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Amid Record-Breaking Heat Wave, California Officials Urge Growers to Save Power

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The sense of urgency has been laid out as California’s capitol recently recorded its hottest day on record, with the hottest recorded temperatures in some areas in nearly a century.

The Governor Gavin Newsom made an emergency proclamation on August 31 urging all businesses to save as much power as they can. The governor stepped things up on September 6. “This heat wave is set to be the hottest and longest on record in California for September,” Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the news in a statement. “We are now heading into the worst part of it—the risk of outages is real. Your efforts have paid off so far, but we need everyone to double down to save energy after 4 p.m.”

California Department of Cannabis Control also published tweeted a Flex Alert urging growers to do their part, which was shared by Emerald Triangle’s Redheaded BlackbeltSeptember 6

“An emergency proclamation has been signed by the Governor due to the extreme heat wave,” the release reads. “Starting now, we are asking all cannabis licensees to voluntarily consider reducing their energy load by: turning off the lights or any major sources of power; and begin using a backup generator, if safe, and available.”

According to the Department of Cannabis Control, growers should use less energy between 2 and 9:00 p.m. Some growers may be able to rearrange their chores.

At 5:18 p.m. on Tuesday, September 6, temperatures hit 116 degrees Fahrenheit in the state’s capitol Sacramento—hitting an “all-time record.” (That’s 46.6 degrees Celsius.) The National Weather Service reports that the record for the previous temperature was set nearly 100 years earlier at 114 degrees Fahrenheit (or 45.5 degrees Celsius) in July 1925.

Within minutes, the state’s grid operator announced that it had issued Level 3 energy emergency alerts, with imminent rolling blackouts “very possible,” the grid operator California ISO (CAISO) tweeted. Grid operator suggested that individuals need to be creative in order save energy and that now is the best time.

Only one step is required to issue a Level 3 Emergency Alert. CAISO advised residents that peak electricity demand reached 52,061 megawatts last Tuesday, breaking the record of 50,270 megawatts set July 24, 2006.

USA TodayAccording to reports, over half a billion Californians were given advance notice in preparation for possible rolling blackouts Tuesday afternoon. Pacific Gas & Electric tweeted.

Elliot Mainzer is the CEO of California Independent System Operator. USA TodayThe danger of blackouts exists, however there are ways residents can avoid them. “Over the last several days, we have seen a positive impact on lowering demand because of everyone’s help,” Mainzer said. “But now we need a reduction in energy use that is two or three times greater than what we’ve seen so far.”

As it turns out, the widespread blackouts that were expected on Tuesday, didn’t come, or blackouts were limited to certain areas.

Mercury News reports that state officials actually canceled the Stage 3 emergency alert at 8:00  p.m. and said that “conservation played a big part in protecting electric grid reliability.”

All residents are advised to turn their thermostats to 78°F in the afternoon and to pre-cool in the morning. It is also recommended that residents refrain from using large appliances after 4:45 pm.

FlexAlert.org offers additional energy-saving tips for residents.

The deadly heat dome that covers the Western States of the U.S. doesn’t just affect California. New York Times that heat waves around the world this summer are pushing nations “to the edge.”

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