droughts socialist demorcrats opted to waste billions of taxpayer dollars on a boondoggle to glorify Governor Moonbeam, a bullet train to nowhere. And in the middle of all this is the democrats hammering the weak grid and dwindling water supply even more with the traffic (with their aid and approval) of hundreds of thousands of illegals to the state lavishing them with food, housing, cash and MediCal, all on the backs of the taxpayer.

Personally I wouldn't be to upset to see a massive quake flatten from north of the O.C. line to north of SanFranshitco. At the very least Sacramento when the Pelosi and all the rest were there.

[Hoodat]

But I daresay, I'd have to remove the tags from the car we're driving or get a rental to not give it away. 

Just do what people do here in Georgia.  Write "LOST TAG" on a piece of cardboard and tape it to your bumper.

[SZonian]

Just do what people do here in Georgia.  Write "LOST TAG" on a piece of cardboard and tape it to your bumper.

[DB]

I hope the Arizona environment has been better for you and your company...

It's parts shortages that are killing us right now. Xilinx FPGA orders that were supposed to be delivered now have been delayed indefinitely. Quotes are 52+ weeks with no real date provided... What parts you can find went from $50 a part to $700+ and are all overseas. You send cash and hope they send real parts... Generally, you have to build the assembly to find out. It's a nightmare.

Another issue is the quality of the parts after the fab houses shut down and then starting up again is poor. They don't seem to have things dialed in yet. We've gotten reels of bad ICs and lots of unexpected failures. These are on parts made by normally quality manufacturers like Analog Devices and NEC which wasn't expected.

Can't ship product if you can't build it. And the cost and pain of building things has gone up dramatically.

I don't know if we'll survive the year.