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

Truth for Sale

This episode is inspired  by Elton John & Bernie Taupin On Memorial Day, I took my first bike ride  since the accident , seeking proof that my legs, lungs, and nerves still remembered the road. The morning air carried that familiar Southern California mix of ocean haze, exhaust, eucalyptus, and sun-baked asphalt. My tires hummed across pavement I’ve ridden for years. Somewhere between the steady click of the chain and the rhythm of my breathing, Elton John and Bernie Taupin’s The Captain and the Kid found its way into my ears. There’s a strange kind of magic when the cadence of a ride syncs perfectly with a song you know by heart. Suddenly, the music and lyrics stop being background noise and become a lens. And through that lens, the road started talking. I've been cycling on this road some, Can't help feeling I've been showing my friends around. I've seen it grow from next to nothing, To a giant eatin’ up our town. Called up the tealeaves and the tarots, Asked the...
Post a Comment
Read more

Epictetus, Ego, and Acronyms

In this episode, Destroy Communication, One Three-Letter Acronym at a Time This week, I want to explore a deeply relatable, universally feared workplace character: the "know-it-all." Now, I’m not pointing fingers here. If we are being completely honest, we have all played this role. We've all uttered some version of, "Yes, absolutely, that aligns with our strategic objectives," while our internal monologue is screaming, "I don't even know what the objective is, let alone the strategy." What got me thinking about this was a chapter in Ryan Holiday's book, Wisdom Takes Work . Holiday leans on a powerful piece of Stoic truth from the ancient philosopher Epictetus: "It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows." It's a brilliant quote that strikes right at the heart of the human ego. You can't learn what you already know, and you certainly can't learn what you pretend to know to save face. Though to be ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Breaking the Script

In this episode, The Art of the Short-Circuit. We spend a surprising amount of our lives on conversational autopilot. You see it everywhere. At the hardware store. At the post office. In office hallways, where two people can exchange greetings, discuss the weather, and continue on their way without either one actually hearing what the other said. "How are you?” "Good. You?” “Busy." “Yep." It's less of a conversation and more of a system check. Most of us aren't being rude. We're just moving fast. We have emails to answer, meetings to attend, errands to run, and a hundred other things competing for our attention. Before long, our interactions become little more than verbal lane markers helping us navigate the day. I like to break the script. When I run into someone, instead of the usual greetings, I'll ask: "What's the good word?” The reaction is almost always worth it. You can practically see the gears stop turning. People pause. They blink....
Post a Comment
Read more

The Yellow Legal Pad

In this episode, the Art of Refiring July 1st is staring me in the face, less than two weeks away. For years, retirement seemed like something that happened to other people. Suddenly, it's on my calendar. I've been thinking a lot about the dreaded "R-word" lately. Not because I'm worried about having enough to do. Quite the opposite. What fascinates me is this strange paradox: Why does retirement make so many of us nervous, while having a job—even one that regularly drives us crazy—somehow feels comforting? Let's be honest. Most of us spend years complaining about meetings that should have been emails, reply-all disasters, impossible deadlines, and that one coworker who insists on microwaving leftover fish in the breakroom. Yet when the idea of walking away finally arrives, we hesitate. I think I've figured out why. A career isn't just a job. It's a highly structured coping mechanism. For forty-plus years, somebody else has basically decided what I...
Post a Comment
Read more