Mt Washington on Electric Grid

[Bobby]

From the Boston Globe, 12/06/06

CONCORD, N.H.


Plan gives Mount Washington electricity
Thanks to an agreement with the Mount Washington Cog Railway, the summit of Mount Washington will be added to the state's electric grid. Buildings on the summit, including the Mount Washington Observatory, get their power from generators. The agreement will allow the state to bury electric lines alongside the Cog Railway track. (AP)

 

[Mike P.]

I'm thinking it's good, the generators likely don't have as many filters & are less efficient & pollute more per gallon of fuel used than the equipment the public utility uses. Providing they base the equipment on the tracks that is doing the digging they won't impact the alpine zone & the area immediatedly adjacent to the tracks is covered in coal fragments. I'm realtively confident (I'm not a botanist or geologist) that they are no rare fragile flowers growing within two to three feet of the tracks or underneath it.

 

[Kevin Rooney]

I agree with Mike P. Site generators are rarely as efficient as commercial power plants. It will also reduce the noise/pollution on the summit.

 

[Doc McPeak]

How ironic that the world's windiest place can't get it's juice from wind.

Someday it will.

Not with the towering windmills of today, but with the nano-mills of tomorrow.

But as for now, definitely a good stopgap. Too bad they don't have affordable hydrogen generators yet.

 

[cbcbd]

By the powers that be, I also agree with Mike P

 

[Chip]

Bad for a few locals. I understand that it's a bit festive locally when the tanker truck drivers that deliver the fuel up top make their journey. It's my understanding that it's 2 drivers, 2 tankers, twice a year and when they get back down it's a party. oh well.

 

[DougPaul]

I agree with Mike P. Site generators are rarely as efficient as commercial power plants. It will also reduce the noise/pollution on the summit.

Also reduces the fire hazard. Probably more reliable too.

Wouldn't be surprised if they keep backup generators onsite. (Or maybe the current generators will be moved to backup service.)

Doug

 

[lumberzac]

How ironic that the world's windiest place can't get it's juice from wind.

Someday it will.

Not with the towering windmills of today, but with the nano-mills of tomorrow.

But as for now, definitely a good stopgap. Too bad they don't have affordable hydrogen generators yet.

When that technology is finally developed, that line going up the cog could work in reverse sending power down the mountain.

 

[DougPaul]

How ironic that the world's windiest place can't get it's juice from wind.

Probably not reliable enough--they would still have to be tied into the grid, have some large storage facility, or keep baseload/backup generators.

Now if we spread wind generators all over the above T-line area of the Prezzies, I'll bet we could generate a good bit of power--and more reliably too...

But I'm sure that many would object to such "decorations" on the summits and alpine tundra. (Me included...)

Besides, who is going to climb the towers and knock the ice off the rigs... (Actually, the blades collecting ice and either being out of balance or thowing it could be a hazard.)

Doug

 

[Bobby]

I suppose it is good. There will be less noise and smoke at the summit. Maybe there's a way to energize the cog, make it electric and get rid of that pollution also.

 

[SAR-EMT40]

Somebody is playing a joke on everyone. I thought that they had already done this. I believe that the cable is already laid because I thought I remember seeing the open trench after the fire in the generator shed. I thought that they were actually getting power from this connection quite a while ago.

Are they just talking about now, maybe making it permanent?

Keith

 

[David Metsky]

Here's a link to the article. Apparently, right now the line isn't buried.

BTW, I gave the thread a descriptive title and moved it to the Q&A for the Northeast forum.

-dave-

 

[KayakDan]

How about a regenerative braking system for the cog? It could generate electricity for storage in batteries,as it comes down,with the power being used to assist on the climb on the way up.
A Hybrid Cog Railway!

 

[arghman]

I'm realtively confident (I'm not a botanist or geologist) that they are no rare fragile flowers growing within two to three feet of the tracks or underneath it.

try taking a hike up there some time in early July... actually I've wondered whether the coal/cinders scattered around the tracks contributes to the soil in that vicinity in such a way as to benefit some plant species with different nutrient requirements. (I guess if the coal is mostly carbon, probably not) I know of at least one rare calciphile in the general area which benefits from cement structures.

Two comments in this vein:
(1) environmental impact would judge whether that would cause significant damage to any particular occurrences of rare plants (occurrence meaning the local population as a whole), rather than individual plants. my guess is not.
(2) theoretically, the state is supposed to check with NHB to see if any of the state's projects impact rare plants / animals. (Private parties don't have to do this.) Whether or not they (the state) decide to ignore NHB's recommendations is another question. I know enough people in this field that I'd be very surprised if that were the case here.

 

[arghman]

How about a regenerative braking system for the cog? It could generate electricity for storage in batteries,as it comes down,with the power being used to assist on the climb on the way up.
A Hybrid Cog Railway!

I vote for that. I wonder what the power requirements are, though. (mgv*sin(theta)...)

 

[bintrepidhiker]

ANYthing to get rid of that awful smoke i'm all for it. Bring on the electric train idea if there must be a rail going up there.