California could turn to fossil fuels to avoid power blackouts.
Governor Newsom's energy proposal is sweeping. Gavin Newsom's Office would place the state in charge of purchasing power to ensure that there is enough for those heat waves. Some critics claim that the state's method to get there is not compatible with its larger climate goals. It allows the state to tap old gas-fired power stations and add diesel-fueled backup generators.
This debate highlights the challenges faced by some states as they try to combat heat waves caused by climate change.
California's energy comes mainly from renewable sources during daylight hours, but it doesn't have enough storage to store enough sun power at night. This bill will allow for faster construction of renewable energy and storage facilities. It also removes local governments from permits decisions. Also, supply-chain problems are slowing down the building process.
After lawmakers passed the bill the night before, Newsom is expected sign it Thursday.
"Climate Change is driving our energy needs to peak. We have to increase our supply to meet that demand. Otherwise, we will be facing an untenable crisis within our communities. We are also facing problems due to our dependence on fossil fuels. "That's the obvious dilemma that we are in," stated Democratic state senator Dave Min. Min represents Huntington Beach which is home to a gas-fired energy plant.
California isn't the only state facing this problem. A coal-fired power station in New Mexico was scheduled to close its two last units on Thursday. A major utility requested that the state keep one unit open until September in order to meet summer demand. This is because solar and battery storage projects meant to replace the lost capacity were delayed.
State energy officials had warned earlier this year that there was a risk of a state energy shortage equal to the amount it takes to heat 1.3 million homes during the summer. Newsom and lawmakers want to avoid an August 2020 scenario where hundreds of thousands lost power temporarily due to insufficient supply.
Newsom's solution focuses on the creation of a "strategic reliable reserve" managed by the Department of Water Resources. Because it is the state's largest producer and user, and also because of its water pumping system and dams, the water agency was given this role. The department will reimburse utilities for power purchases and temporary generators. All diesel-powered generators can't be used beyond 2023.
The water department could also build energy storage facilities and zero-emission generator stations. The state could also pay for power purchases from the coastal gas-fired plants, which are due to close in 2023. These plants were originally scheduled to close in 2020. The department could also continue to buy power from the last remaining nuclear plant in the state, if it remains open after 2025.
Many Democratic legislators stated that they were assured by Newsom's government that fossil fuel resources would only be used in the last resort. They also said that the bill did not give water the sole authority to prolong the lives of nuclear facilities or gas plants.
Senator Henry Stern, a Democrat from Los Angeles County, said that these are difficult decisions that all of us will have to make. "What this bill does is buy time."
Republican senator Shannon Grove, a representative of Bakersfield, a state that is rich in fossil fuels, stated that the legislation shows California has to have oil and gas.
She stated, "If we don’t have these gas-powered plants that can fire up when it’s needed, we won’t be able flip the switch to get electricity."
Environmental groups meanwhile said that the state would not need to rely upon fossil fuels for a back-up if it had made faster progress to develop renewable resources. They also expressed concern about the lack of safeguards in the bill to limit the power of the water department. To move forward with new projects, the department wouldn't have to adhere to California's landmark environmental law.
"The state says we must rely on fossil energy, but they aren't fully admitting it because of their lack of ambition," stated Alexis Sutterman (energy equity manager at the California Environmental Justice Alliance).
Andrew Campbell, the executive director of University of California Berkeley's Energy Institute, stated that the new power purchase authority for the water department is "very broad and open ended" and "really merits scrutiny."
He said that California is likely to be at the forefront of a challenge which will likely hit other U.S. States as they shift away from fossil fuels, and increase the amount of energy available from the grid.
He said, "Developing an electric system that is very reliable and clean is a challenge that hasn’t been solved anywhere." California is ahead of other states in renewable energy development and California is facing this challenge faster than others.
