Droughts reduce capacity of California’s hydroelectric dams
Jun 23, 2021 20:41:52 GMT -5
Post by shalom on Jun 23, 2021 20:41:52 GMT -5
Californians told to conserve power as droughts reduce capacity of California’s hydroelectric dams
Wednesday, June 23, 2021 by: Nolan Barton
Tags: cooling center, dairy farmers, Edward Hyatt Power Plant, electrical generation turbines, emergency proclamation, energy capacity, global warming, hydroelectric dams, hydroelectric plants, Lake Oroville, micro-irrigation, power companies, power grid, power plant, water supply
(Natural News) The California Independent System Operator (ISO), which runs the state’s energy grid, has warned that it may face challenges this summer in part because droughts have reduced the capacity of the state’s hydroelectric dams.
This prompted California Gov. Gavin Newsom to ask Californians to voluntarily conserve power to avoid rotating outages. Meanwhile, the California ISO asked people to set thermostats to 78 degrees, avoid using large appliances, close drapes and blinds, turn off unnecessary lights and use fans.
Hydroelectric plant at risk of closing
One of California’s most critical hydroelectric plants is at risk of closing for the first time as water levels continue to sink. (Related: Drought could force California power plant to shut down at hottest time of the year.)
The drought and the scorching heat have depleted some of the water supply at Northern California’s Lake Oroville. The lake’s current water levels are hovering around 700 feet above sea level.
If 640 feet is breached, officials “will likely be forced to close the Edward Hyatt Power Plant for the first time since it opened in 1967,” California Energy Commission spokesperson Lindsay Buckley told CNN. The lake’s record low is 646 feet.
Earlier this month, at least 130 houseboats were evacuated from the lake as water levels continued to drop.
If the Hyatt plant closes, hydroelectric generation for the state’s grid would be affected. At full capacity, the plant can power up to 800,000 homes.
“If lake levels fall below those elevations later this summer, DWR [California Department of Water Resources] will, for the first time, cease generation at the Hyatt power plant due to lack of sufficient water to turn the plant’s electrical generation turbines,” said Liza Whitmore, Public Information Officer of DWR’s Oroville Field Division.
Continued at link
Wednesday, June 23, 2021 by: Nolan Barton
Tags: cooling center, dairy farmers, Edward Hyatt Power Plant, electrical generation turbines, emergency proclamation, energy capacity, global warming, hydroelectric dams, hydroelectric plants, Lake Oroville, micro-irrigation, power companies, power grid, power plant, water supply
(Natural News) The California Independent System Operator (ISO), which runs the state’s energy grid, has warned that it may face challenges this summer in part because droughts have reduced the capacity of the state’s hydroelectric dams.
This prompted California Gov. Gavin Newsom to ask Californians to voluntarily conserve power to avoid rotating outages. Meanwhile, the California ISO asked people to set thermostats to 78 degrees, avoid using large appliances, close drapes and blinds, turn off unnecessary lights and use fans.
Hydroelectric plant at risk of closing
One of California’s most critical hydroelectric plants is at risk of closing for the first time as water levels continue to sink. (Related: Drought could force California power plant to shut down at hottest time of the year.)
The drought and the scorching heat have depleted some of the water supply at Northern California’s Lake Oroville. The lake’s current water levels are hovering around 700 feet above sea level.
If 640 feet is breached, officials “will likely be forced to close the Edward Hyatt Power Plant for the first time since it opened in 1967,” California Energy Commission spokesperson Lindsay Buckley told CNN. The lake’s record low is 646 feet.
Earlier this month, at least 130 houseboats were evacuated from the lake as water levels continued to drop.
If the Hyatt plant closes, hydroelectric generation for the state’s grid would be affected. At full capacity, the plant can power up to 800,000 homes.
“If lake levels fall below those elevations later this summer, DWR [California Department of Water Resources] will, for the first time, cease generation at the Hyatt power plant due to lack of sufficient water to turn the plant’s electrical generation turbines,” said Liza Whitmore, Public Information Officer of DWR’s Oroville Field Division.
Continued at link