Arson in California

[rj1]

Re: Arson in California

I've lived in Southern California my entire life. The hot Santa Ana Winds blow in late October. Late October is fire season. Here's another example of a late October fire:

http://www.lafire.com/famous_fires/7...Mandeville.htm

Why would anybody be surprised by this?

I've wondered that, too. I remember reading years ago that if California were independent it would be the world's sixth largest economy.

Cause they don't think outside the box.

Some Californian populist can run by pounding his fist and telling California taxpayers that they are subsidizing the states of Wyoming and Colorado and Alabama and their ilk and their tax money does not come back home. "Why are you paying for bridges in Alabama when your tax money should come back home to the Golden State?"

[zoog]

Re: Arson in California - the power lines did it

Power lines blamed for largest San Diego wildfire

Associated Press - November 17, 2007 11:03 AM ET
SAN DIEGO (AP) - California's state fire agency says sparking power lines ignited the largest of the wildfires that ravaged Southern California last month.


The fire burned over 300 square miles, destroying more than 1,000 homes and killing two people.


The agency says fire blew into the heart of north San Diego from canyons to the east and merged with a smaller fire that was also caused by power line sparks.


State authorities previously blamed a third fire on downed power lines. That fire burned nearly 15 square miles near the rural community of Fallbrook, destroying 206 homes and damaging avocado groves.


All three fires are in the service area of San Diego Gas & Electric Company. It says it adhered to regulations in maintaining the low-voltage power lines, but acknowledges that extreme conditions like those experienced last month create "a huge hazard for everybody."

From a different news report:

Two families who lost homes in the fires have filed suit in state court against SDG&E, saying the utility failed to clear brush around its power poles and did not insulate power lines to prevent them from sparking. The plaintiffs are seeking class-action certification.

[GRG55]

Re: Arson in California - the power lines did it

Just think how much more power they could have available if they stopped wasting it starting fires...:p

"Demand response" helps CA weather heat wave

October 10, 2007—California's "demand response" efforts are paying off, according to the US Office for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). California suffered through a blistering heat wave in late August and early September, but at no time did the state require rotating blackouts, thanks to electrical conservation efforts.

The California Independent System Operator (ISO), which operates the state's electrical grid, estimated that Californians reduced their electrical demand by about 1,000 megawatts on August 30, helping to avoid overtaxing the state's transmission grid. Power outages only occurred at local levels and were caused by power distribution systems, not by the transmission system.

California's power crunch was caused by a heat wave that affected much of the Southwest, reducing power imports into the state. A dry winter has also reduced hydropower generation by about 1,000 megawatts this summer, notes EERE.