crisis intervention commentary [RE-wrenches]

Sun Aug 17 19:24:34 PDT 2003

Hi Joel,
            The article refered to in your link is the blackout that
occurred a couple of years ago.  This was caused in Summer by the main feed
cable (underground) overheating and suffering insulation breakdown.  The
backup cable suffered the same fate (same age).  Then the backup backup
cable also melted!  The replacement of these cables had been flagged for
replacement for years but short term profits meant it didn't happen.

Now, for the last 2 winters we have had pending power crisies, and it has
only been the efforts of business and private homes cutting power
consumption that has prevented blackouts.  Lack of Autmn (Fall) rains has
been the problem as much of our hydro capacity is in the southern (coldest)
part of the country and winter precipitation is in the form of snow.  Our
storage lakes are not really designed to store massive volumes of water,
they act more as a very large stilling pond and allow the dam to provide
head for the turbines.  Coupled with an increasing natural gas consumption
for the newer power stations and a depleting gas reserve the situation is
looking like a (conventional) planners worst nightmare.

Renewables is the answer here with large scale wind a very promising option,
but only if it will get started!  That is why the recent trouble in the
States is another warning bell for us down here and in a few years time the
renewable suppliers will be very busy indeed, if we can source materials as
the rest of the world will also be pretty active :-)

Cheers
Bruce

----- Original Message -----
From: "Joel Davidson" <joeldavidson at earthlink.net>
To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
Sent: Monday, August 18, 2003 9:24 AM
Subject: Re: crisis intervention commentary [RE-wrenches]

> Dear Bruce,
>
> Whether it is New Zealand's power outages
> <http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9803/27/auckland.outage/> or California's
rolling
> blackouts <http://www.cnn.com/2001/US/01/18/lefevre.debrief.02/> or the
latest
> blackout, obsolete infrastructure (hardware) can not be improved with
obsolete
> management practices (hardheadedness).
>
> It doesn't take a genius to:
> 1. Turn off the electric switch to see what gadgets stop.
> 2. Then rank how important it is to keep the gadgets on.
> 3. Then devise a plan to ensure that desired gadgets stay on.
> 4. Then implement the plan.
> 5. Then continually revise the plan and its implementation while keeping
an
> open mind for new ideas.
>
> Best regards,
> Joel Davidson
> "To the blind all things seem sudden."
>
> Bruce Geddes wrote:
>
> > Hi Keith and others.  The USA is not the only place grappling with these
> > issues.  Here in good ol New Zealand we instigated a reform on the power
> > industry back in 1993 which saw the emphasis go to short term profits.
> > Since then all new power generation has come from gas turbines in a
country
> > where hydro used to account for >80% of generation.  Now down to
somewhere
> > around 50-60%.  No upgrade of the national grid to meet increased
demand.
> >
> > In the renewable industry we are also facing problems getting utilities
to
> > accept grid intertie.  Being a much smaller country, our hope is to get
a
> > nationwide protocol in place at governmental level to set the rules.  It
is
> > a battle and the situation that has occured in your parts gives us
strength
> > to fight our battle.
> >
> > Hopefully this will be a great opportunity for you also to push
renewables
> > and energy efficiency.  I also use the approach of "payback" for other
> > lifestyle symbols but you can only lead a horse to water.......
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Bruce
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "keith" <kcronin at lava.net>
> > To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
> > Sent: Saturday, August 16, 2003 5:17 PM
> > Subject: crisis intervention commentary [RE-wrenches]
> >
> > >
> > > These last 48 hours have taught us a lot about our current energy
grid.
> > > It has become a clogged artery, in desperate need of a stent.  The
> > > demand has outstripped supply.  Our insatiable demand for easily
> > > accessible electricity has reached our uneducated cities.  It seems
the
> > > privilege of plugging in and not factoring in any consequences for the
> > > actions, has been brought to our cerebrums.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > I had eleven calls today, all in sheer misbelief of the power issues
of
> > > this nation.  It seems the head must come out of the sand, and today
is
> > > the day that transpired.  I tried subtly to explain the consequences
of
> > > failure to be cognizant of our energy consumption.  I think it fell on
> > > deaf ears.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > It got to an interesting level of concern, that the local TV station
> > > asked for a 1.5 hour interview to understand and pursue the issues.
> > > Through a constant inquiry, I felt compelled to share what knowledge I
> > > have acquired over time.  Sheer amazement surrounded the interviewer.
> > > Surely he was kidding!  Could he not believe the issues facing the
> > > future.  He recognized it was semi on his radar screen, but not an
> > > impending disaster.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > I ponder.are we all creatures of habit...waiting..for something to
> > > happen.and then react.??
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > The interview came down to the usual.payback for PV,  what can it run,
> > > why.etc..my typical answers where.payback on the SUV, Stripper fishing
> > > boat, jet ski, the $90K Mercedes..what do you really need to run.what
do
> > > you really need???
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > After the crew left.I wondered.where are our priorities..??......will
we
> > > always wait till the last possible minute.??..will our government and
> > > the EPRI (electric power research institute) ( on tv today.exclaiming
> > > 10% renewables in the country..time to up the percentage) continue to
> > > tell us we need to upgrade our transmission lines..or should we simply
> > > spend those dollars more wisely in distributed generation..make power
> > > where you use it.(pv for example.. at home)...??????
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > I realize this is a revolutionary concept..and so were the pilgrims
that
> > > founded this country...can't we think about our future.in respect to
the
> > > communities we live in.??...if we fail to invest in our communities,
> > > where are we as a nation...????............imagine this blackout
> > > happened in the middle of winter..with a terrorist twist...
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > All inquiries..welcome..!!!!!
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Aloha
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Keith Cronin
> > >
> > > President
> > >
> > > Island Energy Solutions
> > >
> > > 318A Kuulei Rd
> > >
> > > Kailua, HI 96734
> > >
> > > 808-262-3268 Tel
> > >
> > > 808-263-0338 Fax
> > >
> > > www.islandenergy.net
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > >
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