I’ll admit my bias – my father spent his whole career in the business of making electricity. I learned very early in life just how important that job is. Some of the unsung heroes that I have celebrated over the years include the linemen who restored our electricity nearly two weeks after Hurricane Hugo decimated our Charleston, SC neighborhood and the linemen who restored our power in Annapolis after Hurricane Isabel.
The below video of a turbine replacement at the Susquehanna nuclear power station includes shots of a number of those unsung heroes who go to work every day at the nations power plants. I hope you enjoy learning more about what kind of work they do and how carefully they do it.
Joel Riddle says
September 9, 2011 at 6:35 AMAnnapolis and Hurricane Irene? Didn’t you move to Lynchburg, VA prior to that recent hurricane?
Rod Adams says
September 9, 2011 at 6:38 AMGood point. It was another “I” hurricane – Isabel.
Jason Kobos says
September 9, 2011 at 11:01 AMSo this thing they replaced is what Canada is having so much trouble shipping down the St. Lawrence?
Doesn’t seem that dangerous to me, or the people standing next to it.
DV82XL says
September 9, 2011 at 4:25 PMIts the Bruce power plant steam generators that everyone is giving them grief over.
David Walters says
September 9, 2011 at 11:13 AMThis is a very valuable, albeit somewhat ‘dramitized’ (with the music and deep stern voice of the narrator) “How Things Work” documentary. I went through a lot of turbine overhauls. it takes hours to days just to set up a turbine casing ‘lift’.
What I liked about this is that for young people, it shows that these jobs are very valuable, and rewarding. I think the way the show simply presented facts without spin, one way or another, is a service to the men and women of our industrial working class.
Michael R. Himes says
September 9, 2011 at 11:24 AMThe Gerneral Public takes electricity for granted without a thought to the skill levels of the people that supply it. Only now do they give thought to the out of date grid that supplies power. Most of it deliverd by wires on poles and towers with little underground. Every storm either wind rain or ice threatens long outages. Now, with climate change, the cost of this will make rates out of sight.
Daniel says
September 9, 2011 at 4:42 PMYucca Mountain close out,
I read in one newspaper that following a deadlock (2-2 vote) that Yucca is closing.
Then on another source of news, I get this:
The commission announced a tie vote of 2-2, therefore the ASLB’s legal decision is not overturned and the DOE’s motion to withdraw the application is not granted.
What is going on ?
Daniel says
September 9, 2011 at 6:30 PMAnd one NRC member decided to abstain. This member should be fired.
Brian Mays says
September 9, 2011 at 10:43 PMDaniel – Sometimes members will abstain due to possible conflicts of interest or other compromising situations.
Rod Adams says
September 11, 2011 at 5:00 AM@Brian – I would put it differently. Ethical members will always abstain due to possible conflicts of interest. When there is an obvious conflict and no abstention, it is evidence of a lack of ethics and integrity.
JonE says
September 10, 2011 at 1:04 PMLike this video!