When I posted a short post about Bonneville Power Administration’s recent record setting “hour of power” one of you posted a link to a web site that provides a near real time view of the last 8 days of the system wind power output versus the total system demand. If you are ever curious about what has gone on recently with the system, just go there.
To save you a click for today, I captured an image of the posted graph. Notice how “productive” the wind has been as the system loads have trended up in the past few days. I have not checked the weather channel, but that graph sure looks like the Pacific Northwest is experiencing some relatively warm, muggy days.
Update: I got curious, so I checked the weather report for Richland, Washington, in the heart of BPA service territory.
Here it is:
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Heat Advisory for Lower Columbia Basin, WA
until 9 pm PDT, Thu., Aug. 20, 2009
Issued by The National Weather Service
Pendleton, OR
1:25 pm PDT, Wed., Aug. 19, 2009
… HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM PDT THURSDAY…
A HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM PDT THURSDAY.
HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE REGION WILL BRING A PERIOD OF HOT WEATHER TODAY AND THURSDAY. HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL RANGE FROM 98 TO 106.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A HEAT ADVISORY MEANS THAT A PROLONGED PERIOD WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES AT OR EXCEEDING 100 DEGREES IS EXPECTED. THIS WILL CREATE A SITUATION IN WHICH HEAT ILLNESSES ARE POSSIBLE. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS… STAY IN AN AIR-CONDITIONED ROOM… STAY OUT OF THE SUNSHINE AND CHECK UP ON RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS… ESPECIALLY THE VERY YOUNG AND THE ELDERLY. IN ADDITION… ENSURE PETS HAVE PLENTY OF AVAILABLE DRINKING WATER. DO NOT LEAVE CHILDREN OR PETS IN AN ENCLOSED VEHICLE. FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION…
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
It sure is a good thing that the air conditioners in BPA’s service territory have an alternative energy source when the wind stops blowing for nearly four days in a row!
