‘Why Couldn’t Humboldt Have Power During the PSPS?’ Answered

During last week’s Public Safety Power Shutoff, many readers asked questions that we passed along to PG&E. We did not receive strong answers at that time.  Today’s unplanned power outage in Southern Humboldt caused us to ask again.

Garberville PG&E used to have four backup generators that were supposed to power the two towns in the main lines went down. Do we still have them? If so, why aren’t they able to come on line?

Why can’t Humboldt Bay power be used to get the lights on in Humboldt County?

Here are PG&E Media Relations, Deanna Contrera’s, answers:

Good questions.  The Humboldt Bay Generation Station is not designed as a black start capable power plant, or said more simply, the plant does not have the capability to operate without being connected to a fully energized grid.  PG&E does have an engineering study underway to evaluate what plant modifications would be required to add that capability, including changes that may be required to the existing air permit to allow HBGS to operate over the range necessary when disconnected from the grid.  I know a lot of people asked me this question during the PSPS but I didn’t have an answer until now.

 

We occasionally have to take lines out of service and we use generators to keep the power on for our customers.  We are conducting such safety projects in the Garberville area, so we did install generators at our substation in north Garberville.  They were being used to protect the city’s power source and the surrounding areas during the important safety work.  They were removed in July but coincidentally, they will be coming back in the coming weeks.  We will need to use the generators again on the 27thand 28 to replace a pole outside the substation.  We’ll install 8 generators to protect the area’s power source during other system upgrades

Contrera described the work PG&E will be doing to harden Southern Humboldt’s power supply to potential wildfire outbreaks:

As part of PG&E’s Community Wildfire Safety Program, we are hardening parts of two transmission lines in Humboldt County.  One line runs from Garberville, south to Laytonville and we are replacing approximately 60 wooden poles with steel poles.  Work on this line has started back up, so you may see helicopters to inspect the locations of the poles, etc.  The other transmission line, runs from Bridgeville to Garberville, where we are replacing approximately 125 wooden poles with steel poles.

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Uhhh
Guest
Uhhh
4 years ago

Uh isnt that plant labeled as one that will always be available for local usage? Someone out there know that title? I read it somewhere but cant recall it.

Also wasnt pge supposed to invest the 4.6billion in tax dollars they were given to work on developing smaller grids, back up generators and other system issues rather than paying 4.6 BILLION TO THEIR SHAREHOLDERS????

Sorry you have the worst job ever lady but we’re not buying your BS anymore. Your ‘sorrys’ are basically the same as all the ‘thoughts&prayers’ BS. Bunch of hot air worth nothing tangible.

the misadventures of bunjee
Guest
the misadventures of bunjee
4 years ago
Reply to  Uhhh

The 4.6bn that went to shareholders was supposed to be for tree and line maintenance. But there may be equally as much that was designated for grid upgrades and development. Or….they blew all that money to pay back their financial friends. Us plebes might get ourselves killed we do that to a bunch of people.

PG&E dodged the question.
Guest
PG&E dodged the question.
4 years ago

The response doesn’t answer the question. How come the advertised backup generators that locals are, and have been, paying for weren’t used?

Guest
Guest
Guest
4 years ago

This answer is clear as mud. If the grid is fully energized, why would a back up generator be needed? And why would a generator need power to work? Is not the point of a generator to make electrical power? Ms. Contrera’s state just does not make anything clear.

Ice
Guest
Ice
4 years ago

” questions that we past along to PGE”? Shouldn’t it be ” passed along”??

kelley
Guest
kelley
4 years ago
Reply to  Ice

Yes.

Not a shareholder but I looked at when dividends were paid
Guest
Not a shareholder but I looked at when dividends were paid
4 years ago

When was this supposed to be given to shareholders? PG&E hasn’t paid dividends to shareholders since 2017 or earlier?

Bushytails
Guest
Bushytails
4 years ago

” We did not receive strong answers at that time. ” doesn’t look like you received them at this time either…

Central HumCo
Guest
4 years ago

HBGS is a load following power plant consisting of ten (10) natural gas-fired Wartsila 18V50DF 16.3 megawatt (MW) reciprocating engine-generator sets and associated equipment with a combined nominal generating capacity of 163 MW. HBGS is also capable of running on California Air Resources Board (CARB)-certified diesel fuel in order to ensure local area reliability >>>>>>> during instances of natural gas curtailment in the region >>>>>>as required by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and PG&E’s CPUC Gas Tariff Rule 14.

Natural gas CURTAILMENT????- let me guess, it’s one of those re-sources that comes under the heading of “fossil fuel”, and therefore the “peak” natural gas came and went.

“We’re running out”. “No more natural gas”, says the unelected, worse-than-useless commissoners of a California Public Utility.

These useless eaters on the PUC need clued-in. DEAR Mr. PUC, please provide evidence for your claim of delegated authority to express We, the People’s power esp. in making uninformed decisions w/no remedy assigned for wrong decisions.

P.S. You lack subject matter jurisdiction.

researcher
Guest
researcher
4 years ago

Just more reasons why we need distributed power systems (AKA distributed energy resources) and microgrids. From wikipedia,

Conventional power stations are centralized and often require electric energy to be transmitted over long distances. By contrast, DER systems are decentralized, modular, and more flexible technologies, that are located close to the load they serve, albeit having capacities of only 10 megawatts (MW) or less.

DER systems typically use renewable energy sources, including small hydro, biomass, biogas, solar power, wind power, and geothermal power, and increasingly play an important role for the electric power distribution system.

Microgrids are modern, localized, small-scale grids,[3][4] contrary to the traditional, centralized electricity grid (macrogrid). Microgrids can disconnect from the centralized grid and operate autonomously, strengthen grid resilience, and help mitigate grid disturbances.

Johnny
Guest
Johnny
4 years ago

Between scotia Samoa and Humboldt bay there is more than enough to power all of Humboldt. Air quality will not let Humboldt bay run all there units because of the emissions.