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I was reading https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/09/pge-cuts-power-to-millions-in-california-amid-hot-windy-weather.html https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/09/pge-cuts-powe
by quotemstr 7y ago
I was reading https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/09/pge-cuts-power-to-millions-in-california-amid-hot-windy-weather.html https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/09/pge-cuts-power-to-millions-i..., particularly this bit: "
Wara said a forecast Tuesday night showed winds in Mt. Tamalpais, a nearby mountain, were less than 10 mph (16 kph). “There is zero wind where I live,” Wara said. “PG&E is required to shut down based on observed conditions, not forecast conditions.”"
The article goes on to mention forecasts of 35-45mph gusts. I'll edit my original post. My point stands: whether we're talking about 10mph winds or 45mph winds, we're talking about weather within the normal range of variation and conditions that electricity grids elsewhere handle admirably.
- danans 7y ago> within the normal range of variation and conditions that electricity grids elsewhere handle admirably. California has very different conditions than most other places in the US. It gets no rain for 9 months a year followed by a wet winter which results in a lot of vegetation growth. And that pattern is getting more extreme. You can't compare that to a wetter place, or even to a much dryer place with little vegetation.