Sharp says developers designed the wind farms for maximum annual output at lowest cost, and Bonneville beefed up transmission lines to carry that output to market. in meteorology by studying the region's rich winds, he spent seven years at energy developer Iberdrola Renewables (now Avangrid Renewables) mining that resource with turbines, which currently feed Bonneville's grid. Sharp knows this situation well because he helped create it. So Bonneville sometimes shuts down the wind farms, squandering some of their clean energy. Spilling water over the wall without generating power would waste the potential energy while filling the river with excess air and killing endangered salmon hatching there by “giving them the bends,” says Justin Sharp, a Portland-based energy consultant. The dams need to operate flat out because the reservoirs behind them are brimming with meltwater. Managing the grid is even more dicey in the spring, when power output surges from the Northwest's massive hydroelectric plants. For Bonneville, it is akin to a big nuclear power plant on a dimmer switch, with power swinging up and down. The wake from the split meanders through the gorge's wind farms, causing output to spike and slump. The havoc is multiplied by Mount Hood, which towers over the gorge and divides the prevailing winds like a big boulder in a stream. Changing weather shifts winds across the broad span of turbines, creating huge power swings. The carbon-free energy, however, regularly causes migraines for operators at the Bonneville Power Administration, based in Portland, Ore., who manage the regional electricity grid. Engineers packed the gorge with thousands of wind turbines that power two million to three million homes. The federal government also has tips to help prepare for power outages here.The wind power boom in the Pacific Northwest's Columbia River Gorge is both a renewable energy success story and a cautionary tale. Stuff towels or rags in cracks under doors Wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing Close blinds or curtains to keep in some heat The National Weather Service has tips for those who lose power amid record cold. “This means that customers near critical facilities, or those in limited areas where rolling outages won’t take place in order to maintain grid stability, may not experience outages, while those farther from these facilities or areas may be out multiple times or for longer instances.” “We are using all designated power lines for controlled outages so that hospitals and other critical infrastructure remains intact and system stability is preserved,” according to power supplier Oncor. Power companies also are avoiding cutting power to emergency facilities, such as hospitals. Several power companies have said that power outages for some may last mere minutes, but could last longer in other areas. In the meantime, the Southern Power Pool is encouraging areas seeing record cold to reduce electricity use, both at home and work. "It's a last resort that we understand puts a burden on our member utilities and the customers they serve, but it's a step we're consciously taking to prevent circumstances from getting worse, which could result in uncontrolled outages of even greater magnitude." "In our history as a grid operator, this is an unprecedented event and marks the first time SPP has ever had to call for controlled interruptions of service," said SPP's executive vice president and chief operating officer Lanny Nickell. Parts of the Midwest are under seeing below zero temperatures. In Dallas, the low temperature was 7 on Monday, which shattered the previous record low. In addition to a crippling snow and ice storm hitting areas all the way from the US/Texas border through Maine, record cold has infiltrated regions. As a significant winter storm sweeps through the United States on Monday, several states have implemented rolling blackouts.Īccording to the Southwest Power Pool (SPP), utility companies in 14 Central and Southern US states have been told to implement “controlled interruptions” for customers.
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