Lars Larson: Big blackout a warning to Oregon

 
By Lars Larson
NW and national radio host,

The Northwest Nonsense

If you felt sorry for the folks in Spain this week when their electric power failed for most of a day, understand the Pacific Northwest is in for the same fate very soon.

Two weeks ago, Spain celebrated hitting the dubious goal of 100 percent renewable power…meaning mostly wind and solar.

Then Monday afternoon, the lights went out.

Are the two events connected?

At this point no one knows but I have a suspicion. Days later government officials have no idea why the power failed for so many and for so long.

Here in the Northwest, we’ve had years of warning about LOLP…Loss of Load Probability…the fancy utility term for “lights out”.

We know our power grid has major problems. We know nitwit politicians have decreed the shutdown of major power plants and tearing out of dams. We know wind and solar can’t meet our current needs.

Bizarrely the Climate Crisis Crowd demands electrification of EVERYTHING from your furnace to your stove to that car in your driveway…with an iffy grid and reduced supply. If that seems stupid to you, I agree.

The Northwest Power Planning Council says Loss of Load Probability is growing and the region needs thousands of megawatts of new power generation we’re not likely to get or “lights out”…just like Spain this week.

That’s the Rose City Rap. Join me at noon on KXL for 4 hours of Honestly provocative talk. I’m Lars Larson