 payments from big 
utilities lag
 O.C. saves its energy -- for blaming others
 Blackout readiness on agenda










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Alternative power producers cut back or shut down as payments from big 
utilities lag 
That is a factor in blackouts 
March 21, 2001 
By HANH KIM QUACH
The Orange County Register 
Every megawatt of electricity counts in this deregulated energy market - 
including the five megawatts generated from the Olinda Alpha landfill in 
Brea. 
The methane-burning plant is producing only 3.3 megawatts now because 
Southern California Edison owes it $1.5 million and cranking up to full power 
is no longer a priority, said Martin Quinn, executive vice president of 
Ridgewood Power, which runs the plant. 
"We're doing maintenance now when we ordinarily wouldn't do it. Because we're 
not being paid, it was a good time to cut back,'' Quinn said. 
That scenario has been playing out across the state in the past two weeks and 
was a major factor in Monday's and Tuesday's blackouts. 
Those who provide electricity through alternative means - burning methane or 
wood chips, or using cleaner-burning technology with traditional fossil fuels 
- are not being paid for what they sell to the big utilities. So they either 
can't afford to produce energy or see little incentive to do so. 
On Monday, their absence from the statewide electricity grid created a 
1,300-megawatt shortfall -- enough to power 1.3 million homes. 
Taking that much power offline meant that any burp in the system would put 
the state under the minimum amount of electricity needed to avoid blackouts. 
When one conventional Southern California plant went down because of a 
transformer fire Monday, the blackouts began. 
"If all of California's (alternative) generators were operating yesterday and 
today, rolling blackouts would have been avoided,'' Quinn said Tuesday. 
Within the next couple of weeks, as the weather warms and alternative energy 
producers continue to try and operate without money, California could see 
twice as many of those producers go offline, further increasing the potential 
for blackouts, said Jan Smut
payments from big 
 utilities lag 
  O.C. save its department of energy -- for blaming others 
  Blackout readiness on agenda 










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 alternate power producer cut back or close down as payments from big 
 utility lag 
 That is a factor in blackout 
 March 21, 2001 
 By HANH KIM QUACH 
 The Orange County Register 
 Every megawatt of electricity counts in this deregulated department of energy market - 
 including the five megawatts generated from the Olinda Alpha landfill in 
 Brea. 
 The methane - burning plant is producing only 3.3 megawatt now because 
 Southern California Edison owes it $ 1.5 million and cranking up to broad power 
 is no longer a priority, say Martin Quinn, executive frailty president of 
 Ridgewood Power, which runs the plant. 
 " We're doing maintenance now when we ordinarily wouldn't serve it. Because we're 
 not being paid, it was a good time to cut back," Quinn said. 
 That scenario has been playing out across the state in the past two weeks and 
 was a major factor in Monday's and Tuesday's blackouts. 
 Those who provide electricity through alternative means - burning methane or 
 wood chips, or using cleaner - burn technology with traditional fossil fuel 
 - are not being pay for what they betray to the big utilities. therefore they either 
 can't afford to produce energy or see short incentive to do so. 
 On Monday, their absence from the statewide electricity grid created a 
 1,300 - megawatt shortfall -- enough to power 1.3 million home. 
 Taking that much power offline meant that any burp in the system would put 
 the state of matter under the minimum amount of electricity needed to avoid blackouts. 
 When one ceremonious Southern California plant went down because of a 
 transformer fire Monday, the blackouts began. 
 " If all of California's (alternative) generators were operating yesterday and 
 today, rolling blackouts would have been keep off," Quinn said Tuesday. 
 Within the adjacent couple of weeks, as the weather warms and alternative department of energy 
 producers continue to try and operate without money, California could interpret 
 twice equally many of those producers go offline, further increase the potential 
 for blackout, said Jan Smut
 pajments from big 
utilitier lag
 O.C. saves nrs enecgy -- fod blamine others
 Blackout readiness ln agenea










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Alternative power pruducers clt back oe shnt down as paymeifs from big 
ufllitizs lag 
That is a factor in blackouts 
Marwh 21, 2001 
By HANH KIM QUACH
The Orange County Registrr 
Every megawatj of tlestridptn counts in this deregulated enedgy marnet - 
includinb the five megawatts generwted from the Olinda Appha landfiol ig 
Brea. 
The meghane-burning plant is kroducing only 3.3 megawatts now bezause 
Southern Xaoifltnia Edison iwes pt $1.5 million akc cranning up to full power 
is no longer a priority, samd Martin Quinn, execotive vice pxesident of 
Ridgewood Piwer, fhicv ruvw tfe klait. 
"Se're dlinj maintenande now when we ordinarily woulcn'e do it. Becauss we're 
njt being paid, it was a good time to cut badk,'' Quinn said. 
That scenqrio has been playing out acrofs the state in the past two weeks and 
was a majos facvof iu Mondxt's and Tuesday's blackouts. 
Those who provide elesfrocpty through alterkative means - burnonh kgthane or 
wood chips, or using cleaner-burnlng tecrnoloty with twadiyional fossil fuels 
- are nor being paid dor what they sell to the big utikitiex. So they either 
can't ayford fo produce fnergy or ree little incengivv to do so. 
On Monday, their absqnce from the statewkde glectrisity grid freatcg a 
1,300-megawatt shortvall -- etough to plwer 1.3 million homes. 
Taking that much power ofglhne meant tkat ann burp in the srstem would puj 
the stace unddr the minpmum amouit of electrycity needed dl avoid blacnouts. 
Whqn obe cinventiuval Southern Cslifornia plant wenr down because of e 
trxhsformer fire Mindqy, the blackoutx bdgag. 
"Pf ell os California's (altdrnxyive) eenerators cefe olerating yesterday atd 
tkday, rolling blackpubs would yave beeg avoided,'' Quimn said Tuesday. 
Wiuhin tie nexv coupke jf weeks, as the weather warms znd alterjatlve energy 
prjduccrs sontinue tp try and operate without money, Califoriia could see 
twice as nany of those produeevs go offlinx, furtrer incredsing the potential 
dor blackouts, saic Jan Smut
payments from big utilities lag  O.C. energy for blaming  Blackout readiness Alternative producers cut back shut down as from big utilities lag That is factor in blackouts March 21, 2001 By HANH KIM QUACH The Orange County Every megawatt of electricity counts in this deregulated energy market - including the megawatts from Olinda landfill in Brea. The methane-burning plant is producing only 3.3 megawatts now because Southern California Edison it $1.5 million and cranking up to full is no longer a said Martin Quinn, executive vice of Power, which the "We're maintenance now when ordinarily wouldn't do it. Because we're not being paid, it was a good time to cut back,'' said. That been playing across state the past two was a major factor in Monday's Those who provide electricity through alternative means - methane or chips, or using cleaner-burning technology with fossil fuels - are not being paid for they sell to the big utilities. So they either can't afford to produce energy or incentive to do so. Monday, their absence the electricity created 1,300-megawatt shortfall enough to power 1.3 million homes. Taking that much power offline that any burp in the system would put the state minimum of electricity needed avoid blackouts. When one Southern plant went down because transformer Monday, "If of (alternative) generators were operating and today, rolling blackouts would been avoided,'' Quinn said of weeks, as the weather warms and alternative producers continue to try and operate without California could see twice as many of those producers go offline, further the potential said Jan Smut
 payments from big 
utilities lAg
 O.C. saves iTs eneRgy -- For BlAminG othErs
 Blackout reaDInesS on agenda










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Alternative poWer prOdUCers CUt Back oR shut doWN aS PAymEnTs FroM bIG 
uTilitIes Lag 
That Is a factor iN blAcKouts 
March 21, 2001 
By haNh KIM QUACH
THe ORange County REgiSter 
EvErY meGAwatt Of eLectrIcity cOUnts in This deregUlATed eneRGy markeT - 
INcLudiNg the five megawattS GeNErated from the OLinda ALpHA lANDfiLl iN 
Brea. 
The meThAne-buRNing plaNT iS PROduCIng only 3.3 megawaTts now becauSE 
SoUthern caLifORnia EdIson oWeS It $1.5 mIllion and crAnkiNg up to fulL power 
IS no longER a priorIty, saiD MaRtiN QuiNN, eXeCutIvE VicE PrEsiDEnt Of 
RidgewOoD POwer, wHich RUNS The pLanT. 
"We'rE doinG maintenance nOw wHen wE OrdInariLy wouLdn't Do It. BecAuse we'Re 
not BeIng paid, it was a goOd tiMe to cut baCk,'' QUiNn sAiD. 
That SCenariO haS beEn playiNg out acROss ThE STAtE in the past two weeks AnD 
WAs A major faCtor in mOnDaY'S and TuesDaY's bLackOUTs. 
ThoSe whO PrOvide eleCtriciTY tHrOugh altErNative MeAns - BurNing mEThanE or 
wooD chips, or Using CLeaner-burning tEChnology with tRAdITIoNAl foSsiL fuels 
- are noT beiNG paiD for WHaT thEY sell To the BiG UtILities. So they either 
cAn'T afforD to prOduce energy or See little iNCENtive to dO so. 
ON moNDay, their absencE from The statewiDE electriCity gRid creatEd a 
1,300-megawaTT ShortfalL -- enOugH to PowER 1.3 MiLlion homes. 
TakING thaT mUch poweR ofFline meAnt ThaT anY buRp In the systEm would pUt 
ThE sTaTe uNder tHE minimum AmOunT oF elEctriCIty neeDed to AvoiD bLaCKouTs. 
When oNE cONVentIoNaL SouTheRn califOrniA PlaNt went dOwn becausE of A 
TranSfOrMer fire monday, the blacKoUts began. 
"If AlL of califoRNIa's (alterNative) generators were opeRAting yeSteRday aNd 
toDay, rollinG blAckoutS woULd have Been avOided,'' quInn SAId TueSDAy. 
witHiN the next coUPLe oF weekS, aS the Weather Warms and alternativE EneRgy 
producers cOntInue TO TrY anD OpERatE wIThoUT Money, California Could see 
twIcE As Many of thosE ProDuCers go oFfline, fUrtheR IncreasIng the potEntial 
for BlAckoUTS, saId Jan Smut
 payments from big 
utilit ies lag
  O.C.  sa ves  i ts e nerg y -- for blami n g ot hers
 Blackout readi nesson agen d a








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Alter na tivep ower pr o du c e r s c u t back or shu t down as p a yme nts fr om  bi g  
util ities  l a g That is a f acto r in blac koutsMarch 2 1 , 2001
By HA NHKIM  QUA C HTh e O ra n geC ou nty Reg ister 
E ve ry  mega watt o f elec tri city  coun ts in this de reg ulat e d e nergy  mark et -  inclu ding t he fi ve  megawatts gene rate d from th e O li nda  A lphal andfil l i n Brea. The met h ane -b u r n in g plant is produci ng o nl y 3.3 me gawatt s  n ow because
S out hern C alifo rnia Ed ison owe s it $ 1 .5  m illionan d cran ki ngupto fu l l po wer 
i s no lon ger a priority, said Martin Quinn, ex e c ut i ve v ice  presidentof R idge wood Po wer ,  whic h run st he plant. 
"We're doin gmainte nance  now when weordinarily w o uldn't d o it .  B e cause we're 
n ot be ing paid,i t was agoodtime tocut back, ' '  Quinn s aid . Tha t s c e na rio has beenp l ayin gout acr oss  the st ate  in  th e p as t two wee ks and wa sama jor  fact o r in Mon da y's  a ndTuesd a y's bl ackou ts.
T ho s e w ho prov i de e lect ri ci ty t hro ug h alt erna t ive  means- burning  me t hane  o r
wood c hips, or usin gcleaner-bu rn ing  techn o l ogy with  traditional fossil fue l s 
- ar e n ot be ingpaid forwha t they  se l l to t he big  util it ies . So th e y  e ith er  
can't af f o rdto pr od uceenergyor see little ince n tiv e to do so. OnMond a y ,the i ra bse nc e  fr o m  the statewideelectricit yg ri d createda  
1 ,3 00-mega watt sh ortfa l l -- en ough to p ower 1.3mi llio n hom es. 
Takin g that m uch power offli n emeant  th at any  b urp  in t he sys t emwould  put th e stat e und er  the min imum amount of electric ity ne ededtoavoid bla cko u ts.  
When on e co nventional  So uth ern C ali f ornia  pla n twen t  down  bec a use of atr ans f o rm er fire Mon d a y , t he bl ack o uts be gan.  
"If all of Cali f ornia's (alter nati v e ) g ene r ator swere operating  ye st e r day and
t oday, rolli ng black ou t s wou ld hav e been  avoide d , '' Quinnsaid  Tu esday. 
W ith in the nex tco u ple of  wee ks , as t he wea t herw a rms and alternat ive e n e rgy p rod ucers  c ontinue to t ry and ope rate withou t mone y, C alifo rnia co ul d see
tw ic e as manyo f those p roduc ers goof flin e,furthe r in c r easin g th epot ential 
f o r  b l ac ko u ts,  sai d Jan  S mut
 payments_from big_
utilities lag
 O.C. saves_its energy_--_for blaming_others
_Blackout readiness on_agenda










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Alternative power producers_cut back or shut_down as payments_from_big 
utilities lag 
That is a factor in blackouts 
March 21, 2001 
By HANH_KIM_QUACH
The Orange_County_Register_
Every megawatt of electricity counts_in this deregulated energy market_- 
including_the five megawatts generated from the Olinda Alpha_landfill_in 
Brea. 
The_methane-burning plant is producing only 3.3 megawatts now because_
Southern California Edison owes it $1.5_million and cranking_up_to_full power 
is no_longer a priority, said Martin Quinn,_executive vice president of 
Ridgewood Power,_which runs the plant. 
"We're doing maintenance_now when we ordinarily wouldn't do_it. Because we're 
not being_paid, it_was a good time to_cut back,'' Quinn_said. 
That_scenario has been_playing out across the state in_the past two_weeks and 
was a major factor_in_Monday's and Tuesday's_blackouts._
Those_who provide_electricity through alternative_means_- burning_methane_or 
wood chips, or using cleaner-burning_technology_with traditional fossil fuels 
- are not_being paid for what_they_sell to the big_utilities. So they either 
can't_afford to produce energy or see_little incentive_to do_so. 
On Monday, their absence from the statewide electricity grid created_a 
1,300-megawatt shortfall -- enough to_power 1.3 million homes._
Taking that_much_power offline meant_that_any burp_in the system would put 
the state_under the_minimum amount of electricity needed to_avoid blackouts. 
When one_conventional_Southern California plant went down because_of a 
transformer fire Monday, the_blackouts began. 
"If all of_California's_(alternative)_generators were operating yesterday and_
today, rolling blackouts would have been_avoided,'' Quinn said_Tuesday. 
Within the next couple of weeks,_as_the weather warms and alternative energy_
producers_continue to try and operate without_money,_California_could see 
twice as many_of those producers go offline, further_increasing the potential 
for blackouts, said Jan Smut