Drought Drains California's Energy Grid

California energy from Water from 60 % to 8%" start here- Back in the 1950s, hydropower generated close to 60 percent of the state’s electricity. Over time, that number has slowly declined. In a normal year, hydropower production hovers around 20 percent, drawing from the state’s 300 dams to power homes and businesses. Shasta Dam is one of the state’s largest, and it has lost at least a third of its generating capacity. Last year, California could only squeeze about 8 percent of its power from water

Back in the 1950s, hydropower generated close to 60 percent of the state’s electricity. Over time, that number has slowly declined. In a normal year, hydropower production hovers around 20 percent, drawing from the state’s 300 dams to power homes and businesses. Shasta Dam is one of the state’s largest, and it has lost at least a third of its generating capacity. Last year, California could only squeeze about 8 percent of its power from water.     

However, the decline of hydropower as an energy source may not be a bad thing. Yes, really.

Earthjustice doesn’t classify hydropower as a source of clean energy because of the destructive impacts of damming to natural waterways, fish migration and water quality. While hydropower is emissions-free at the point of generation, its entire lifecycle is not. Organic matter like decaying leaves in dam reservoirs can release significant amounts of methane—a greenhouse gas 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide. As a result, the world’s largest dams are responsible for four percent of humans’ total contribution to climate change.

So what’s keeping the generators running?

Right now, fossil fuels are leading the charge. The Pacific Institute reported that increased natural gas usage between 2011 and 2014 cost California ratepayers $1.4 billion and caused an eight percent increase in carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. The study also predicts that these numbers will continue to rise through 2015.

Source: Earth Justice

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Taxonomy

• Drought
• Energy
• Hydropower