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I hope y'all like rolling blackouts

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout: Debate & Discussion' started by kevC, Dec 21, 2011.

  1. kevC

    kevC Member

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    http://fuelfix.com/blog/2011/12/20/...-power-plants-likely-will-unveil-it-tomorrow/

    As an electrical engineer for a major transmission utility company, I am truly concerned with this insane government overreach. Is "cleaner air" as defined by some unsubstantiated study worth turning into a third world country with no electrical reliability? As an engineer whose profession is to ensure a reliable grid, I am deeply disturbed by these developments. Why do I bother do my job and strive for transmission reliability if they're just going to be turning off generation everywhere?

    It kind of feels a bit like how Daryl Morey felt after David Stern vetoed the trade.
     
  2. ToyCen428

    ToyCen428 Member

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  3. DonnyMost

    DonnyMost Member
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  4. Classic

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    So the question begs, how does this ruling effect the possibility of blackouts?
     
  5. AbbasNasib

    AbbasNasib Member

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    How dare the EPA attempt to protect us from this!

    Keep my lights on DAMNIT! To hell with babies and the health of Americans! :mad:

    :rolleyes:
     
  6. Bellaire Brody

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    More proof of the liberal muscle and the asinine Obama Administration going too far. Real change in it's way in 2012.
     
  7. kevC

    kevC Member

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    Typical overblown fear-mongering by the EPA based on unsubstantiated studies. They throw out scary b-llsh!t like that so they can get public support. Blackouts also cause deaths you know.
     
  8. Classic

    Classic Member

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    This is true. Indoor air pollution is a far more serious threat to people than outdoor air pollution. Of course you don't see the EPA making too big a deal about volatile organic compounds found in everyday home cleaning products and used heavily in daycare settings. Ya, power plants are the bullies!!

    Second bolded sounds a lot like the common cold eh?
    You want your kid to have ADHD? Put them in a day care and become a germ and cleaning freak.
     
  9. rhadamanthus

    rhadamanthus Member

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    Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
     
  10. AbbasNasib

    AbbasNasib Member

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    I'm pretty sure the affects of mercury are well documented and substantiated.
     
  11. Major

    Major Member

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    Or maybe the blackouts are unsubstantiated fear-mongering by the power plant industry that doesn't want to pay the costs of these improvements?
     
  12. kevC

    kevC Member

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    But whether generating plants really affect the air enough where it actually causes death is very very not substantiated. They just throw out that Texas power plants lead in mercury emission but never say what that level is. They just throw out stupid **** like that to scare people.
     
  13. DonnyMost

    DonnyMost Member
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    [​IMG]
     
  14. kevC

    kevC Member

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    It's really not hard to understand how losing thousands of megawatts of generation will adversely affect electrical reliability.

    Would happily oblige if the government tells you to install a $1000 filter on your car to reduce emissions?
     
  15. jEXCLUSIVE

    jEXCLUSIVE Member

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    Yeah, let me just put a lil bit of mercury in your catfish sandwich basket.

    It won't hurt ya.
     
  16. kevC

    kevC Member

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    Yep, because that's EXACTLY what power plants do :rolleyes:
     
  17. Major

    Major Member

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    If my alternative option was to simply not drive anymore, then yes, I would oblige. Something tells me power plants aren't going to just say "ok, we'll stop producing power and lose even more money instead of making the required changes."
     
  18. Joshfast

    Joshfast "We're all gonna die" - Billy Sole
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    [​IMG]
     
  19. kevC

    kevC Member

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    That's actually exactly what's happening. For some of these plants it's literally impossible to make these changes and it is more cost efficient to mothball the units than keep it open and sustain the fines. So in effect, because of these unsubstantiated studies from the EPA, the power plants are shutting down to cut costs, and electrical reliability suffers.

    It's government overreaching and it ain't right :mad:.
     
  20. Rashmon

    Rashmon Member

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    As a consumer of energy from a major transmission utility company, I am truly concerned with the insane unconcern for mercury emissions in Texas powerplants. "Cleaner air" as defined by some scientific study is worth the expense by these corporations while maintaining electrical reliability. Engineers whose profession is to ensure a reliable grid, should be deeply disturbed by these mercury emissions. Their job is to strive for transmission reliability while providing a safe environment for the people.
     

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