You've probably already heard that the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) wanted to shut down the wind turbines this spring because of the excess water in the Columbia River. They also requested that the nuclear plant start it's planned outage earlier than anticipated. Here are some links:
http://www.sustainablebusinessoregon.com/articles/2011/05/bpa-decision-may-prompt-wind-shutdown.html
http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/may/18/wind-power-companies-criticize-bpa-plan/
http://ecotrope.opb.org/2011/05/bpa-shuts-off-wind-power-to-make-way-for-hydro/
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014756586_windpower13m.html
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2011/05/21/1498195/energy-northwest-power-outage.html
http://energymanagement-systems.us/energy-nw-extends-power-outage/
Well, yesterday, while bicycling in a pretty stiff (20 mph) wind, I confirmed that the wind turbines outside of town (Kennewick) were all shut down. I don't know about the ones in the Columbia Gorge (Wallula, The Dalles and Hood River, etc.), but I would expect that they are shut down as well. Perhaps others can confirm.
I thought it was rather ironic that all of this extra electricity coincides with the period that we usually have some of the highest gasoline prices in preparation for the Memorial Day holiday and the start of the summer driving season. Won't it be great when we have more electric vehicles to soak up all this extra juice? Maybe that will even lower the price of gasoline. Hah, that will be the day!
Reddy...... and waiting for my Leaf before the snow flies.......
http://www.sustainablebusinessoregon.com/articles/2011/05/bpa-decision-may-prompt-wind-shutdown.html
http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/may/18/wind-power-companies-criticize-bpa-plan/
http://ecotrope.opb.org/2011/05/bpa-shuts-off-wind-power-to-make-way-for-hydro/
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014756586_windpower13m.html
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2011/05/21/1498195/energy-northwest-power-outage.html
http://energymanagement-systems.us/energy-nw-extends-power-outage/
Well, yesterday, while bicycling in a pretty stiff (20 mph) wind, I confirmed that the wind turbines outside of town (Kennewick) were all shut down. I don't know about the ones in the Columbia Gorge (Wallula, The Dalles and Hood River, etc.), but I would expect that they are shut down as well. Perhaps others can confirm.
I thought it was rather ironic that all of this extra electricity coincides with the period that we usually have some of the highest gasoline prices in preparation for the Memorial Day holiday and the start of the summer driving season. Won't it be great when we have more electric vehicles to soak up all this extra juice? Maybe that will even lower the price of gasoline. Hah, that will be the day!
Reddy...... and waiting for my Leaf before the snow flies.......