Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

PG&E’s Radical Plan to Prevent Wildfires: Shut Down the Power Grid
WSJ ^ | 4/27/19 | Russell Gold and Katherine Blunt

Posted on 05/12/2019 10:33:41 PM PDT by LibWhacker

click here to read article


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-59 last
To: LibWhacker

California and it’s sheeple will complain that PG&E can’t be allowed to shut down power to any area, in an attempt to avoid downed power lines causing a wild fire, and they will win that argument and force PG&E to keep the grid open.

Then there will be a bad wildfire this year, with $billions of public and private damage and the state will sue PG&E for causing the wildfire.

Why anyone would want to be the head of PG&E is a mystery. Not many people will knowingly put their head on the public chopping block.


41 posted on 05/13/2019 6:18:12 AM PDT by Wuli
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SpaceBar

Bingo. This has nothing to do with either civil or electrical engineering. This has to do with liability.

It’s a fact of life. There are warning labels printed on garbage bags. That has zero to do with public safety.

Tort bar is a cancer.


42 posted on 05/13/2019 6:23:23 AM PDT by RinaseaofDs
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: LibWhacker

Maybe suing the electric utility into bankruptcy was not such a great idea, after all...


43 posted on 05/13/2019 6:24:46 AM PDT by Haiku Guy (ELIMINATE PERVERSE INCENTIVES)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LibWhacker

Why don’t they just SELL the Transmission lines to the communities they serve, force them, the new owners to accept all liability? If they say no, Disconnect them.


44 posted on 05/13/2019 6:26:34 AM PDT by eyeamok
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Still Thinking

The problem is mostly trees that have grown close to the lines.


45 posted on 05/13/2019 6:28:02 AM PDT by super7man (Madam Defarge, knitting, knitting, always knitting)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

so cut them down ...


46 posted on 05/13/2019 6:39:01 AM PDT by bob_esb
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: Beagle8U

Sounds good, thanks for that! Already googled it and bookmarked a company near me. And it’s cheaper than solar panels backed up with an underpowered gas generator, right?

First, we’ll try to get out of California, asap. Not going to be easy. But failing that, I’m definitely going to check out whole house propane or nat. gas, thanks.


47 posted on 05/13/2019 9:25:48 AM PDT by LibWhacker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: LibWhacker

Lots of homes in the northern states have it, because it runs off their existing 500-1000 gal propane tank that heats their home, water, clothes dryer, and cooks their food.

Propane is the only affordable option in rural areas without Nat-gas.

When the grid power goes out it fires up and starts powering your home in just a few sec.


48 posted on 05/13/2019 9:42:03 AM PDT by Beagle8U (It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you place the blame.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: LibWhacker

It’s way cheaper than gas or diesel generators, and there is no stinky fuel to go get, and no tank to fill.

Your bulk propane company fills your tank when needed and it just sets there ready when you need it. Propane won’t get stale like gas if you don’t use it, propane will keep for years and years.


49 posted on 05/13/2019 9:59:13 AM PDT by Beagle8U (It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you place the blame.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: bob_esb

“so cut them down ...”

It should be rather easy but it isn’t. Every time someones tree catches fire due to being all up in the powerlines, they call the fire department. We come out and listen to them simultaneously gripe about that and how the power company butchered their beautiful Hackberry tree cutting it away from the lines. Some have tried to sue for the damage to their trees.

It has come to the point that the power company would be better off reducing the rates by the amount that they spend cutting trees and just unload the responsibility on the owner of the tree.

When it causes problems, hand the owner a list of approved contractors and say get someone out to fix this in X hours or the fines start rolling in.


50 posted on 05/13/2019 10:01:22 AM PDT by Clay Moore (You can vote your way into socialism, but you have to shoot your way out.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: Beagle8U

My question at this point is does it gradually leak out even if you don’t use it? Or does a full propane tank stay full pretty much indefinitely? Thanks.


51 posted on 05/13/2019 10:32:55 AM PDT by LibWhacker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 49 | View Replies]

To: LibWhacker

No, it lasts about forever and don’t leak out.

I’ve had propane in a tank that set for over 15 years and fine when I used it.

Gasoline or Diesel only lasts a year or so, propane lasts decades.


52 posted on 05/13/2019 1:18:18 PM PDT by Beagle8U (It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you place the blame.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]

To: LibWhacker

I should add that you should get your own propane tank instead of using a tank owned by a propane company.

If you have your own tank any propane company can fill it, and you get the propane cheaper.

A used, reconditioned, cleaned and painted propane 250-500 gal tank costs about $300-$400, but you get the money back by getting propane cheaper when you fill it.


53 posted on 05/13/2019 1:29:27 PM PDT by Beagle8U (It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you place the blame.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]

To: Beagle8U

I’m sold, thank you! :-)


54 posted on 05/13/2019 1:29:37 PM PDT by LibWhacker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 52 | View Replies]

To: Beagle8U

Bookmarking all this, thanks.


55 posted on 05/13/2019 1:31:19 PM PDT by LibWhacker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]

To: LibWhacker

One more thing...If you know how to do it you can fill your propane gas grill tanks from your own bulk tank for about $2.00!

Or you can plumb your gas grill direct to the propane line and never have to worry about have your grill run out while cooking.


56 posted on 05/13/2019 1:38:59 PM PDT by Beagle8U (It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you place the blame.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]

To: Beagle8U

Okay, wow. Will check that out, too, when the time comes, thx.


57 posted on 05/13/2019 1:41:41 PM PDT by LibWhacker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 56 | View Replies]

To: LibWhacker

Glad to help a fellow FReeper.


58 posted on 05/13/2019 1:44:36 PM PDT by Beagle8U (It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you place the blame.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 57 | View Replies]

To: LibWhacker

PG&E is not blacking out power users.

PG&E is limiting liability from power line chasing lawyers.

The customers are irrelevant. Purchasing electricity is a voluntary transaction


59 posted on 05/13/2019 1:47:12 PM PDT by bert ( (KE. NP. N.C. +12)There were Democrat espionage operations on Republican candidates)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-59 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson