Skip to main content

Powering the West

In this episode – Powering the West . . .

Welcome back to On the Fly, your podcast for curious minds exploring the unexpected. Today, we're soaring across the Pacific Northwest down to sunny California, tracing the fascinating history of the Pacific Northwest–Pacific Southwest Intertie.

Imagine a massive power line stretching over 800 miles, carrying electricity from the mighty Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest to the sun-drenched valleys of California. This is the Pacific Northwest–Pacific Southwest Intertie (Intertie), a marvel of engineering that revolutionized power transmission in the Western United States.

Professor Carl Magnusson from the University of Washington had a vision as early as 1919 to create a high-voltage network that would connect the Pacific Northwest, rich in hydroelectricity, with the energy demands of the Southwest. This vision gained momentum during the droughts in California during the 1940s, highlighting the need for a reliable power source beyond local resources.

This journey from vision to reality wasn't easy. The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), established in the 1930s, played a crucial role in promoting the Intertie's development. The Columbia River Treaty with Canada in 1961 secured increased hydropower generation, providing a reliable energy source.

What is an Intertie?

In the context of electrical power systems, an Intertie refers to an interconnection permitting the passage of electricity between two or more separate electric utility systems. It's a network of high-voltage power lines that allows for the exchange of electricity between different regions or countries. This enables “Balancing” energy needs. Regions with surplus electricity can export to areas with higher demand, improving overall grid balance, efficiency, and reliability. (The Electric Grid)

Interconnected energy systems can share resources and enhance grid stability during disruptions. Construction finally began in 1964 after overcoming numerous obstacles, including negotiations between various stakeholders.

The construction of the Intertie was a gradual process that took different phases. The Alternating Current (AC) Intertie was constructed between 1968 and 1993 and involved the progressive building of three AC lines, each increasing the Intertie's capacity.

The Pacific Direct Current (DC) Intertie was built in 1970 and marked a significant milestone as the first long-distance high voltage direct current (HVDC) line in the United States. This development significantly increased Intertie's overall capacity and efficiency.

The Pacific Northwest–Pacific Southwest Intertie is a power system that has had a significant impact on the Western United States. It allowed for the exchange of surplus hydropower from the Northwest to California, providing a reliable power source for millions during periods of peak demand. But Intertie's benefits go beyond just exchanging power. Intertie has also improved the stability and reliability of the Western US electrical system by interconnecting the power grids of two regions. Additionally, Intertie's use of clean hydropower has helped California reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, promoting a cleaner energy future.

Looking ahead, the Intertie is constantly evolving through upgrades and potential expansions to meet the region's ever-growing energy demands. It proves the benefits of collaborative efforts, highlighting the advantages of interconnected power grids and sustainable energy solutions.

So, the next time you flip on a light switch in California, remember the invisible thread connecting you to the mighty rivers of the Pacific Northwest, a testament to human ingenuity and the power of collaboration.

I'm Patrick Ball; thanks for listening. I'll see you in the next episode.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Most Popular of All Time

A B+ Kind of Life

Welcome back to this week's On the Fly . Retirement has taught me something unexpected: life gets a lot more enjoyable when you stop chasing perfection. Lately, I've been having an absolute blast playing executive par-3 courses like Rancho Carlsbad . A short iron, a sunny morning, and nowhere to be except the next tee—that's my kind of day. This Thursday, though, I'm raising the stakes. I'm heading to The Links at Lakehouse in San Marcos, a full-size par-71 course with enough water hazards to keep the local fish well-stocked with my golf balls. After shooting a 64 on a par-3 course, I've set myself a new goal: shoot an 89 before my birthday next August. Why 89? Because on a par-71 course, that's bogey golf—one extra stroke per hole. For non-golfers, think of it this way: par is like earning 100% on a final exam. Bogey golf is a solid B+. You got the job done, learned something, and probably had a lot more fun getting there. The older I get, the more I appre...
Post a Comment
Read more

Resurrecting the '90s Graphite

Let’s face it, there’s a certain danger in reading John Gierach's Trout Bum . His wit, self-deprecation, and sharp, effortless satire are entirely infectious. If you aren't careful, his words will inspire you to drop everything, wade into a freezing river, and try to outsmart a creature with a brain the size of a lentil. In my case, re-reading Gierach recently didn't send me straight to the river. It sent me digging through the dusty, spider-guarded corners of my garage. In the early 1990s, seeking a natural escape from Manhattan's concrete canyons, I decided to learn to cast a fly rod. I bought an Orvis Rocky Mountain —eight-and-a-half feet, three ounces, built for a five-weight line—and had absolutely no idea how to use it. To avoid aimlessly whipping the water like scrambling eggs, I took fly-fishing lessons from Al Cucci, co-author of Hatches , on the Delaware River. With his guidance, I fished renowned waters: the AuSable in New York and Michigan, and New Jersey...
Post a Comment
Read more

Morning Coffee

In this episode, Morning Coffee . . . Now, I’m not saying everyone needs coffee. Some folks get by just fine on, I don’t know, sunlight and positive thinking. Me? I’m pretty sure I started drinking the stuff sometime around the Reagan administration. Reading John Gierach’s "Ode to Campfire Coffee" in Trout Bum (a book that should be required reading for anyone who sees sleeping on the ground as recreation) got me thinking about how we’ve managed to complicate something as fundamentally simple as boiling water and adding grounds. Taste, you say? Look, black coffee is an acquired taste, like tequila or cilantro. I just don’t get it. Gierach, bless his heart, mostly drinks his java streamside, probably while wearing wool socks and waders and contemplating the mysteries of the universe. As for me? My outdoor coffee experience is a bit different. Picture this: the High Sierra, where campfires are banned (to avoid agitating Smoky Bear), and I’m huddled over a Whisperlite , coax...
1 comment
Read more

The Birth of a Cubs Legend

In this episode, The 162-Game Exhale — and the Birth of a Cubs Legend There’s a hush in the baseball world on Game 162 — a collective breath drawn in and slowly released. Scoreboards stop flipping. Dugouts empty. For six months, the game has been our steady heartbeat, pulsing from the cherry blossoms of Tokyo in March to the crisp, playoff-charged winds of late September. And now, as the regular season exhales, baseball fans everywhere pause to absorb the story we’ve just lived. For me, that story has been deeply personal. This season unfolded in the rhythms of my daily life. It was the summer soundtrack echoing beneath the constant turmoil of politics and sensational headlines. It was a handful of carefully chosen ballpark pilgrimages stitched together with countless nights in front of MLB.TV. And at the center of it all, for a lifelong Cubs fan like me, it revolved around one name — a young center fielder who turned hope into history: Pete Crow-Armstrong. The 2025 season didn’t begin...
Post a Comment
Read more