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Record Heat, Drought Pose Problems for U.S. Electric Power

National Geographic -- Record heat and drought conditions across the United States this summer have plagued power plants that require cool water to produce electricity.

From Connecticut to California, high water temperatures and diminished access have forced power plants to ramp down production or acquire waivers to operate with cooling water above regulated temperatures. At least one plant has suspended operations.

On Sunday, one of two reactors at Millstone Power Station near New London, Connecticut, was shut down when temperatures in Long Island Sound, reached their highest sustained levels since the facility began monitoring in 1971.

The outage had no immediate impact on power delivery, as New England was expected to have a buffer of 26 percent more electricity supply than peak demand this summer,..

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Submitted Aug 20, 2012 By: Martinman

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clpassenubye Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:3,374 Points:776,930 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 6:18:17 PM Ignore clpassenubye Report Abuse yes
NHLiveFree Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:11,294 Points:1,649,905 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 5:34:24 PM Ignore NHLiveFree Report Abuse It is astonishing that even the sea water utilized by the two CT nuclear reactors is so warm that they had to shut down! This is getting serious!!!
crep1291 Champion Author Ottawa Posts:2,637 Points:486,190 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 10:35:56 AM Ignore crep1291 Report Abuse "Convert everything to natural gas!" Natural gas power plants also need water to operate. And water is needed to extract the cheap natural gas.
puinsai808 Champion Author Honolulu Posts:3,703 Points:755,005 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 10:11:45 AM Ignore puinsai808 Report Abuse yikes
Martinman Champion Author Mississippi Posts:14,874 Points:2,120,555 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 9:31:37 AM Ignore Martinman Report Abuse Fall 'officially' starts on Sep. 22nd.
FPLREP Champion Author Virginia Posts:8,401 Points:2,475,810 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 8:49:25 AM Ignore FPLREP Report Abuse Cooler weather is coming. I predict an early fall.
Martinman Champion Author Mississippi Posts:14,874 Points:2,120,555 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 8:24:15 AM Ignore Martinman Report Abuse commprof from houston posted... "Put the coal fired plants back on line and build more of them in order to use the energy source we have and make electricity cheaper. Duh! " . mowerman08 from milwaukee posted... "What about the coal plants? That's right coal isn't part of Obama's plan. " . renegadegas from missouri posted... "Keep shutting down the coal plants and plan on seeing more of this and higher prices. Way to go greenie weenies!! Your distruction of America and her people is working! " . z06ky from louisville posted... "Need more new coal plants! Obama has almost destroyed our coal industry!" ----- Don't you just love it when people comment without reading the article? How about commenting without reading more than just the headline? First paragraph above, "... have plagued power plants that require cool water to produce electricity..." Could it be, that the first sentence of the article DEFINES what the artice is about? Hmmm, no "nuclear" word there. You would think that inquiring minds that don't know, but want to know, would then read on... The article then later states: "... Keech said drought is potentially a bigger problem for the electrical power industry than high heat, because nuclear AND COAL POWER PLANTS rely on water to cool key parts of their systems. "If you don't have a way to refill the cooling pond, then you have to sit there and wait for rain. In summers like this one, you don't know how long it's going to be. Waiting for Mother Nature to fill the reservoir back up, that's not a position you want to be in...." ----- It talks about some of the power plants either closed or faced closure due to not only water temperatures, but water levels. It even talks about the mean nasty evil empire (you know, the federal government) granted waivers to exceed established federal standards, when it was needed! Amazing... 'regulating' worked! But wait, there's more! "... But heat and drought work together to overtax the electrical grid, said Michael Webber, associate director of the Center for International Energy and Environmental Policy at the University of Texas at Austin. Water is far more important for energy production than most people understand, Webber said, adding that families use more water to power their homes than they use from their tap...." Ya don't say... And there are additional examples of plants being forced to shutdown, as well as a discussion how the higher temperatures have reduced the snowpack in some areas - snow that is critical for hydroelectric power generationg. "... The drought has also affected hydroelectric power generation. California hydroelectric power plants were expected to produce 1,137 fewer megawatts this summer than in the past due to drought over the winter, said Stephanie McCorkle, spokeswoman for California Independent System Operator, responsible for operation of most of California's power delivery. Snowpack in the mountains of the Sierra Nevada, which provides water for power generation, was down as much as 50 percent in some areas in spring, McCorkle said. "That is how we store electricity—in the snowpack," McCorkle said, adding that California relies on hydroelectric power for 16 percent of its peak summer resources and is projected to have a warmer-than-usual fall. "There are many factors that affect grid conditions, but I would say it's of concern," she said...." ----- Imagine that. There wasn't a problem with generating capacity, despite the severity and extended of this summer's heat/drought. And the article is not about coal-fired plants shutting down - because they haven't shutdown yet. It isn't about insufficient spare capacity - becsuse that wasn't a factor. Regardless, both isues are irrelevant to the problem this summer exposed - that prolonged excessive heat OR drought impacted the industry that requires WATER to run, regardless of the fuel used for electric generating. See what happens when you perpetually have your political blinders on... READ !
batloverNM Champion Author Albuquerque Posts:3,947 Points:1,394,825 Joined:Oct 2007	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 8:14:32 AM Ignore batloverNM Report Abuse Go with more clean solar PV and wind power.
wamster Champion Author Houston Posts:4,418 Points:720,340 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 7:26:40 AM Ignore wamster Report Abuse We've had a few problems around Houston too.
RichardoB Champion Author Fayetteville Posts:8,142 Points:2,030,135 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 7:07:07 AM Ignore RichardoB Report Abuse Some people won't believe global warming is happening until their houses on the coast are under water.
ClarkSC Champion Author South Carolina Posts:3,219 Points:1,039,105 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 5:56:13 AM Ignore ClarkSC Report Abuse Bring on the windmills. One for every home.
Amplion Champion Author Oregon Posts:6,921 Points:1,892,760 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 3:45:50 AM Ignore Amplion Report Abuse OBOZO & CRONIES DON'T HAVE A CLUE WHAT TO DO !!!!
etothek Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:1,784 Points:358,380 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 3:19:09 AM Ignore etothek Report Abuse Convert everything to natural gas!
fenster66 Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:3,490 Points:701,790 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 3:18:22 AM Ignore fenster66 Report Abuse Hopefully summer should be over soon----
jcurley Champion Author California Posts:8,018 Points:1,801,520 Joined:Dec 2007	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 3:16:16 AM Ignore jcurley Report Abuse Yes, and don't believe the right-wing media when they fess up and admit the global climate change could be a possibility. (HA!)
yelobus Champion Author Houston Posts:5,743 Points:1,584,540 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 3:15:09 AM Ignore yelobus Report Abuse Nothing new here.
computernut2008 Champion Author Ohio Posts:6,714 Points:1,377,315 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 3:14:04 AM Ignore computernut2008 Report Abuse ok
lenasdude All-Star Author Alaska Posts:970 Points:1,014,955 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 3:10:51 AM Ignore lenasdude Report Abuse ??????????
afghaned Champion Author Hamilton Posts:11,985 Points:1,313,835 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 3:05:02 AM Ignore afghaned Report Abuse Interesting about water temp & power production.
Quick68 Champion Author Columbus Posts:8,448 Points:1,253,500 Joined:Dec 2009	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 3:04:34 AM Ignore Quick68 Report Abuse This was never been a problem 40 years ago.
JCClark2012 Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:1,547 Points:423,695 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 3:02:52 AM Ignore JCClark2012 Report Abuse Time to look at Green and get a better system in place before next year.
divebomber Champion Author Nebraska Posts:6,218 Points:1,839,975 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 3:02:05 AM Ignore divebomber Report Abuse OK!
eights Champion Author Ohio Posts:2,284 Points:641,995 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 2:59:31 AM Ignore eights Report Abuse i bet those electric plant r running on fuel and this will be another reason 4 them to raise even more! lol
LanguageMan1 Champion Author Tampa Posts:11,866 Points:1,689,490 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 2:59:18 AM Ignore LanguageMan1 Report Abuse The heat isn't good for most of us, and the drought is going to make life even more miserable for me, the poor and middle class as well. Obama nor the economy is helping either, nor is Congress, Democrats and Republicans alike. As for an increase in minimum wage, and I know this isn't a political forum, but I'll say it anyhow, I don't even see Democrats standing up for anything like that, and it's needed.
chuckwthompson Champion Author Charlotte Posts:3,895 Points:604,885 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 2:59:09 AM Ignore chuckwthompson Report Abuse Didn't know that.
TheeRedRam Champion Author Hartford Posts:3,303 Points:700,335 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 2:57:55 AM Ignore TheeRedRam Report Abuse Hummmm
SkooterG Champion Author Phoenix Posts:1,369 Points:344,185 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 2:57:04 AM Ignore SkooterG Report Abuse Wow. I had no idea so many power plants were running on the 'edge' of their cooling parameters. You think they would have been designed a bit better with more 'breathing room'.
ddgb40 Champion Author Las Vegas Posts:1,545 Points:384,480 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 2:54:56 AM Ignore ddgb40 Report Abuse ????
gudrench Champion Author Houston Posts:2,623 Points:529,990 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 2:50:02 AM Ignore gudrench Report Abuse Uh-oh.
unclenorman Champion Author Tampa Posts:1,479 Points:166,855 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 2:46:11 AM Ignore unclenorman Report Abuse ok
SteveMartin Champion Author New Orleans Posts:4,548 Points:911,465 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 2:45:55 AM Ignore SteveMartin Report Abuse k
UBDave Champion Author British Columbia Posts:1,269 Points:1,399,930 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 2:44:35 AM Ignore UBDave Report Abuse Just how does this issue relate to gas prices??
hybridaholic Champion Author Appleton Posts:8,505 Points:1,584,265 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 2:42:58 AM Ignore hybridaholic Report Abuse ok
1heatguy Veteran Author Wisconsin Posts:311 Points:154,845 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 2:40:57 AM Ignore 1heatguy Report Abuse ok
lgwhitlock Champion Author Chico Posts:7,525 Points:1,713,195 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 2:40:54 AM Ignore lgwhitlock Report Abuse Many states including California rely on hydroelectric plants. This along with regulations to protect the fish are the problem. We need new sources of energy; CNG seems the natural replacement...
jetmech568 Champion Author Idaho Posts:1,285 Points:650,105 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 2:38:56 AM Ignore jetmech568 Report Abuse ok
bullseye100 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:2,531 Points:610,030 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 2:35:52 AM Ignore bullseye100 Report Abuse Interesting but not gas related.
PetroScopper Champion Author Houston Posts:6,760 Points:1,577,635 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 2:35:15 AM Ignore PetroScopper Report Abuse This drought has posed a bunch of problems for the whole country. I hate to see what the food prices might look like in a couple of months from now.
TXryder Champion Author Texas Posts:2,854 Points:460,510 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 2:33:03 AM Ignore TXryder Report Abuse Never thought about that. Local power generation plants have their own lakes for cooling. Evaporation alone gets to be enormous when the air and water temp gets very hot during these extreme summers. Then there is the lack of fresh runoff to replenish and the air temp at 100+ does not cool the water in time to recirculate.
big_mac64 Champion Author Tennessee Posts:10,600 Points:1,490,130 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 2:27:03 AM Ignore big_mac64 Report Abuse funny...I read a story this past week saying just the opposite!
runner74 Champion Author Washington Posts:2,846 Points:595,940 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 2:22:45 AM Ignore runner74 Report Abuse ok
Scoutca All-Star Author Orange County Posts:525 Points:1,604,985 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 2:22:43 AM Ignore Scoutca Report Abuse Good post LGWHITLOCK!! Most definitely need someone with authority to develop a balanced energy program..... [it certainly isn't going to be anyone in our current administration!!!]
DavidsChallenge All-Star Author Louisville Posts:635 Points:125,805 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 2:21:20 AM Ignore DavidsChallenge Report Abuse Use natural gas and new coal burning plants!
sts808 Veteran Author Honolulu Posts:361 Points:51,890 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 2:21:06 AM Ignore sts808 Report Abuse ok
outlaw329 Champion Author Austin Posts:7,739 Points:1,399,890 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 2:21:06 AM Ignore outlaw329 Report Abuse Maybe the electric companies need to invest in solar as well as the customers and while we are at it convert to natural gas for the family auto!
Pozole Champion Author Portland Posts:9,766 Points:1,622,220 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 2:14:39 AM Ignore Pozole Report Abuse ...solar panels on EVERY building...
fxb1 Champion Author Louisiana Posts:2,533 Points:623,185 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 2:11:46 AM Ignore fxb1 Report Abuse ok
vulcan96 Champion Author Ohio Posts:27,145 Points:3,126,955 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 2:08:00 AM Ignore vulcan96 Report Abuse need more natural gas powered plants...
Double_Golden Champion Author San Francisco Posts:2,700 Points:633,085 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 2:07:40 AM Ignore Double_Golden Report Abuse put up more solar panel to generated clean energy power then...
Gasazhunter Champion Author Phoenix Posts:4,351 Points:1,055,420 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 2:07:27 AM Ignore Gasazhunter Report Abuse Sucks.