San Diego is experiencing a county-wide power outage – but bubbleinfo doesn’t stop!
Speaking of power, this from the nctimes.com:
Carlsbad city officials have been saying for several years that the city’s coastline ought to eventually become power-plant free.
Now, the Planning Commission is poised to amend the city’s General Plan — a citywide planning document —- to reflect that ultimate goal.
That change, as well as two churches’ requests for conditional use permits for building projects, is up for debate during a 6 p.m. Wednesday meeting at City Hall, 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive.
The city’s proposed plan amendment won’t bar the existing Encina Power Station —- a highly visible power plant complex along the south side of Agua Hedionda Lagoon — from continuing to operate, but it will emphasize that the city envisions a different future for the property, city senior planner Scott Donnell said Tuesday.
“I think it’s partially an effort to clarify what the rules are, what Carlsbad’s standards are,” he said.
Officials with NRG Energy Inc., the company that owns the 92-acre power station property, also have repeatedly said that their eventual goal is to remove the power-generating equipment from the coastline.
However, they and the city differ greatly on how far back power plant operations should be.
NRG has submitted plans to the state Energy Commission, which has regulatory authority over power plant projects, for a 558-megawatt plant project on the eastern edge of its property between Interstate 5 and the railroad tracks.
The company has said that putting power-generating equipment there will free up the coastal portion for other projects, such as tourist-related businesses.
Carlsbad officials have said that they would like to see the entire property redeveloped, arguing that the eastern end also isn’t a good fit for a power plant project because it’s next to a major freeway and just south of the lagoon.
The proposed General Plan amendment states that power plants would be allowed in the city’s coastal zone only if they are an “accessory use,” meaning that they were part of another business operation and produced less than 50 megawatts of electricity.
I got the power
No shortage here
Isn’t it already between the 5 and railroad tracks
Third…in Carlsbad. \o/
Power in SW El Cajon came back on at 11:39pm after 8 hours in the dark.
SDG&E urged customers to implement their ’emergency plan’.
So I went next door and helped my neighbor with his plan, drinking his beer before it got warm. It was the first time I had talked to him in more than a year!
Then the family played poker by candlelight, using quarters for chips. Wifey, who claimed she had never played poker before, cleaned up and took everyone’s money, walking with $16! She thought we should have more power outages.
What did you do during your power outage?
Personally, I’m for having more power stations nearer the communities they serve, not the opposite. Reduces the chances of such a massive blackout, not to mention is more efficient (less transmission losses) and therefore more enviromentally sound, as well as being cheaper.
I am glad that power plant approvals are up to the state and not the local cities, otherwise you would have massive NIMBY and BANANA problems with them.
We were in Encinitas after our sons soccer practice trying to get home at 6:00pm to Vista. The Audi had low gas light on to add to the excitement! No stores open, no gas stations open, no streetlights on. Elec gate and garage door openers inoperative so we jumped our fence, crawled through the dog door to get into the house.
Burgers, Beers and Boardgames by candlelight!
No rest for the wicked JtR. Pumping out these blogs in candlelight!
I went for a walk around the neighborhood in the evening and almost everyone had a BBQ going. Saw lots of people sitting in their cars and talking on cellphones or sitting in the front yard in lawn chairs. Pulled out a lantern at home and read a book.
“What did you do during your power outage?”
Here (in Carlsbad) for exactly one week when the power went out. Finally got here in time to do a victory dance in the surf at the close of summer, after suffering a broken ankle this past spring.
We sat outside, soaking up the ocean breeze, ate sandwiches for dinner, and easedropping on the neighbor’s battery powered radio playing, waiting for dark. Later we lit candles, ate soft ice cream out of the freezer, shined coyotes running around in the woods from our balcony with the flashlights, and retired early.
“What did you do during your power outage?”
Tossed some IPAs in the cooler, grilled some steaks, relaxed with wife and enjoyed the night stars. Was nice to be unplugged for a night.
Jim – I gotta hand it to you – you know how to live! What a trip!! Maybe another mini baby boom in your area come 9 months from now!
The design of the modern power grid completely negates the benefit of having power generation take place close to customers. What good is having a plant in your community if they all go down at the same time?
Had a great night! We live in a pretty friendly neighborhood, but last night it seemed like everyone was outside; playing, walking, riding bikes, taking care of the drinks before they got too warm, eating ice cream and playing football. The kids had a blast, and no school today.