Highlights, lowlights from the week’s news
HIT » We made it. The hottest stretch of summer is over, and we survived.
In a way, we all deserve a share of the credit for conserving energy when it was needed the most.
With energy use peaking throughout the state as the thermometer hit 115 and above a few times, California came perilously close to not generating enough power to meet the demand — a situation that would have resulted in rolling blackouts. Nobody wants that, not when even a few minutes in overwhelming heat could be unhealthy or worse.
We never came closer to that than Tuesday around 5:45 p.m.. That’s when millions of cellphones around the state received the following emergency alert: “Conserve energy now to protect public health and safety.”
That apparently did the trick. Just enough people responded immediately to prevent rolling blackouts.
“Within moments, we saw a significant amount of load reduction showing up, to the tune of approximately 2,000 megawatts over the next 20 to 30 minutes,” said Elliott Mainzer, president and chief executive of the California Independent System Operator, adding the response “took us back from the edge of broader grid disturbance.”
Fortunately, with temperatures expected to be in either the 90s or even 80s the next 10 days (with overnight lows dipping into the 60s and even 50s next week), we should be a safe distance from “the edge” for a good time to come.
Thanks to all who did their part to keep the lights on and the AC running.
MISS » On the other hand, we can’t help but notice two of the other reasons we avoided rolling blackouts — nuclear power and gasoline-powered generators. The week was a brutal reminder that for all of the state’s well-intentioned goals regarding clean energy and the phasing out of gasoline-powered engines and nuclear power, we’re simply not in a position yet to get rid of either.
On Monday, the CISO requested the activation of four temporary emergency power generators deployed by the Department of Water Resources in Roseville and Yuba City. It was the first time that the generators — powered by natural gas — were activated since their installation last year.
Also, PG&E’s last nuclear power plant, Diablo Canyon, has been granted a new lease on life. The plant was originally scheduled to close in 2025, but that’s been extended another five years. The plant generated nearly 9% of the state’s electricity last year and 15% of its clean energy production.
In an era where texts are being sent begging people to save power so we don’t have blackouts — and the state went so far as asking people to not charge their electric cars between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. — we’re glad our legislators and Gov. Gavin Newsom recognize that now is not a good time to eliminate 9% of the state’s power supply.
HIT » The so-called “mainstream” sports like football (high school, college and NFL) and professional baseball always draw the lion’s share of media attention this time of year.
Locally, it’s good to remember we have another big-time event going on: the Gold Cup Race of Champions at Silver Dollar Speedway.
This is the 68th annual
Gold Cup, and if you’ve never experienced the thrill of dirttrack racing, shame on you. (If you sit close to the track, we do highly advise you to keep a hand over the top of your beverage container.) The fastpaced action will hook you in a heartbeat and likely keep you coming back for more; that’s why racing at the speedway has continued for as long as it has.
With new promoters Brad Sweet, Kyle Larson (who won Thursday’s 30-lap race) and Colby Copeland running the show as SLC Promotions, activity at the track looks to be in good hands for a long time to come. And the Gold Cup, among other races, has a big impact on our local economy every year.
Our thanks to all those who keep this tradition alive. If you haven’t already, go check it out; Saturday night’s event is always packed.
MISS » The first Saturday in September this year had an eerie resemblance to the first Saturday of September 2021, and not in a good way.
Almost to the day since a 16-year-old boy allegedly shot two homeless people at Teichert Ponds (killing one), another 16-year-old boy allegedly shot five people at a house party in Chico on Sept. 3.
That’s seven people reportedly shot by teenage boys in Chico in just one calendar year, and there have been many other violent crimes allegedly committed by teenagers too, including the senseless, violent beating of an elderly woman on the Chico High track the night of graduation.
For all the talk of “quality of life” in Chico, is anything truly more horrific than what’s happening in these cases? Perhaps it is time for some community introspection before the next episode occurs. Are we really doing all we can? Or are we too distracted by other hotbutton topics?