A critter is able to take out a massive electricity generation plant two times in as many weeks.
I don't recall this happening in the past - why now? Did the facility guard-cat die?
There is no back-up power supply (like from the grid) in case of emergency to at least keep the aviation warning lights lit on the smoke stack (is the FAA aware of this?) .
Do we know it hasn't happened in the past? It could be this is just the first time we've heard about it (in part because of increased vigilance of the anti-ash folks).
In fact, all veteran electrical linesmen carry a burned squirrel carcass in their truck. If a line outage cannot be explained, they toss the squirrel on the ground nearby and claim it was the cause.
Within the distribution part of the network, yeah, wildlife getting fried in the system is understandable as a cause of power distribution at your house or something. An entire 37 MW per day power generating station being brought down by a 10-20 pound raccoon seems a bit surprising. Did the same contractor who designed the Death Star exhaust port also put together the high voltage section of this plant?
I'm really surprised that Massachusetts would allow this plant to dump toxic ash in the marsh next door. It's pretty clear there are some serious environmental consequences. Why doesn't the state have a better plan to control this issue?
Information regarding the Baker Administration's recent decision to extend the plant's landfill permit, despite the damage being done to Rumney Marsh (which was determined to be of critical environmental importance) and the objections of the local community/government:
Thank you for including this. I haven't seen this before and it's really pretty stunning.
"According to Wheelabrator’s own data, 80 percent of the trash it burns can be composted or recycled. The Commonwealth should be enforcing its zero waste regulation, not expanding an unlined landfill with another 500,000 tons of toxic ash"
“What a sad day it is when MassDEP, and the Baker administration ignore an outcry from so many people, political leaders, and environmental specialists advocating to stop an expansion of the ash landfill to protect abutting neighborhoods, and an Area of Critical Environmental Concern,”
So tell me again why we like Charlie Baker so much??
Many years ago, during a rain storm, a transformer on the street, blew. (Then) New England Power sent two crews to repair the damage. They said a squirrel was found inside the transformer.
Comments
You build a plant powered on
You build a plant powered on trash and expect raccoons to stay out?!?
Next you're gonna tell me that the plant that gets its power from upstream-swimming salmon is being overrun by bears. Bears!
Amazing factoids
The bewildering parts about this to me are:
1. You act like this is a bad
1. You act like this is a bad thing.
2. You ask too many questions
3. All is proceeding as we have foreseen.
Heh heh heh. Goooooooooooood.
Heh heh heh. Goooooooooooood.
1 and 2
Do we know it hasn't happened in the past? It could be this is just the first time we've heard about it (in part because of increased vigilance of the anti-ash folks).
As for 3, um, yeah, batteries might be in order.
Squirrels!
I recall my power either flickering our actually going out at least twice in the past two decades due to fried squirrels, so yeah, it does happen.
Not at all unusual
In fact, all veteran electrical linesmen carry a burned squirrel carcass in their truck. If a line outage cannot be explained, they toss the squirrel on the ground nearby and claim it was the cause.
yeah but...
Within the distribution part of the network, yeah, wildlife getting fried in the system is understandable as a cause of power distribution at your house or something. An entire 37 MW per day power generating station being brought down by a 10-20 pound raccoon seems a bit surprising. Did the same contractor who designed the Death Star exhaust port also put together the high voltage section of this plant?
shocky raccoon
shocky raccoon
rocket racoon
rocket racoon
Song
Shocky Racoon
Went up with a boom
Only to darken Saugus
The Turkeys checked out
Only to shout
We'll get you next
Stupid humans
I'm really surprised that
I'm really surprised that Massachusetts would allow this plant to dump toxic ash in the marsh next door. It's pretty clear there are some serious environmental consequences. Why doesn't the state have a better plan to control this issue?
Information regarding the
Information regarding the Baker Administration's recent decision to extend the plant's landfill permit, despite the damage being done to Rumney Marsh (which was determined to be of critical environmental importance) and the objections of the local community/government:
https://www.reverejournal.com/2018/04/21/disappointed-with-wheelabrator-...
wow
Thank you for including this. I haven't seen this before and it's really pretty stunning.
"According to Wheelabrator’s own data, 80 percent of the trash it burns can be composted or recycled. The Commonwealth should be enforcing its zero waste regulation, not expanding an unlined landfill with another 500,000 tons of toxic ash"
“What a sad day it is when MassDEP, and the Baker administration ignore an outcry from so many people, political leaders, and environmental specialists advocating to stop an expansion of the ash landfill to protect abutting neighborhoods, and an Area of Critical Environmental Concern,”
So tell me again why we like Charlie Baker so much??
They have been around nearly
They have been around nearly 40 years. Why is this suddenly a Charlie Baker Issue?
Because the state just
Because the state just extended their dumping permit, which was supposed to have expired under an earlier agreement.
Euphemism of the week
So "potential inconvenience" is the new euphemism for "overtime pay"?
Bring your torch
Uh, I just figured it meant the inconvenience of having no lights, hence waiting until sun-up.
Adorable!(Until
Adorable!
(Until approximately 11:19 pm on 5/7/18 )
Critters get inside transformers as well...
Many years ago, during a rain storm, a transformer on the street, blew. (Then) New England Power sent two crews to repair the damage. They said a squirrel was found inside the transformer.
How it got in there, is anyone's guess.