Posted on 07/31/2012 8:16:05 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California's electricity sector is more vulnerable to climate change than previously thought, as higher temperatures will impede the state's ability to generate and transmit power while demand for air conditioning rises, a report said Tuesday.
The data is part of the latest report released by the California Natural Resources Agency and the California Energy Commission, which are trying to help state and local leaders prepare for life in the hotter, drier California of the future. (Report: http://r.reuters.com/zag79s)
Wildlife, agriculture and coastal communities are also at serious risk from climate change, the report said. Sea levels could rise by more than a foot by 2050, and more intense storms combined with less overall precipitation will present a host of challenges.
California is considered a national leader in setting policies to combat climate change, with a strong renewable electricity mandate in place and a carbon cap-and-trade program coming into force next year.
"We know that climate change will significantly affect the state's energy supply and demand," said Robert B. Weisenmiller, chair of the California Energy Commission.
"This groundbreaking research gives us the data and analytical tools we need to better plan, forecast and prepare to meet the state's energy needs as we face climate challenges," he said.
The warmer climate will decrease hydropower generation in the summer months when it is needed most, the report said. High-elevation hydropower plants, which supply about 75 percent of the state's hydropower, are especially at risk, since the small size of their reservoirs allows little flexibility to cope with reduced snowpack.
At the same time, higher temperatures alone will require the state to increase its electricity generating capacity 38 percent over current levels by 2100.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
How many commissions, boards and legislators does it take to skrew up energy again in California?
Relying on broken wind mills while getting rid of coal and nuc plants within the state is going to prove unsustainable.
Enough to hide their stealing money.
Would closing a whole bunch of power plants have any effect on the amount of available power?
what crap. The electricty sector is more vulnerable to liberal policy which discourages generation.
May they sweat in the dark!
Utter nonsense.
PC is shutting off power options.
Shutting them down. It is all self-inflicted.
No, STUPIDITY threatens California’s power supply!
Years of chasing every productive power source out of the state, (including a 500MW Solar Plant in the Mojave desert), has placed the power supply in jeopardy.
King Canute was actually smart enough to know that he could not control the tides.
I live where the desert meets the mountains in Eastern California, and this has been one of the coolest Summers that I can recall. Normal temps in July here hover around 100 degrees day after day, yet we have had only a few days hit that mark this year. It was only 89 on the Fourth of July!
Glowbull warming. A large swath of India just suffered a major power outage due to hot and humid weather. Who could have expected that during the hot and humid season?
India is big into the “Coal is harmful” move so they cut back on usage of coal. It’s shocking, just shocking that the power grid would not sustain itself.
The 900 hundred pound gorilla in the room is the 7 or 8 million illegal aliens flooding the state. When the Feds say there are 11 million illegal aliens, they are correct ... for LA County.
And every man Juan of them uses power and water.
I doubt seriously that the problem will be the “increasing heat caused by climate change”. The problem will be the decreasing power generation capability caused by total ignorance of the general population and government. The standards that they have set to require solar and wind, in addition to the rigorous requirements for other generators for CO2 emissions guarantees that the capability will not be there.
What do we want?? Solidarity with India!! When do we want it?? When the wind stops blowing . . .
Please let California begin its existence as a third world hell-hole, and as an example to the rest of the US of how NOT to be.
California is more than 1/3 of the US economy.
As California goes, so goes the nation.
Where are the warmer temps?
We’re in declining temps, and have been for 78 years.
.
Oh, I'm sure all those businesses will be happy to move to more business-friendly states.
Well, that's a relief. It was 106 in North Texas today.
Shut off power to all the liberals. Problem solved.
You are not supposed to notice that many areas of the planet are much colder then usual. All that matters to the Kalifornian Power Commissions are what Al Gore and the boob tube tells everyone.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.