As Permafrost Melts, Russia Ratifies Paris Climate Agreement - GoHaynesvilleShale.com2024-03-29T09:49:55Zhttps://gohaynesvilleshale.com/forum/topics/as-permafrost-melts-russian-ratifies-paris-climate-agreement?commentId=2117179%3AComment%3A3858297&feed=yes&xn_auth=noI actually think that the onl…tag:gohaynesvilleshale.com,2019-10-09:2117179:Comment:38591142019-10-09T21:27:11.822ZSteve Phttps://gohaynesvilleshale.com/profile/StevePorter
<p>I actually think that the only solution for CA and PG&E is for the state to take it over and operate it (and this is from a guy who doesn't much like government running anything other than the essentials). But PG&E is in a no-win situation. The State of CA continually imposes new, expensive requirements on the utility, then dogs them over their rates and rate increase requests, hounds them for not maintaining their infrastructure (which is fair) but squeezes them on their rate…</p>
<p>I actually think that the only solution for CA and PG&E is for the state to take it over and operate it (and this is from a guy who doesn't much like government running anything other than the essentials). But PG&E is in a no-win situation. The State of CA continually imposes new, expensive requirements on the utility, then dogs them over their rates and rate increase requests, hounds them for not maintaining their infrastructure (which is fair) but squeezes them on their rate structure when it comes to things like infrastructure maintenance. PG&E has been a poorly managed utility, but I think most of their problems are with their regulators and customers.</p>
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<p>Same thing for petroleum refiners in CA. The State requires blends that no other state requires, it costs more to make "CA gasoline" and the refiners can't manage routine maintenance outages with refineries in adjoining states (because they don't use the CA gasoline), so gas is always way more expensive in CA, and they sometimes even have shortages. I was out there working two weeks ago, and saw no regular unleaded for less than $4.05/gallon. So, who does the state and the consumers blame? - the oil companies, of course. I heard on the radio today that gas is now over $5/gallon in some places in LA.</p>
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<p></p> Damned if you do, damned if y…tag:gohaynesvilleshale.com,2019-10-09:2117179:Comment:38589532019-10-09T21:02:40.406ZSkip Peel - Mineral Consultanthttps://gohaynesvilleshale.com/profile/ilandman
<p>Damned if you do, damned if you don't goes for here in Shreveport too, Steve. SWEPCO has had Asplunh crews working my neighborhood for two months after what for us was a major outage caused by poor prior tree trimming maintenance. They aren't messing around this time and cutting with a vengeance. I've read the same articles about PG&E and how to manage their obligations going forward is unclear. I guess California's requirement for new homes to have solar panels may have some impact…</p>
<p>Damned if you do, damned if you don't goes for here in Shreveport too, Steve. SWEPCO has had Asplunh crews working my neighborhood for two months after what for us was a major outage caused by poor prior tree trimming maintenance. They aren't messing around this time and cutting with a vengeance. I've read the same articles about PG&E and how to manage their obligations going forward is unclear. I guess California's requirement for new homes to have solar panels may have some impact but not for a long, long time.</p>
<p></p> I never heard any concerns ab…tag:gohaynesvilleshale.com,2019-10-09:2117179:Comment:38589462019-10-09T20:08:21.357ZSteve Phttps://gohaynesvilleshale.com/profile/StevePorter
<p>I never heard any concerns about natural gas in the 10 years I lived there. But there was that large gas line explosion (also PG&E) in San Bruno (10 miles S of San Francisco) that killed people and burned down a number of homes. But generally, the complaints weren't about NG, but about the very poor maintenance program of PG&E. PG&E is in bankruptcy, and is a huge hot mess. Blamed for several of the large wild fires in N CA in the past few years.</p>
<p>But having said that,…</p>
<p>I never heard any concerns about natural gas in the 10 years I lived there. But there was that large gas line explosion (also PG&E) in San Bruno (10 miles S of San Francisco) that killed people and burned down a number of homes. But generally, the complaints weren't about NG, but about the very poor maintenance program of PG&E. PG&E is in bankruptcy, and is a huge hot mess. Blamed for several of the large wild fires in N CA in the past few years.</p>
<p>But having said that, one day I was reading the SF Chronicle on line, and there were 2 successive stories about PG&E - the first was that they weren't doing enough to keep limbs trimmed away from their power lines, and the second was a story about one of the local cities threatening PG&E for too aggressive practices in their tree trimming - they were damaging the appearance of neighborhoods. Damned if you do....</p> Good. Compared to other unde…tag:gohaynesvilleshale.com,2019-10-09:2117179:Comment:38590282019-10-09T17:16:48.164ZSkip Peel - Mineral Consultanthttps://gohaynesvilleshale.com/profile/ilandman
<p>Good. Compared to other underground utilities, natural gas lines are smaller and considerably more flexible. Not completely earthquake proof but as close as any infrastructure can be. Easier to trench particularly in urban areas and avoids many of the connections required with rigid lines. Of course public acceptance/support would be crucial and that is a problem in California. Particularly, I would suspect, in the Bay Area. I do not blame the public having a less than favorable…</p>
<p>Good. Compared to other underground utilities, natural gas lines are smaller and considerably more flexible. Not completely earthquake proof but as close as any infrastructure can be. Easier to trench particularly in urban areas and avoids many of the connections required with rigid lines. Of course public acceptance/support would be crucial and that is a problem in California. Particularly, I would suspect, in the Bay Area. I do not blame the public having a less than favorable opinion of natural gas in many instances. I blame the industry for not jumping on the fugitive emissions issue years ago. And using their massive PR machine to support wider use of natural gas.</p>
<p></p> most the urban areas have res…tag:gohaynesvilleshale.com,2019-10-09:2117179:Comment:38589352019-10-09T16:59:58.531ZSteve Phttps://gohaynesvilleshale.com/profile/StevePorter
<p>most the urban areas have residential NG. I don't know about the rural areas.</p>
<p>most the urban areas have residential NG. I don't know about the rural areas.</p> Steve, are existing residenti…tag:gohaynesvilleshale.com,2019-10-09:2117179:Comment:38588542019-10-09T16:10:13.868ZSkip Peel - Mineral Consultanthttps://gohaynesvilleshale.com/profile/ilandman
<p>Steve, are existing residential natural gas distribution systems common in that part of California?</p>
<p>Steve, are existing residential natural gas distribution systems common in that part of California?</p> As a former resident of the S…tag:gohaynesvilleshale.com,2019-10-09:2117179:Comment:38590892019-10-09T15:56:13.671ZSteve Phttps://gohaynesvilleshale.com/profile/StevePorter
<p>As a former resident of the SF Bay Area, I can tell you that the upcoming power outages planned due to fire risks are a huge problem, not just for homeowners by for companies. Extremely disruptive. I read online in the SF Chronicle today that PG&E says some of the power outages may be for as much as a week. I can see the power generator business really taking off in CA, for both homeowners and businesses. If they could use NG as the fuel, that would be a huge cost savings. Seems…</p>
<p>As a former resident of the SF Bay Area, I can tell you that the upcoming power outages planned due to fire risks are a huge problem, not just for homeowners by for companies. Extremely disruptive. I read online in the SF Chronicle today that PG&E says some of the power outages may be for as much as a week. I can see the power generator business really taking off in CA, for both homeowners and businesses. If they could use NG as the fuel, that would be a huge cost savings. Seems like there wold be some logistics issues in setting those up, and also risks since CA also is prime earthquake territory.</p> Agree, Greg. Where residenti…tag:gohaynesvilleshale.com,2019-10-09:2117179:Comment:38589282019-10-09T14:49:35.397ZSkip Peel - Mineral Consultanthttps://gohaynesvilleshale.com/profile/ilandman
<p>Agree, Greg. Where residential natural gas service is available, gas powered generators are the way to go. Superior to PV+Storage in a number of ways. IMO natural gas will be the "fall back" energy source for decades. Renewable energy generation may become the "base load" electric generation source for much of the country in a couple of decades but natural gas plants will supply "peaker" generation. So for residential or utility generation back up natural gas will be the source. This…</p>
<p>Agree, Greg. Where residential natural gas service is available, gas powered generators are the way to go. Superior to PV+Storage in a number of ways. IMO natural gas will be the "fall back" energy source for decades. Renewable energy generation may become the "base load" electric generation source for much of the country in a couple of decades but natural gas plants will supply "peaker" generation. So for residential or utility generation back up natural gas will be the source. This would be a much easier position to support publicly and politically if the industry would make a greater and more comprehensive commitment to limit fugitive emissions.</p>
<p></p> Looking like California is sh…tag:gohaynesvilleshale.com,2019-10-09:2117179:Comment:38590802019-10-09T14:08:33.583ZGreg Whitsonhttps://gohaynesvilleshale.com/profile/GregWhitson
<p>Looking like California is shutting down power due to fire dangers. Not getting on the political band wagon here but it looks like residential natural gas power generators would be a good idea to me.</p>
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<p><a href="https://abc7news.com/weather/pg-e-address-issues-as-planned-power-outage-begins-in-norcal/5604876/">https://abc7news.com/weather/pg-e-address-issues-as-planned-power-outage-begins-in-norcal/5604876/</a></p>
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<p>Looking like California is shutting down power due to fire dangers. Not getting on the political band wagon here but it looks like residential natural gas power generators would be a good idea to me.</p>
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<p><a href="https://abc7news.com/weather/pg-e-address-issues-as-planned-power-outage-begins-in-norcal/5604876/">https://abc7news.com/weather/pg-e-address-issues-as-planned-power-outage-begins-in-norcal/5604876/</a></p>
<p></p> Good point, Max. Another iss…tag:gohaynesvilleshale.com,2019-10-08:2117179:Comment:38588852019-10-08T13:31:56.939ZSkip Peel - Mineral Consultanthttps://gohaynesvilleshale.com/profile/ilandman
<p>Good point, Max. Another issue that we rarely get to is the economic opportunities that exists in an energy transition model. At a time when traditional manufacturing jobs are shrinking and workers are in need of alternate career paths, there are many areas of a green economy that could fill the need. It seems to have taken way too long for W Virginia to realize the opportunity of the Marcellus Shale for revitalizing coal country. Now I read articles about the steam crackers and other…</p>
<p>Good point, Max. Another issue that we rarely get to is the economic opportunities that exists in an energy transition model. At a time when traditional manufacturing jobs are shrinking and workers are in need of alternate career paths, there are many areas of a green economy that could fill the need. It seems to have taken way too long for W Virginia to realize the opportunity of the Marcellus Shale for revitalizing coal country. Now I read articles about the steam crackers and other investments created by natural gas and NGLs EVs of all types require manufacturing and infrastructure investments. PV, Storage and Wind are growing business segments and employment engines that will create ancillary opportunities in growing and making the grid smarter. The government could do a lot to incentivize these opportunities and support a more long term viability for our economy. And workforce.</p>
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