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Is America’s Utility System Too Vulnerable?
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Former TVA Chairman Glenn McCullough on the blackout that impacted six million on the West Coast.
- Duration 3:36
- Date Sep 12, 2011
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Former TVA Chairman Glenn McCullough on the blackout that impacted six million on the West Coast.
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Last weekend last week rather -- of Southern California Arizona they realize just how vulnerable we are apparently.
Wanna utility -- -- mistake it meant that six million people lost power that's one person causing widespread outages in densely populated areas.
Former Tennessee Valley Authority chairman Glenn -- with us now from Mississippi -- -- how could this happen.
And why have we got no explanation.
As to how it happened yes.
We'll -- there are there are multiple safeguards to provide yet.
A routine maintenance procedure which switching out -- capacitor which controls voltage in the substation.
-- Yuma Arizona should not calls a 500 KGB.
-- the line to go down nor should it cascade into Southern California Mexico.
I don't know exactly how this happened I can tell you that work the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
And nor the north American electric reliability corporation are now investigating along with the California -- -- space -- but regulators so.
It just under this -- the evidence doesn't it shouldn't have happened we don't know yet why it happened -- how it happened but you know.
This undermines confidence.
It but when when you lose power on a six million people over a substantial period of time.
Do you think he's one person that does it.
Our whole confidence announced -- as a 21 century economy.
-- also -- a little doesn't.
Well the north American Electric Power Korea it is the two largest and most complex machine in the world.
Switching out of capacitor is a routine maintenance procedure it should not it calls a 500 KV line to -- up.
Once that line trip it should not have cascaded.
Into Southern California Mexico but you know there's another story here and we'll find out what happened in in measures will be taken to prevent it in the future.
The end in actually -- the work has designated the Los Angeles to San Diego.
Corridor -- a national interest.
-- electric transmission corridor which means there are limitations.
In congestion.
In that is cardinal -- that it is vulnerable.
Two -- it's like He has so say Diego gas and electric in 2005.
Apropos lose the sun rise power link which is -- 117.
Mile.
200 authority 500 KV line which would provide the -- line in the San Diego.
It has been delayed delayed -- now for over six years.
And that's this needs to come on line that's the solo plants -- it will out there as well as the growing growing only line than a thousand megawatts of renewable energy and you can't get back to San Diego because of bureaucracy I guess an environmental objections that's correct.
Well you know me and being was created in California not in my backyard BM we've heard of banana.
Bill absolutely nothing anywhere near any saying.
And now radical environmentalists are saying nope not on planet earth Stuart we've got to have slam on commonsensical energy policy.
Which allows for.
Environmental stewardship to protect the -- in the water in the land and for economic growth we need sound energy policy in sun rise power link makes good comments -- Angela eagle.
Of Southern California.
It's a fat -- -- but it got to get back grit to look and don't have one poston.
You know -- -- -- six million.
I'm a college everyone we appreciate being where -- again thank you very much so.